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Mount Ayr Record-News

Thursday, September 20, 2012

News

More about long list of actions at Mount Ayr city council meeting Monday night
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stations might be consolidated, but it was noted that the panels and dialers could be resold or used as back up if this happened. Drainage issue Bill and Marcene Anderson visited the council Monday night to talk about drainage problems at their property at 108 South Grant Street. They noted that they have had the problem in the area for a long time, but currently water has washed out the dirt between two drainage pipes, making a hazardous condition in the neighborhood. The Andersons request was that the city study the waterway upstream as well as through the Anderson property and advise them of the appropriate remedy. Mayor Don Solliday said that if the city drainage was collapsing they needed to do something about it. We dont want to see people getting hurt, he said. He noted that some other properties in the area had also complained from time to time about drainage issues. Solliday also pointed out that normally property owners provide drainage tubes and the city does the work to put them in, but just what is needed in the area would have to be studied out. Council members assured the Andersons that the city would work to get the holes lled on a temporary basis and that after some study, a letter would be sent to the Andersons to let them know what the city had decided. Water valve project Justin Kuonen reported on the progress of the water valve project, where water valves are being placed in several locations along Jefferson Street. He noted that Mike Wimer had been helpful in locating a valve near the Stutzman property after the city followed the incomplete maps the city has and found valves but not the one they were looking for. He was concerned that the city crew would not have time before winter to get the patches poured in the 15 places where concrete has been dug up for the valve project and water main repair projects over the past several months. The council decided to advertise for bids to get the concrete poured back in at least the big patches on Jefferson Street, with bids to be opened at the October 1 meeting. The crew could try to get some of the smaller patch work done themselves. Bathhouse project Some paperwork was completed on the Federal Emergency Management Agency bathhouse

and storm shelter project at the meeting as well. The council passed a resolution authorizing mayor Don Solliday to sign advance pay requests to expedite payment for the construction. Kuoenen noted that Oakview Construction wanted to know if they could use the current bathhouse as a storage facility for equipment during the construction phase, something the council had no problem with. They were also wondering if they could use the city electricity at the site and Pam Poore said she could work out an arrangement for this. It was noted that the shelter house will be moved by October 1 and the council discussed a site at the old city reservoir where it would be placed on the east side. The city will get a bid for a four-inch slab of concrete to be poured at the new site to go under the shelter house. Streetscape project Work is to get underway next week on the streetscape project on the west side of the square in Mount Ayr. The sidewalk will be replaced and new lighting put in to match the other three sides of the square in the project. Justin Kuonen noted that the city does not have a certied electrician on the crew to do the electrical work needed for the project. He was given permission to check with area electricians to try to nd someone to do the work. Water line extension The permit should be received this week for the water line extension to serve the new homes in the Van Buren Square housing development, it was noted. The permit was moved through the Department of Natural Resources quickly. Having the permit is required for the city to extend its water system. The water line work will be done as soon as the city crew can

Curb cutting program at crosswalks

The City of Mount Ayr is beginning work this week on cutting existing curbs at crosswalks. They will be replaced with ramps and contrasting detectable warning tiles to make it safer for people with disabilities to cross the street. The bulk of the work is being done on the south side of Jefferson Street beginning at the elementary school. It will then continue south on Fillmore to the outside corners of the square. These corners were not part of the original beautication project. They will have a similar look to the adjacent corners. It is expected that all work will be completed before the end of September. The City of Mount Ayr welcomes the opportunity to partner with Ringgold County Public Health to make the sidewalks safer for all our residents stated Mayor Don Solliday. Speaking for walkers like myself, it will make it easier to stay on the sidewalks and increase safety for all pedestrians. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law in 1990, established standards for new construction and must be followed whenever changes are made to existing sidewalks and streets. Without the required ADA curb ramps, sidewalk travel can be dangerous, difcult or impossible for people who use walkers, wheel chairs, scooters and the like. Curb ramps allow people with mobility trouble to use the sidewalks. Otherwise, these individuals are forced to travel in streets putting them in danger. Likewise the warning tiles provide people with vision problems a means to detect the slope so that they do not stumble. The funding for this project was made possible through a Community Transformation Grant received by Ringgold County Public Health. To learn more about how to make healthy living easier, call Ringgold County Public Health at 641-464-0691, or nd information on the web at www.rcph.net and www.facebook.com/rstop.

get to it, it was noted. Bulk water facility Justin Kuonen brought information on what would be needed for the new bulk water sales facility to be placed at the city maintenance shop area near the sewer dump station for RVs. To get the stand, street side coin box and drain there would be a cost of $4,450. This would be cheaper than building a building and having to have someone man the service when people needed to make bulk water purchases. The council voted to go ahead with the plan, noting that the current bulk water sales spot at the old water treatment plant may be demolished before next spring. Loan for pool project City clerk Pam Poore brought information to the council about a community improvement revolving loan fund that could provide some of the funds needed for nancing the improvements to the Mount Ayr muncipal swimming pool. The program could provide up to $20,000 in a loan at three percent to help with pay the swimming pool costs. The rest of the money would come from the industrial building fund, park board project fund and hotel-motel tax funds. If this loan is not available, the city would get a loan through a local bank for some of the project costs. The council approved sending in the loan request. Water tower maintenance The city currently does not have a contract for water tower maintenance after cancelling its contract last spring and Kevin Stocker asked the council if they wanted him to put together a request for proposals for nding a company to provide this service. He noted that the company the city had used had made some management changes and would like to be considered again, something

Stocker said he had no problem with. The council gave Stocker the approval to get proposals from several companies on the services. Safety equipment purchases Justin Kuoenen brought information on costs for several safety equipment purchases that the city needs to protect city employees in their work below ground. The council approved purchases for a new electric fresh air blower at $250 and a new seven-foot tripod that would have a span to go over a sewer lift station for a cost of $1,800. The current fresh air blower is gas powered and fumes from it can go down into the hole where work is being done. The current tripod is not large enough to be used at sewer lift stations. Kuoenen will get the city shoring for working in trenches back from Monte Starlin while they get more quotes and purchasing some new equipment here. They have borrowed one from the Southern Iowa Rural Water Association for projects currently being done. It was noted that some training will be done with the harnesses used with the tripod once it is received. Disposal of oil dirt Justin Kuonen reported on the progress of the effort to clean up the area where oil was poured out on the ground near the city sewer plant. The Ringgold-Decatur-Wayne landll will not be able to take the dirt, but a landll in Mitchellville may be able to do the work. The city has until November 1 to get the site cleaned up. It is estimated that at least 100 tons of dirt will have to be removed and disposed of, but the total amount will not be known until the digging is done. It will cost the city between $60 and $70 a ton to get the dirt hauled away and disposed of. Kuonen is working with two possibilities of groups that could

help with this project. Advertising for employee The council voted to advertise for a person to ll the city superintendent position, seeking someone who already has a grade three sewer license. People with this license are hard to nd, but council members felt it was worth advertising to see who might be out there interested in the position. Kevin Stocker also received permission from the council to make a proposal to increase his services to the city to include some of this work on a temporary basis. Having another member of the city crew would be very benecial with the long list of projects the city is involved with, it was noted. Other reports Kevin Stocker presented reports on a number of city projects that he is working with. A sewer engineering study should be completed by the next council meeting, he said. This will provide information that the council will need so it can apply for a CDBG grant by the November 14 deadline. There are some hearings and other paperwork that needs to be done in preparation for the application, he noted.

The capital improvement planning project has been put on the back burner for the present. He will talk with the council at a future meeting again about priorities for future projects so that an improvement plan can be set up for how the city wants to move forward on projects in the future. Stocker reported that the city water loss is continuing to decline. The city was losing 35 percent or more of the water between what it paid for and what it billed in the past. That has been cut 800,000 gallons a month to a 23 percent loss. Stocker said the city has xed four or ve leaks in the past month and lled the pool twice for pool testing so he expects an even better gure next month. The city can save a good deal of money by bringing the gallons purchased from the Southern Iowa Rural Water Association and the gallons sold closer together. Justin Kuonen talked with the council about purchasing salt for the winter. It was noted that the city already has 150 to 175 tons of salt on hand after not having to use much last winter. The council decided not to get a load of salt this year and use of the salt on hand rst.

Liquor license approval In other action, the council approved the liquor license renewals for Hy-Vee and CGI Foods in Mount Ayr. Both licenses were Class B wine, Class C beer, Class E liquor and Sunday sales privileges.

More on election

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soil and water conservation board members in the election. There are two open positions on the hospital board. Candidates for the positions will include Jennifer Main and Michael Hopkins. There are six positions open on the ag extension council and candidates include John Thorpe, Carol Anne McCreary, Debbie Faris Klommhaus, Amy Whittington, Bradley Bentley and Kurt Wallace. Three people will be elected to spots on the Ringgold County Soil and Water Conservation District board as well. Candidates include Lee Faris, Donna Greenland and Brenda S. Adams.

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Laurie Greenman
AUDITOR
I am your current County Auditor. I have approximately 10 years of experience in the Auditors Office. I would appreciate your vote in the General Election on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. I have the knowledge, dedication and time to devote to meet the needs of the Auditors office.

RE-ELECT

Vote for Experience

Vote Greenman Auditor

Paid for by Laurie Greenman for Auditor, 405 W. Washington St., Mount Ayr, Iowa 50854

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