Notes and highlights from the council meeting tonite....The council approved the street plan for the Arthur and Bryan extensions. That means we have approved the street plans to go to bid. We will be opening the bids on July 20 I believe. At that point, the council can approve or disapprove the bids. The bid will have a completion date of December 31. With the slow economy, that should help pricing, but with the wet weather, contractors are a bit behind, and that should hurt pricing. If it comes in too high, we can always rebid next year, as we are in no particular hurry with this project.
We also had a discussion around applying for the Safe Streets to School grant. A lot involved with this, but things we are pondering are improved sidewalks from the Samson Street area to the school, and then potentially a bridge over Bear Creek, to keep kids from having to walk along Maple for extended times. A lot of work to do with that, but we will be investigating funding for such a project.
The council did final approval for the water and wastewater rate increase. See a previous blog post for how much that may cost you. That should go in effect in July.
We also discussed, and then tabled a change in who we might use for city engineer. We got some proposals from various engineering firms. So we are going to ponder that.
We also reviewed bids for demolition of the abandoned house on S. Cottonwood. The property still does not belong to the city. It takes a long time for the transfer of that property. So basically we just need to wait. Hang in there....
And a reminder that fireworks are on July 3.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Council Meeting moving to 7PM
Monday's council meeting will move to 7PM, as we weren't going to be able to get a quorum at 6PM. So if you were planning on attending, there ya go....
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Boards and Commissions
June 30 is when terms on our city's boards and commissions expire. Not all, of course, as terms are staggered so a whole board does not need to be replaced. So as mayor, I need to make appointments, with city council approval.
If you have an interest in serving on a board or commission, please let me know at rogerfritz@gmail.com, or contact City Hall.
I have not checked with all the folks whose terms are up. So some may be interested in returning. But here is where we may have openings:
Board of Adjustments (these folks consider variances to zoning regulations)
Planning and Zoning (this commission makes recommendations to the city council regarding zoning law changes)
Library (this board is responsible for overseeing the operation of the Library)
Parks (this board is responsible for overseeing the operation of the city's parks)
Pool Board (and I bet you can guess what they do)
Terms are from 3 to 5 years, depending on the board. BoA and P&Z generally meet very infrequently. Lately maybe only once a year. The other 3 are a lot busier, meet more frequently and really get their hands on things that affect a lot of people in town.
So if you are interested in any of these, contact me or City Hall.
If you have an interest in serving on a board or commission, please let me know at rogerfritz@gmail.com, or contact City Hall.
I have not checked with all the folks whose terms are up. So some may be interested in returning. But here is where we may have openings:
Board of Adjustments (these folks consider variances to zoning regulations)
Planning and Zoning (this commission makes recommendations to the city council regarding zoning law changes)
Library (this board is responsible for overseeing the operation of the Library)
Parks (this board is responsible for overseeing the operation of the city's parks)
Pool Board (and I bet you can guess what they do)
Terms are from 3 to 5 years, depending on the board. BoA and P&Z generally meet very infrequently. Lately maybe only once a year. The other 3 are a lot busier, meet more frequently and really get their hands on things that affect a lot of people in town.
So if you are interested in any of these, contact me or City Hall.
Water/Sewer rate increase
As mentioned in a previous post, here is a link of the water and wastewater budget, and info on proposed increases this year and next year. How it will affect you is best noted on the tab "2010 vs 2009 Res Rate Comp".
On that tab, look at your total water/sewer/garbage bill currently (listed under 2009), and then compare it to 2010 proposed.
On that tab, look at your total water/sewer/garbage bill currently (listed under 2009), and then compare it to 2010 proposed.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
New streets
At the council meeting Monday night, the council gave the go ahead to start the process for an extension of Arthur Drive to Bryan Avenue, and then an extension of Bryan to Industrial Drive.
The council previously had some thoughts on streets to upgrade this year, namely Logan and Ash. However, after a community meeting, an overriding theme of the folks on Logan, was a wish to get another outlet for Logan, which would help decrease the traffic on their street.
So the council went back, and worked on a plan (not final, put a plan) of what streets they would like to see upgraded over the next few years, so the citizens could know that stuff wasn't just thrown together.
The council agreed with what came out of the citizen meeting, that another outlet for all the folks that use Logan was a good idea. By my guestimate, about 1/9 of the city's population lives down the dead end street of Logan. That's a lot of traffic, but also a public safety issue, if maybe one of those big trees fell over in a storm, and emergency workers had to get back to one of those houses.
So that is why the extension of Bryan to Industrial. That will give a 2nd way out for everybody. The Arthur extension is not needed now, but our engineer reports a substantial cost savings if we do this work, while they are already right there at Bryan. A road is needed into the new Britson Park, and the Arthur extension will be that road through the park, and to the parking area for the park. Then, connected to Bryan, will also provide some traffic relief to Logan, for the visitors to the new park.
Reports from various connected people indicate contractors are hungry for work, and this is a good time to do road projects. The initial estimate from the engineer, with 7 inch concrete is around $220,000 for all this.
Again, this is not a done deal, we need to work with the park board to nail down their plans for the park, and we need to see what the bids come in at. On another note, at some point, the city is obligated to extend Bryan, namely when X number of homes are built along Bryan. We are not to that point of obligation yet, but that is something we would need to do at some time in the future.
So stay tuned on all this.
The council previously had some thoughts on streets to upgrade this year, namely Logan and Ash. However, after a community meeting, an overriding theme of the folks on Logan, was a wish to get another outlet for Logan, which would help decrease the traffic on their street.
So the council went back, and worked on a plan (not final, put a plan) of what streets they would like to see upgraded over the next few years, so the citizens could know that stuff wasn't just thrown together.
The council agreed with what came out of the citizen meeting, that another outlet for all the folks that use Logan was a good idea. By my guestimate, about 1/9 of the city's population lives down the dead end street of Logan. That's a lot of traffic, but also a public safety issue, if maybe one of those big trees fell over in a storm, and emergency workers had to get back to one of those houses.
So that is why the extension of Bryan to Industrial. That will give a 2nd way out for everybody. The Arthur extension is not needed now, but our engineer reports a substantial cost savings if we do this work, while they are already right there at Bryan. A road is needed into the new Britson Park, and the Arthur extension will be that road through the park, and to the parking area for the park. Then, connected to Bryan, will also provide some traffic relief to Logan, for the visitors to the new park.
Reports from various connected people indicate contractors are hungry for work, and this is a good time to do road projects. The initial estimate from the engineer, with 7 inch concrete is around $220,000 for all this.
Again, this is not a done deal, we need to work with the park board to nail down their plans for the park, and we need to see what the bids come in at. On another note, at some point, the city is obligated to extend Bryan, namely when X number of homes are built along Bryan. We are not to that point of obligation yet, but that is something we would need to do at some time in the future.
So stay tuned on all this.
Water and Sewer rate increase
At the city council meeting Monday night, the council passed the first reading of the ordinance raising the water and sewer rates. I saw in the SC Herald tonite that Story City is also raising their rates as well.
This rate increase doesn't really have anything to do with putting dollars away for a future sewer plant upgrade. This is to break even on our budget. We haven't kept up with the increases in costs, and this will get us back in line to break even.
Some of the things that have to happen are routine maintenance. We have been improving our manholes, in particular the older part of town. We hire a company to spray this stuff in, and it seals them up pretty good. It is interesting to see some of them. The ones we are fixing are just bricks stacked up in a hole, that was done probably in the early 1900s.
Then we are upgrading our water mains throughout town, slowly, but to maintain good water supply to everyone. And in the past year or so, we have purchased a generator, which will help maintain the sewer plant, and hopefully prevent backups in the town, if we have an extended power outage.
When I have a little more time, I will drop on a spreadsheet, so you can kinda plan on how the increase might affect you. I believe, for my family of 4, I can expect to see about a $15 a month increase total, between water and sewer.
This rate increase doesn't really have anything to do with putting dollars away for a future sewer plant upgrade. This is to break even on our budget. We haven't kept up with the increases in costs, and this will get us back in line to break even.
Some of the things that have to happen are routine maintenance. We have been improving our manholes, in particular the older part of town. We hire a company to spray this stuff in, and it seals them up pretty good. It is interesting to see some of them. The ones we are fixing are just bricks stacked up in a hole, that was done probably in the early 1900s.
Then we are upgrading our water mains throughout town, slowly, but to maintain good water supply to everyone. And in the past year or so, we have purchased a generator, which will help maintain the sewer plant, and hopefully prevent backups in the town, if we have an extended power outage.
When I have a little more time, I will drop on a spreadsheet, so you can kinda plan on how the increase might affect you. I believe, for my family of 4, I can expect to see about a $15 a month increase total, between water and sewer.
Fireworks
Haven't been posting much lately. I have been really busy with North Story Little League. However it a fun time of year, and it is nice to see kids playing baseball here in Roland and Story City. I've been doing some coaching, and a lot of umpiring. Good times.
Anyway, just wanted to drop a reminder note that the Roland Fireworks are going to be on Saturday, July 3. Remember, they are paid for with cans being dropped off in the container by Casey's. If you would like to help with that project, call down to City Hall, and I'm sure they can set you up with the right people.
Anyway, just wanted to drop a reminder note that the Roland Fireworks are going to be on Saturday, July 3. Remember, they are paid for with cans being dropped off in the container by Casey's. If you would like to help with that project, call down to City Hall, and I'm sure they can set you up with the right people.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Election Day
Just a reminder that the vote will be in the Community Center and not the Fire Station.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Tornado Siren tests
The Story County Fire Chiefs, city reps, and Sheriff's Dept have jointly agreed to reduce the tornado siren tests from every Saturday at Noon, to only the 1st and 3rd Saturdays at Noon.
Not a big deal, but just thought I'd mention it. As a reminder, the tornado sirens are meant only as an outdoor warning device. For indoor warnings of tornadoes, you are reminded to purchase a weather radio.
Not a big deal, but just thought I'd mention it. As a reminder, the tornado sirens are meant only as an outdoor warning device. For indoor warnings of tornadoes, you are reminded to purchase a weather radio.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Sewer rates
Some of you may have read my past blog posts, and the council minutes, that discussed my commentary of a $50 per month sewer rate increase. I missed the last council meeting, so I was unable to clarify there. So I will use this forum to do so.
Are our rates going to go up $50 a month in the next year? No. The plan we have come up with to meet our sewer requirements, will put off any new sewer treatment upgrades for a year or two or three. I, and our city council, want to do the right thing, and meet our legal requirements for treating our sewage. Our current plan should do just that.
However, with changing environmental laws, it is likely that a few years out, our sewer plant will not meet the requirements, and we will need to change what is done.
In preparation of that day, the city council will be considering an increase in our current sewer rates to start saving up for our future needs. Currently we have one of the lowest sewer rates around. Will the council raise your sewer rates $50 a month this year? No, I don't see that happening.
However, and this is my opinion only, and not of any council member individually, or the council as a whole...as I see the numbers, as presented by our engineering firm, if we had to upgrade our sewer system this year, and if the prices they quoted were correct, it would take an average bill increase of $50 a month to pay for what we likely would have to do.
Potentially we could have to spend $4 Million on a sewer upgrade. We have around 500 sewer customers. Do the math.
Now we might get grants to knock that price down. And it might not cost $4 Million. But I got handed a report from our engineering firm for various options for future sewage treatment plans, and they all have a heck of lot of zeros at the end, and the zeros were to the left of the decimal point.
I've said it in previous posts. Who you elect at the state and federal levels matter. If people get elected who are friends with people who want really tight water quality standards, we have to treat our sewage to the point that mussels and minnows can live happily forever in Bear Creek. And if that is what people want, that is fine, but there is a price for that.
And I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Please do not run your sump pump down the drain. We have to treat that, and that adds to the cost of any future sewage treatment plan.
Are our rates going to go up $50 a month in the next year? No. The plan we have come up with to meet our sewer requirements, will put off any new sewer treatment upgrades for a year or two or three. I, and our city council, want to do the right thing, and meet our legal requirements for treating our sewage. Our current plan should do just that.
However, with changing environmental laws, it is likely that a few years out, our sewer plant will not meet the requirements, and we will need to change what is done.
In preparation of that day, the city council will be considering an increase in our current sewer rates to start saving up for our future needs. Currently we have one of the lowest sewer rates around. Will the council raise your sewer rates $50 a month this year? No, I don't see that happening.
However, and this is my opinion only, and not of any council member individually, or the council as a whole...as I see the numbers, as presented by our engineering firm, if we had to upgrade our sewer system this year, and if the prices they quoted were correct, it would take an average bill increase of $50 a month to pay for what we likely would have to do.
Potentially we could have to spend $4 Million on a sewer upgrade. We have around 500 sewer customers. Do the math.
Now we might get grants to knock that price down. And it might not cost $4 Million. But I got handed a report from our engineering firm for various options for future sewage treatment plans, and they all have a heck of lot of zeros at the end, and the zeros were to the left of the decimal point.
I've said it in previous posts. Who you elect at the state and federal levels matter. If people get elected who are friends with people who want really tight water quality standards, we have to treat our sewage to the point that mussels and minnows can live happily forever in Bear Creek. And if that is what people want, that is fine, but there is a price for that.
And I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Please do not run your sump pump down the drain. We have to treat that, and that adds to the cost of any future sewage treatment plan.
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