If you have read below, you have seen my posts regarding issues with our sewer system in Roland. One of the issues is to have lower flows. Well, we could all cut down on our showers and clothes washing, but I like a good smelling Roland.
One of the big issues is running sump pumps into our sanitary sewer system. We are obligated to treat what goes into the system. But for people along the path to the treatment plant, if we can substantially cut down the flows, that cuts down the possibility of backups--that would cut down the need for a bigger pipe from the swimming pool to the treatment plant.
One route we are considering is a sump pump ordinance, much like Iowa Falls is doing. It involves inspection of all homes to make sure pumps have proper hookups. The advantage of this plan for Roland taxpayers is it is the cheapest way to cutdown on inflows and to avoid costly fixes mandated by the DNR.
HERE is the Iowa Falls website. They set this up for property owners to arrange inspections, and to answer questions. No need to reinvent the wheel, so I pass it along as a FYI for Roland residents.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Friday, December 30, 2011
Mayor Stuff Poll
Anybody care to put in a plug for their candidate? Leave a comment/plug for your candidate.
I think Ron Paul is a great choice to fix the economic issues of this country.
Who else cares to make a comment for their candidate????
I think Ron Paul is a great choice to fix the economic issues of this country.
Who else cares to make a comment for their candidate????
Hawkeye Caucii
Tuesday night is the big night for Iowa to shine with the caucuses. The Democrats are having one, but you don't hear much about it since the current resident of the White House is a Democrat incumbent. I believe Story County is having a county wide Democratic caucus in Ames.
The Republicans will be having one in each precinct, and Roland/Howard Township is no different. It is at the R-S Middle School. I will be going to vote and voting for Ron Paul. I've got some issues with him, but I think he is the best choice of the group.
I will probably ditch before it is over. After the voting, is the platform plank discussion. That makes me want to pour acid in my ears.
And who can forget this classic caucus moment:
The Republicans will be having one in each precinct, and Roland/Howard Township is no different. It is at the R-S Middle School. I will be going to vote and voting for Ron Paul. I've got some issues with him, but I think he is the best choice of the group.
I will probably ditch before it is over. After the voting, is the platform plank discussion. That makes me want to pour acid in my ears.
And who can forget this classic caucus moment:
Monday, December 26, 2011
Sewer system meeting
All Roland residents should have received a letter in the mail talking about a public meeting the city council is going to have regarding work on our city's sewer system. Much of the system is approaching 90 years old, and needs some work.
We don't have the money right now to do everything we like, so there are a couple different directions we can go. The "directions" have different benefits.
Option 1 would be to upgrade the sewer main that runs from the pool to the sewer plant. It carries the entire sewage of the city. It was built when the city had about 600 people--does fine most of the time--but when we get big rains it backs up--and sometimes backs up into peoples' basements. The flow is up because people run their sump pumps into the sewer system, and because of the old system elsewhere, ground water leaks into our sewer system. A bigger pipe would hopefully handle the load.
Cost of Option 1 would be $600,000 to $1.2 Million. The low end is if we could run along Bear Creek in the backyards of the folks along Samson. The high end is if we cannot obtain a right of way. We would then have to tear up Samson Street, and bring it underneath that street--and having it closed for a couple months, and then install a new street.
Option 2 is to slip line all the sewer lines in town. That is basically not digging up the sewer lines, but putting a coating around the inside of all the sewer pipe. This would hopefully cut down on ground water leaking into the system. Which would then theoretically cut down the amount of water going down our sewer main. It costs about $20,000 per city block, or about $2.5 Million for the whole city. We wouldn't have to do this project all at once--and we wouldn't have to do the newer sections of sewer pipe either.
So we want to have a community meeting to discuss these issues on February 15 at 7PM at the Community Center. We would like to see what the concerns or questions the citizens of Roland have. So save the date, and if you have any questions ahead of time, please forward them to me or to City Hall.
We don't have the money right now to do everything we like, so there are a couple different directions we can go. The "directions" have different benefits.
Option 1 would be to upgrade the sewer main that runs from the pool to the sewer plant. It carries the entire sewage of the city. It was built when the city had about 600 people--does fine most of the time--but when we get big rains it backs up--and sometimes backs up into peoples' basements. The flow is up because people run their sump pumps into the sewer system, and because of the old system elsewhere, ground water leaks into our sewer system. A bigger pipe would hopefully handle the load.
Cost of Option 1 would be $600,000 to $1.2 Million. The low end is if we could run along Bear Creek in the backyards of the folks along Samson. The high end is if we cannot obtain a right of way. We would then have to tear up Samson Street, and bring it underneath that street--and having it closed for a couple months, and then install a new street.
Option 2 is to slip line all the sewer lines in town. That is basically not digging up the sewer lines, but putting a coating around the inside of all the sewer pipe. This would hopefully cut down on ground water leaking into the system. Which would then theoretically cut down the amount of water going down our sewer main. It costs about $20,000 per city block, or about $2.5 Million for the whole city. We wouldn't have to do this project all at once--and we wouldn't have to do the newer sections of sewer pipe either.
So we want to have a community meeting to discuss these issues on February 15 at 7PM at the Community Center. We would like to see what the concerns or questions the citizens of Roland have. So save the date, and if you have any questions ahead of time, please forward them to me or to City Hall.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
No snow, yay!
I didn't get a call complaining about a parking ticket at 7:30AM on Christmas Eve this year. Another reason to enjoy a brown Christmas!
Great feature from the Register
The Des Moines Register has put together an interactive map of where all the high school championships have come from. As an Iowa history/trivia buff, and a fan of high school athletics, I found this to be pretty cool.
Roland High School has a couple of championships, as does Roland-Story. Click on Story County to see them.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
HERE it is.
Roland High School has a couple of championships, as does Roland-Story. Click on Story County to see them.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
HERE it is.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
December 12 Council Meeting
I made the first 45 minutes of the meeting before departing for my kids' concert. So I missed the last item and a half. I also missed the post meeting Christmas party for council/employees/board members.
From when I was there...We had a presentation by Mid Iowa Inspection and Consulting. Some towns in Iowa have adapted the state building code, and also use this company to inspect rental housing in the city. All rental housing would have to be to code to receive city services, namely water. The council took no action on the topic.
We also heard a report from the President of the Library Board, Steve Olson, regarding budgeting at the library. The topics were mostly regarding if the council would fund pay raises, and also the possibility of health care insurance being funded. I left towards the end of the discussion. I believe Council Member Ford and I will be meeting with Steve regarding that topic to come up with something to present to council.
After I left, there was a discussion about repairs needed for the old library building if it is to be turned into City Hall. Also the 3 newly elected/re-elected council members were sworn in. (usually they are swore at!--ha ha!). Since I left early, I didn't get sworn in yet, but I suppose I should do that.
As a reminder, future council meetings are moving to the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 6PM. As per usual, we will not be having a 2nd council meeting in December.
From when I was there...We had a presentation by Mid Iowa Inspection and Consulting. Some towns in Iowa have adapted the state building code, and also use this company to inspect rental housing in the city. All rental housing would have to be to code to receive city services, namely water. The council took no action on the topic.
We also heard a report from the President of the Library Board, Steve Olson, regarding budgeting at the library. The topics were mostly regarding if the council would fund pay raises, and also the possibility of health care insurance being funded. I left towards the end of the discussion. I believe Council Member Ford and I will be meeting with Steve regarding that topic to come up with something to present to council.
After I left, there was a discussion about repairs needed for the old library building if it is to be turned into City Hall. Also the 3 newly elected/re-elected council members were sworn in. (usually they are swore at!--ha ha!). Since I left early, I didn't get sworn in yet, but I suppose I should do that.
As a reminder, future council meetings are moving to the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 6PM. As per usual, we will not be having a 2nd council meeting in December.
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