Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-22-1994 Mechanical Mechanical Committee City Council Chambers February 22, 1994 6:30 P.M. Members Present: Chet Phillips, Dick Coay, Jim May, Chuck Chapman Others Present: Don Edwards, Jim Elson, Clif O'Brien, Gary Orwig, Ray McKinney, Bob DeRenzy, Mike Elam, George Spahn, Bob Molleck, Kayma Duncan, Ross Gardiner, Don Hopper, Howard Williams, Public Safety & Traffic Committee Chuck Chapman, Chairman The first item on the agenda was the fire report. Bob DeRenzy stated the monthly report was self explanatory. No action was necessary by the Committee. The property at 405 South 5th Avenue was discussed. It was stated that the house has been damaged by fire. It was noted that the City Attorney will check the ownership of the property. Bob DeRenzy stated he knew the owner and would contact him concerning the disposition of the property. Committee agreed. The police report was next. The report was self explanatory. No action was necessary by the Committee. The ESMA report was next. Howard Williams requested permission to have Don Taylor attend the hazardous material training sessions. The cost will not exceed $500.00. A motion was made by Chuck Chapman and seconded by Chet Phillips recommending approval of the expenditure. Voice vote. Motion carried. Chuck Chapman stated he had received a request to have signs placed directing persons to the fire and police stations. He suggested one on Locust Street and one on Main Street. Clif O'Brien stated he would take care of the signs. Committee agreed. Mayor Edwards informed the Committee he had received a memo from City Treasurer Pat Wright concerning the payment to Fulton Square. He note that the sales tax, which the city receives only 1%, totals $1,124,250.31. This was an informational item and no action was necessary by the Committee. Mayor Edwards stated that there is legislation working to cut cable television rates. He stated that he had talked with Dominic Ascone concerning complaints received. Mr. Ascone stated he would like those complaints forwarded to him with the names of the persons complaining 1 so that he is able to contact the persons directly. Mayor Edwards stated that the paper stated that local government is responsible for the fees paid for the converters etc., and that is not true. Mayor Edwards stated that cable will be changing to digital and it will require a converter box for each tv set. With only one box, every tv in the house will be on the same channel. He stated that the customer will not be able to tape one show while watching another without two converter boxes. This was informational at this time and no action was necessary by the Committee. No further action was taken by the Committee and the Public Safety and Traffic Committee was adjourned. Streets and Garbage Committee Richard Coay, Chairman The first item on the agenda was the receipt of truck engine repair bids. A motion was made by Dick Coay and seconded by Chet Phillips to have the secretary open the bids. Voice vote. Motion carried. Three bids were received. They were: Heii Trucking - $3,697.92 (as per conditions listed in the bid); Centre State International - $4,975.64; and, Wheeler's Truck Garage - $5,086.90. The bids were referred to staff for review with a recommendation to be presented at the city council meeting. A presentation from Joe Berardi was next on the agenda. Mr. Berardi was unable to attend. Stop sign requests for Birch Street/8th Avenue and Martin Avenue/Pine Street locations were discussed next. Mike Elam presented written results of traffic studies for these two locations. Discussion followed on the amount and type of traffic and locations of these two intersections. A motion was made by Dick Coay and seconded by Chet Phillips to have the city engineer look at these two areas and report back with his recommendations. Voice vote. Motion carried. The placement of a trailer at the rear of the Daily Ledger for recycling newspaper was next on the agenda. Mike Elam stated he and Clif O'Brien had looked at the area, had talked with Larry Nolan concerning the placement of the trailer on his property, and had found that this location was not acceptable to the Ledger. This area will not support the weight of the trailer. Clif O'Brien stated that even on the asphalt surface of the parking lot, the dollies will have to have planks under them to keep them from sinking into the lot. Mike stated that the two parking spaces needed for the trailer would be four to five spaces west of the east boundary of the lot to allow for turning radius of the trailer. Discussion followed. A motion was made by Dick Coay and seconded by Jim May to allow the placement of the trailer on a temporary basis for three months. Voice vote. Motion carried. 2 The water problem at Avenue Hand West Walnut Street was discussed next. Jim Elson stated that he and Clif O'Brien had looked at the area. He stated that he will be checking on the right of way area to determine the location of the placement of the drainage ditch. No action was necessary by the Committee at this time. Clif O'Brien informed the Committee that the grader has been repaired and will be in use tonight. He stated that the cost of the repairs is over the original estimate but he did not have a total cost at this time. Chuck Chapman noted that that islands at Main and Locust Street intersection have deteriorated. Clif O'Brien stated that he has talked with IDOT officials and these will be placed on the state's maintenance program for repairs. Dick Coay stated he has received complaints concerning DeMott Towing on 11th Avenue. Mayor Edwards stated that the police department will be contacting Mr. DeMott concerning possible zoning violations and they will report back with their findings. No action was necessary at this time. No further business was discussed and the Streets and Garbage Committee was adjourned. Lake, Buildings & Grounds Committee Chet Phillips, Chairman The first item on the agenda was a suggestion by Ray McKinney to use TIF funds for the replacement of valves in the downtown area. He stated some of the mains are 1907 vintage and there are several old hydrants. Mayor Edwards stated that legislation had been passed to extend the TIF areas beyond the original 20 year term. He stated that, personally, he would like to see the present sidewalk program finished. He noted that the aesthetics have improved and more people and money are apparent in the downtown in investments to the buildings and in sales tax revenues. No action was taken on the suggestion at this time. The Committee discussed the possible relining of water lines. it was noted that this is done in other communities to the sewer and gas Ifnes. Clif O'Brien stated that one problem is the down time involved in relining the lines. No formal action was taken at this time on the matter. No further business was discussed and the Lake, Buildings and Grounds Committee was adjourned. Public Works - Water and Sewer Conrnittee Jim May, Chairman 3 The first item on the agenda was a request from Gary Orwig to purchase a new flow meter for the sewer plant. He stated that he had received three quotes with the lowest being from Linden & Company at a cost of $912.00. This has a ten day delivery time. A motion was made by Dick Coay and seconded by Chuck Chapman recommending approval of the purchase. Voice vote. Motion carried. Ray McKinney addressed the Committee concerning read outs. He stated that ordinance and state law states that the water bill shall be in the renter's name and the owner's name since the owner is responsible for payment if the renter does not pay the water bill. Ray stated there have been as many as 200 read outs in one month and can take up to four hours of billing time per month. He would like the Committee to consider putting all water bills in the owner's name since they are ultimately responsible. This would eliminate the need for deposits, the number of shut offs should be smaller and it would cut down the number of problems. Mayor Edwards stated that there is one problem now in that Don Slater purchased a property on 10th Avenue but the water department was not notified of the transfer of the property. The deposit was paid by the owner, the receipt does not note this, but when the renter moved to another property the deposit was transferred with the renter. In the meantime, water had been used and a $21.00 bill was sent to Mr. Slater. He is stating that the water usage is not his. Ray stated that the law states that the owner is suppose to be notified of unpaid bills. Discussion followed. A motion was made by Dick Coay and seconded by Chet Phillips to send Mr. Slater a letter to notify him he is responsible for the $21.00 water bill. Voice vote. Motion carried. A motion was made by Chuck Chapman and seconded by Chet Phillips to send the suggestion to the Legal and Ordinance Committee for consideration in changing all water bills to the owner's name. Voice vote. Motion carried. Water meters were next on the agenda. Ray McKinney stated that Charles Tindall of Badger Meter Company was in attendance. He stated that he would like the Committee to consider looking at a new system to read the water meters. Ray stated that presently the meter readings are written in meter books which takes approximately 15 days per month, the billing is done by hand for a two month billing period and there are several problems encountered. With the new system the meters are read electronically in approximately four days, down loaded into the computer, will allow the city to bill monthly, the problems will be less, there will be better public relations with the public and the cash flow will be better. This system is capable of printing several reports from the information in the computer. Ray stated he had talked with the financial advisor and the city treasurer and they are both recorrrnend acceptance of the concept. At this time Charles Tindall addressed the Committee informing them that a FCC license is required for the readers at a cost of approximately $205.00, and the billing system is compatible with the current computer used by the billing department. The readers are powered by a ten year lithium battery. Financing is available through Badger Meter with banks in Chicago. The total equipment cost for this system is $611,945. Discussion followed on the cost of a system using telephones to read 4 the water meters and the cost was noted at $1.2 million. It was stated that it is anticipated that $39,000 could be saved annually as well as the possible elimination of some labor if the installation of the system is completed in one year. Discussion followed. The consensus of the Committee was agreeable to the concept of the new meter reading system. No formal action was taken at this time. The placement of a new industrial park lift station was next on the agenda. Mayor Edwards stated there is $77,000 presently available with $30,000 earmarked for the water loop in the fund. It is anticipated to receive $30,000 each year for this fund. The engineer's estimate for the lift station is $170,000.00. It has bene requested that the Committee approve the engineer to start the design process with the staff to seek financing of the balance of the project. A motion was made by Chuck Chapman and seconded by Chet Phillips recommending approval for the engineer to start the design process for the new lift station in the industrial park. Voice vote. Motion carried. The bids for a new clarifier drive was next. A motion was made by Jim May and seconded by Dick Coay to open the bids. Voice vote. Motion carried. Two bids were received and are listed on the attached tab sheet. The bids were referred to staff for review with a recommendation to be presented at the next City Council meeting. No further business was discussed and the Public Works - Water and Sewer Committee was adjourned. Kayma Duncan - Committee Secretary 5