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County agrees with
Lyndon’s plan to reroute sewer
Wayne White
Managing Editor
Osage County Commission has decided it is in the best interest of
the county not to have 40 percent or more of Lyndon’s sewage
running under the courthouse.
Monday, commissioners acted on a proposal from the city of Lyndon
to reroute a sewer main that currently goes directly under the Osage
County Courthouse. Lyndon is currently undergoing a sewer renovation
project; the sewer under the courthouse was identified as a problem
area and repairs have already been made to that line.
As the sewer project progressed, Lyndon City Council members decided
that rerouting the sewer main under the courthouse would eliminate
any future problems with the inaccessible line. Most of the sewage
from the north end of Lyndon flows through the line under the courthouse.
As planned, the line would be disconnected on the north side of
the courthouse, routed east to the line under Ash Street, then continue
south into the sewer system. The remaining line would be the courthouse’s
service line, draining southward into the sewer system. City officials
had suggested that after the courthouse line is disconnected from
the sewer main, a manhole and cleanout inlet should be installed
north of the courthouse.
Monday, the commission heard from Lyndon City Attorney Pat Walsh,
who presented Lyndon’s proposal.
“The city has taken the position it won’t do this unless
there’s an agreement with the county to take the current main
and accept all liability for the service line,” Walsh said.
“We have a situation with a lot of sewage is going under the
courthouse, a situation where a building was built over our easement.”
Walsh said a preliminary “worst case” estimate to install
the manhole and cleanout would be $7,000.
Commissioner Larry Woodson questioned whether the existing line
would function properly as a service line without the sewage flowing
through it. Commissioner William Prescott noted that with the recent
installation of low-flow fixtures in the courthouse, problems have
occurred with the sewage system.
Walsh said he believed there would be fewer problems with less sewage
flowing through the line.
Woodson questioned how much liability the county would have if the
line did not function in the future.
“How much of that cost will go to us if it doesn’t work
properly?” he asked.
While Woodson’s question was not answered, county counselor
Delton Gilliland said, “I think it will be to the county’s
advantage not having possibly 40 percent of the city’s sewage
going under the courthouse.
“I don’t remember anything from the inspection that
indicates there are problems with that line,” Gilliland said.
The southward portion of the line was recently repaired by the city’s
contractor, requiring excavation of the sidewalk on that side of
the courthouse.
Commissioner Carl Meyer clarified that the county would assume responsibility
for the service line to the point it connected to the city sewer,
followed by Woodson’s motion to appove the project if the
city agreed to abandon the easement.
Gilliland said even if the project was tentatively approved, it
would require a resolution to be passed and an agreement with the
city to release the easement.
Commissioners approved the project unanimously, subject to Gilliland
obtaining estimates from the contractor working on the city’s
project. A resolution and agreement will be prepared for later approval.
In other business, the commission:
• held a public hearing followed by approval of closing specific
alleys in Vassar.
• heard a report from Osage County District Court Clerk Charna
Williams and District Magistrate Judge Stephen Jones regarding repair
and painting of offices that were damaged by leaking rain water.
Estimates are to be obtained.
• were told that some flu shots are still available at Osage
County Health Department.
• agreed to close the courthouse at 3 p.m. on Dec. 24. |
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