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Carbondale
City Council
Sewer extension project out for bids
Vickie Peek | Reporter
CARBONDALE—“The sewer project is out for bids now,”
Ben Kramer, of Kramer Engineering, told Carbondale City Council
members Jan. 19.
The project will extend sewer service to the Hinck Commercial subdivision
and Dollar General east of 75 Highway.
The final day for city hall to accept bids had been set for 5 p.m.
Feb. 13, but the council approved an addendum to change the date
to 5 p.m. Feb. 17.
With city hall closed for President’s Day on Feb. 16, bids
will be opened for review at the Feb. 17 regular council meeting
with expected selection of a bid at the meeting.
The city has received approval from the Kansas Department of Agriculture
for this project. Treasurer Kim Reynolds reported that easements
relating to this construction have been signed and recorded.
The State Bank of Carbondale and C&C Auto have asked the city
to obtain estimates from the city’s contractor to connect
those businesses into the city’s sewer extension. The bank
and the service station would be required to reimburse the city
if they choose to have the city’s contractor convert the businesses
from a septic system to the sewer. The potential costs to the bank
and service station are being bid in the addendum.
The council discussed using general obligation bonds or a lease-purchase
contract to finance the sewer extension, noting there are advantages
to general obligation bonds. The city can pay them off earlier,
or take a longer period to pay; bonds also have a lower interest
than a lease-purchase.
City attorney Sue DeVoe advised there would be a meeting at city
hall Jan. 15 with Don Jenson, the city’s bond counsel, and
Rick Entz, the city’s financial adviser, about the sewer extension.
Results of the meeting will be discussed at the Feb. 2 council meeting.
The council discussed the possibility of creating a sewer benefit
district for the sewer extension and the effect it could have on
future business development in Carbondale. Sewer benefit district
taxes would be added to property taxes.
“ The city would have to publish a public notice and have
a hearing to create a sewer benefit district,” DeVoe said.
She strongly recommended the city use general obligation bonds.
No action was taken at the meeting, with the council to learn more
at the Feb. 2 meeting.
Carbondale Police Chief Adam Marion reported the Jan. 17 memorial
services for Ethan, Ashten and Caleb Shirley at the Carbondale Attendance
Center went smoothly.
“No one was hurt. No one’s rights were violated,”
Marion said.
He said assistance from the Osage County Sheriff’s Office
and the Kansas Highway Patrol ensured the event was well controlled.
He also thanked members of the Carbondale community and local business
owners for their contribution in helping ensure the services occurred
without incident.
In other police department business, Marion requested two or more
additional cell phone lines for the city’s full-time police
officers, suggesting a plan where officers share a pool of minutes.
Officers sometimes need to use their personal cell phones and minutes
for police business both on and off duty, he said.
“This is an everyday occurrence,” Marion said. “We
have one phone for the police department which all officers share.
Whoever’s on duty has the cell.”
He said officers would prefer using department phones for personal
privacy reasons.
The council approved researching plans to determine the cost for
this request. Discussion was tabled until the next meeting.
Following discussion of the city’s internal rate study using
actual 2008 costs, the council requested a rate study be performed
by an outside source.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) contracted
with Kansas Rural Water (KRW) Finance Authority to conduct a third-party
rate study. The study should be completed by Feb. 17. KRW Finance
Authority’s fee is paid through a loan the city has with KDHE.
In other business, the council:
• approved the appointment of Albert Sherwood as administrator
of the Carbondale Planning and Zoning Commission. DeVoe said there
is no conflict with Sherwood’s work in the maintenance department.
• was advised the women’s self-defense training is held
at 6:30 p.m. the last Wednesday of each month at Carbondale Attendance
Center.
• was informed that rumors of a police officer in Carbondale
being involved in a bank robbery were true. Marion added jokingly,
“But it was in Carbondale, Illinois.”
• was advised by maintenance supervisor Kevin Richardson of
results of researching bulk water systems using pre-loaded debit
cards. Following discussion of these systems and the system now
in use, the council will consider what the city would gain from
having a new card system for dispensing bulk water.
• was informed that the west lagoon may have some leakage,
and that CAS Construction is working to repair possible leaks.
• approved a three percent pay increase for city clerk Sandy
Schiffelbein and police officer Shane Quigley following an executive
session.
• approved a two percent cost of living raise for all full-time
city employees.
• heard the bi-monthly report from police department: Five
ticket violations (two speeding, one insurance, one plate and one
miscellaneous) and five criminal violations (one damage and vandalism,
one traffic accident, two drug/alcohol and one miscellaneous/other)
were reported. Four dogs were caught. |
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