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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works Committee Minutes 05.07.2012 Public Works Committee Minutes Monday, May 7, 2012 5:30 p.m. Members Present: Chuck Rodgers Tom Nelson Scot Stokes Norman Orr K. Dan Koch Emelie Eaton Kurt Markegard (Staff) Others Present: Kat Stokes (5:50) Since Chairman Mark Mace was not attending the meeting and Vice Chairwoman Emelie Eaton was taking minutes Tom Nelson started the meeting at 6:40 p.m. The first item of business was public input. At that time there was no public present. The second item of business was an update on the East Main Street Sidewalk/Curb and Gutter Program. Kurt stated that after years of complaints about sidewalks on the State Route through downtown it was obvious the matter needed to be addressed. Heidi Jensen, CAO, as manager of the CTEP decided those monies should be used for this project. Stefan Streeter said the state would match those monies. Originally the project was planned to address safety concerns and reduce tripping hazards. The planting of trees along this area was due to DNRC funds. Curb boxes needed to be located and it was determined that 13 needed to be replaced. Kurt contacted the business owners. Ostermillers was chosen to do the work. There used to be a hotel where Thomae Lumber building now stands. The crews hit the curb box at that location. Rather than tear up the street to remove the box and piping, repairs were made and a curb box exists for possible future businesses at that location. Some businesses are complaining about the trees. Some are choosing to have the trees planted in front of their businesses cut down and new ones planted. That aspect is being handled by Heidi. The total project cost was estimated at $105,000 and will now cost $209,000. The third item of business was an update on Street Maintenance Funds for this season. Kurt stated there is $100,000 reserved for chip sealing throughout town. SE 4 Street will cost $60,000 which will come from the City. There is another $30,000 in the budget for oil for pothole patchwork. The final budget, effective July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013 has not been approved and is still being negotiated. The fourth item of business was Personnel Changes at the Waste Water Plant. Bob Mann retired after 33 years with the City of Laurel. That position (Chief Operator) was opened and Robert 0. Volmer, previously an Operator I signed an agreement for the open position. The requirements were five years of experience and this applicant had four years of experience plus a college degree so one year was granted as experience for the degree. There are two other operators at the water plant who did not want to move up. There is a provision in the union contract which allows anyone 30 days to revert back to their old position so it is estimated that it will be 60 to 90 days before all employees are established in their new positions. The new contract contains a provision that allows any employee to receive training for any position even before a job opens up. However, no one had taken advantage of that provision before this opening. The fifth item of business was Riverside Park (Mitigate Further Damage). The City of Laurel received permits from the Army Corp of Engineers which included allowing removal of sediment under the bridge. The Fish, Wildlife and Parks had said they were willing to turn over FEMA funds to rebuild the boat ramp. However that matter is still up in the air because FEMA does not want to allow their funding to be spent doing work in the river. The buildings at Riverside Park are considered historical so the City will need to document the buildings prior to demolition of those deemed too damaged to be rebuilt. There is a request for $30,000 in the new budget (after July 1, 2012) for demolition. The Rod and Gun Club building received $23,000 worth of damaged. However it will cost far more than that to fix it up and guarantee future flood waters will not destroy the building again. Potable water has been turned on to Riverside Park and the Jaycee building can be used providing the Jaycees rent the building with the warning that high waters could close the park and put the building out of access for the public. The park likely will not be opened up to overnight camping again this year. Signs have been orders warning the public of a "Cut Bank ". River Stone Health says fixing the American Legion drain field can be grandfathered in but if a new drain field and septic system are put in they will not permit it because of the proximity to the river. The sixth item of business was Other Matters. *K. Dan Koch wanted to reopen discussion on Sprinkler Systems. He said that presented a lot of information but that as "new kid on the block" he didn't realize that none of it would go to the Council unless the Committee voted to move it forward. He felt it was an important issue and would like to bring it up again. There was discussion regarding Gary Colley's reaction to the use of metered water. It was decided to put the item down under items for next agenda. *Kurt said there was a broken water main under the bath house at the City pool. It appeared there was 6" cast iron piping that had been filled with 4" cast iron pipe which made it very difficult to run investigative wire to determine the location of the break. Kurt was also aware that previously there had been storm water flowing into the basement of the bath house, then draining into the City sewer. The crews will try to fix this problem with Building Maintenance monies and will start digging in the parking lot to find the break on Tuesday, May 8, 2012. *Kurt said there is a job posting for downtown City sweeping from 3 a.m. until 7 a.m. *Chuck Rodgers wanted to know how many people were in the Code Enforcement department. It was stated Code Enforcement was comprised of the City Planner, Monica; Gary Colley who currently is primarily doing planning reviews for two new businesses and Chris who drives the City looking for Code violations and responds to complaints. *Kurt stated that the matter of the uphill running sewer line at E 11 and Montana was still being worked on. He said that early estimates were that the work could be done for under $50,000 which meant it would not have to go out for bid. They advertised the project once and received no takers. The deadline was extended one more week and Western Municipal estimated the work at $49,416. The City Attorney would like to see at least a second estimate. MMIA instructed the City to "fix it or buy the homes ". The seventh item of business was items for the next agenda. *Sprinkler systems for City businesses - K. Dan Koch *Sewer Plant - update on first upgrade *Sewer Plant Personnel update The meeting was adjourned at 6:46 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Emelie Eaton Vice Chair, Public Works Committee