Goessel may need larger water tower

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN CYNTHIA GOERZEN
Public Works Director Arlen Goertzen told the Goessel City Council at their Oct. 19 meeting that the city may need to consider building a larger water tower as the result of recommendations from a water engineering study.



Goertzen said Chris Cox had delivered the Schwab Eaton water engineering study to him that day.



The report noted that the city of Goessel has grown 55 percent since 1960, which is an annual growth rate of 1.25 percent. Based on that pattern, the study projects a population of 845 residents in the city by the year 2020.



Goessel’s current water rights (appropriations) allow the city to pump 22.3 million gallons of water a year. The city used 22.05 million gallons of water in 1999. The study projected the city will need 25 million gallons of water a year by 2020.



Because of the projection, the study recommended the city begin the process of applying for more water rights. Kansas Rural Water Association (KRWA) can be contacted for help in this matter.



Goertzen reported that 107,000 gallons a day had been pumped during the hot, dry weather, but that amount had dropped dramatically in recent weeks, to 50,000 gallons a day.



The study recommends the city purchase a 100,000-gallon elevated water tower. Goertzen said the current water tower has a capacity of 47,500 gallons.



Cox told Goertzen the east end of town is eight feet higher than the location of the water tower. However, the city does not own any property at the east end of town, so it was determined that a taller tower could be installed at the present site.



A new water tower would cost about $314,000. Besides $250,000 for a new single pedestal “ball-top” on a 30-foot diameter cone base, the total also includes estimates for engineering, legal and inspection fees.



The study suggested having the pump control system calibrated so water can be monitored more easily. This would help the city make plans for the future.



After hearing the report, Mayor Peggy Jay said, “I would be ready to start looking seriously for some funding to somehow get the ball rolling.”



Goertzen said he had already made a preliminary application to the state’s revolving fund, which provides loans for two percent interest.



He said he would check how far the city has progressed on the list. City Clerk Anita Goertzen said South Central Kansas Economic Development District will not consider helping Goessel because the water rates are too low.



Evidently, organizations are more willing to help when a city can provide some of the funding itself from its own water charges.



Arlen Goertzen reported the city’s waste water lagoons had been designed in 1982 for 600 people. He said lagoons have to hold and treat sewage for 120 days.



He said the city will probably need to acquire an additional two and a half acres of ground to expand the lagoon capacity to allow for projected population growth.



However, he said a number of waste water projects are currently “on hold” until Environmental Protection Agency issues are decided.



Goertzen also reported city workers had completed another round of sewer cleaning. Goertzen said residents had been informed that the cleaning would be done and there were no major customer problems.



Seven thousand feet of sewer pipe had been cleaned. That included everything from Summit Street to the west. In addition, a specified amount of sewer lines had been videotaped.



Goertzen said: “I don’t think we had any major problems. We’ll be getting a full report.” Goertzen said a few places had moderate root intrusion, but no breaks or cracks were found. Some work might need to be done at the site of one man-hole, where roots are coming into the pipe.



Goertzen explained sewer line situations that include “in-flow” (surface water) and “infiltration” (water that comes from the ground).



In other business:



— The council changed the date of the November meeting to Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 8:30 p.m. This change will allow council members and city employees to attend the League of Kansas Municipalities meeting in Lindsborg.



— The council discussed the city’s contract with the transfer station. The contract ends in September 2001. Jay said the county wanted the council to verbally extend the contract to the end of 2001.



She said some commissioners want to charge for trash through taxes. But council members Larry Lindeman and Jim Wiens saw no need to change the current contract.



A motion passed unanimously to wait and consider the contract again at the time of renewal.



— Goertzen received a certificate of appreciation from the League of Kansas Municipalities for 10 years of city service.



— Goertzen reported the city clerk and he had attended a disaster workshop. Jay suggested that Goertzen work with the police chief and the fire chief to develop a plan for Goessel.



— Anita Goertzen reported the telephone in the city building’s hall can be used for local calls. Long distance phone calls can be made with a phone card.



— She also reported the matching grant she wrote for seeding the baseball diamonds had received preliminary approval. Sixty-eight grant applications had been received.



— It was announced that on Nov. 9 city clerk Goertzen will graduate from the three-year Municipal Clerk Certification Institute, which is accredited by the International Clerk’s Institute. Goertzen had received a scholarship for the entire tuition.



— School superintendent Chet Roberts explained the state’s school boundary survey that is currently under way. He also discussed city growth with the council.



— The council approved the financial statements of $15,358.



— Due to the resignation of police chief Wayne Britton, a special meeting was held Oct. 4, and Rollin Schmidt was promoted to the position of police chief. He is fully qualified and certified under Kansas law.

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