ORIGINALLY WRITTEN CYNTHIA GOERZEN
The Goessel City Council decided at its Sept. 20 meeting to adjust city water rates.
Acting on the advice of Pat Flynn, who had advised the council at last month’s meeting to plan for the future, the council did not change the minimum rate of $5 but did increase the rate by 10 cents per hundred gallons for use above the minimum.
The council also voted to increase the sewer connection fee to $250 for new construction, although Flynn had recommended $1,000.
City Clerk Anita Goertzen had checked with other small cities and found that several cities charge $250. Goessel’s hook-up fee had been $5.
Mayor Peggy Jay said, “That doesn’t even pay for the time to do it.”
The council has been studying sewer improvements and also plans to build a new water tower. Consequently, Flynn had suggested that the rates be increased now to help pay for those projects.
He pointed out there had been no increase in fees since 1998.
Public Works Director Arlen Goertzen reported that Chris Cox plans to solicit bids from water tower contractors this week. Bids will be opened Oct. 16. Plans call for a 100,000-gallon tank that will be 25 feet higher than the current tower. Cox is planning to have it painted a light blue with royal or dark blue lettering.
Contractors have been asked to submit two bids, one that includes demolition of the old tower and one only for construction of the new one.
Goertzen said Cox thinks foundation work could begin this year yet, with the next stage of construction beginning next spring. A 325-day construction time is anticipated.
“How will it affect water pressure?” Councilor Larry Lindeman asked.
“It should raise it,” Goerzen said.
Councilor Jim Wiens said it would be increased by 11 pounds. The increased water pressure will benefit the whole town.
Referring to property the city purchased adjacent to the city shop some time ago, Goertzen said, “I’d like to get the rest of our lot cleaned up completely this fall. We’re getting closer to water tower construction.”
The space will be needed for the tower. Consequently, the council approved renting a dumpster for the project.
Elementary school principal John Fast attended the meeting to request a crosswalk across Main Street at the corner of Elm. He said 20 children who walk or ride bikes to school live along East Commercial Street and use Elm to get to Main Street. Then they have to cross Main Street in order to get to school. The speed limit at that point is 40 mph.
Fast suggested asking for volunteer crossing guards. The council also discussed putting up crossing signs and painting a crosswalk on the street. Goertzen said the sign would have to go on the south side of Main Street since the state owns the north side of Main Street in that area. The council approved the crosswalk.
Mayor Jay said the city’s trash contract with KC Development expires Oct. 1. City attorney Bob Brookens had suggested extending the contract to the end of the year. But Jay pointed out that Rex Savage of KC Development wants to charge everyone in the county, whether they use a different trash service or not. The plan would include charging every room at Bethesda Home.
No one made a motion to sign the KC Development contract. Jay and Wiens had attended a county trash meeting, where a county trash plan had been discussed.
“It’s going to hurt Goessel if this goes through,” Jay said.
A representative from Stutzman Refuse attended the meeting to explain the “cart option” his company would like to offer to residents.
“It’s a lot neater system,” he said. “It’s an advantage both ways.”
Trash-truck drivers do not have to get out of the truck to dump the carts. Since the time was already late, Jay asked him to come back to next month’s meeting to discuss his proposal further.
In other business:
–?Policeman Robert Sieberns said that since the first of the month, the police had followed up on four delinquent dog licenses, issued one traffic warning and three notices to appear, dealt with one minor in possession of alcohol, and made three repairs to the patrol car. Sieberns said Eric Reed from the sheriff’s reserve is temporarily helping while Police Chief Rollin Schmidt is gone.
–?The council reluctantly
accepted the resignation of Kevin Klassen as city judge, effective Dec. 31. Wiens commended him for his excellent work.
–?Goertzen expressed appreciation to those who worked at the city’s state fair booth.
–?The council approved Goertzen’s request to attend the Master Municipal Clerk’s two-day Academy in Wichita, which provides 12 hours of credit. She said the topic of this year’s academy will be disaster management and recovery. Lindeman and Wiens encouraged the city to develop a disaster plan.
“We can all be more alert,” Wiens said.
–?Goertzen had researched the idea of installing lights north of the city building. The lights have been damaged by vandals. The council approved the purchase of six lights at a cost of $12.97 each.
According to Goertzen, “These looked the most damage-proof.”
–?Wiens said the city needs to rebuild the ejector pump and volunteered to help Goertzen with that project. He said it would likely take three days, and the backup generator would power the wastewater system during that time.
