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Melvin council discusses budget and sewer
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The Melvin city council spent the majority of their meeting February 1 discussing the 2010-2011 budget. Total expected income for the city is $99,868, about $20,000 more than last year. The increase is from the recently passed Local Option Sales and Service tax. That amount is only an estimate, however. It could be more or less. Mayor Gary Benz told the council that the monies allocated to the fire department and public safety will amount to over $52,000.
The council put two new items into the proposed budget; the floor of the town's snow box, in the back of the dump truck, is shot and might need replacement soon, as well as the water truck. That vehicle "is on its last legs" and will need to be replaced in the future. The estimated cost of replacing the truck is about $30,000. Benz told the council "If we don't have a water truck, we don't have a fire department."
The council also agreed to give "the town guy" Jim Watterson, a 3% pay increase, putting his salary at $12.36 an hour.
The council scheduled a public hearing on the budget for the March 1 meeting at 7:30.
* Water leaks
Benz informed the council that two water leaks have occurred in the city. One was near the Lutheran church, and the other in front of 355 Center St. Both were caused when Rural Water accidentally increased the water pressure and the old cast iron pipes broke. In each case, what is called "a saddle" was placed over the leaks. The council discussed replacing a small portion of the old pipes with plastic pipes each year. However, no final decision on that suggestion was made.
* Regional Water
Kelly Grapler, of Iowa Lakes Regional Water had contacted Benz and said that by the March meeting, she would know the final status of funding resources for the proposed sewer system, and what monies would be available. She also said they are looking at several pieces of ground for holding ponds. The proposed system will require about nine acres of land. She said several landowners have expressed interest in selling land for the project.
The council was again supposed to consider the new by-laws for the Melvin Public Library, but the matter was tabled until next month.
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