We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Chinook council studies punch list. (l-r) Mayor Hanson and council members Chris Thurman and Clint Greytak watch a presentation detailing the punch list to complete the Indiana Street sidewalk project in Chinook. The presentation was made using a flat screen TV system purchased through a grant from Triangle Communications.
Mayor Keith Hanson called the monthly council meeting to order on the evening of January 7. All council members were present: Mitch Haider, Robert Smith, Chris Thurman and Clint Greytak. Several city department heads were present as well as visitors Jeff Ashley with Morrison-Maierle, engineers for the water plant upgrade.
Approval of the December meeting was motioned and approved. Payment of claims and acceptance of reports was also motioned and approved. There was no public comment.
Department heads made their reports. For the wastewater treatment plant Eric Miller said new lights were being installed in the shop area at the plant. There is still a problem with 'foam' during the winter months which is hard to disperse in cold weather. John Blankenship, with the water treatment plant, reported the plant crew was now back on regular shifts after an extended period, through the holidays, of manually running the treatment plant around the clock during a construction phase. There is some concern that there is a leak in the distribution system as an additional water is being called for each day. Jim Teel, who looks after the distribution system, is trying to find a possible leak.
Jim Teel, with streets and buildings, said there is a leaking valve that was discovered when a water main failed last month. He is gathering needed materials to fix the valve when there is a break in the weather. Elmer Zarn, Police Chief, reported one officer is attending POST certification training through March 26. He repeated that during cold weather the department will give people a ride home in town who don't want to drive impaired. With the help of the City Attorney there is now a policy to cover how the new body cams will be used by patrolmen. Once the body cams are in place they will be worn by city patrolmen during every shift. City Clerk Gabe Harry said the annual city audit would begin next week.
Council committee heads gave their reports. Councilman Haider said informational signs had been ordered for placing at public access dumping sites. Councilman Smith said a draft of the ordinance regarding water restrictions during a drought was completed and the committee would review it and planned to bring the final version to the council for approval.
Old business
Jeff Ashley, the head engineer for the water treatment plant upgrade, gave a status report on the project. He said the project is now 80% complete with a goal to complete the project in mid-March. A major phase will begin next week as some new processing tanks will be arriving for installation. The plan is to start the processing equipment by February 1, then replace the other half of the existing processing tanks.
Ashley discussed a construction cost overrun that was denied for payment by the council last month. He said the total overruns were at less than one percent of work completed, which is better than the average of two percent on most projects. He added that any time there is a "retrofit" to an existing plant that there will be problems not foreseen until work actually is begun. Council agreed that the overruns were within acceptable limits and added they were pleased with the job both a "retrofit" to an existing plant that there will be problems not foreseen until work actually is begun. Council agreed that the overruns were within acceptable limits and added they were pleased with the job both Morrison-Maierle, the engineers, and Jackson Construction were doing on the project. Ashley said Jackson Construction Group kept excellent records of any overrun they submitted and he felt the construction group was doing more than was required to keep cost overruns within an acceptable limit.
Michelle Turville presented Draw #9 from the Rural Development Grant for payment of bills for engineering and construction for the month. Council motioned and approved payment of $32,030.11 for engineering fees and $429,638.45 for construction costs for the water treatment project.
Council then reviewed a punch list to complete the Indiana Street sidewalk project. A walk through inspection was held in mid-December involving the mayor, council members, Frontier, who did the work, and Siemens Engineering. There were a number of issues and the council watched a video production showing all the fixes that needed to be made. Council motioned and approved to withhold payment of a request for $11,862 from Frontier until the punch list was completed. After the punch list is completed there will be a final payment made of the remaining $21,000 cost of the project.
The CDBG housing study group asked to schedule a public forum to review the findings of their study. The study was paid for by a grant and involves the cities of Malta, Chinook and Harlem. Mayor Hanson said the date needed to be coordinated with the other cities and asked the City Clerk to email the council members when a date was decided.
New Business
Jim Teel prepared a letter for the council outlining some sewer main issues with the area along Highway 2. Teel said there was a blockage of the sewer main that appeared to be caused by food grease being flushed into the sewer system. Council instructed the City Clerk and Teel to review the city's requirements for grease traps and inform all food establishments of the city ordinance requiring proper treatment of waste food grease and the consequences if the requirements are not followed.
Meeting was adjourned.
