Public Service Committee Minutes

 

November 5, 2007

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Gore at 7:00 p.m.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  John Gore, Dan Fogt, Mark Reams

 

OTHERS PRESENT:   Tracie Davies, Phil Roush, Dick Noland, Jay Rausch, Tom Rausch, Kathy House

 

AGENDA:

 

1.     Job Ready Site Grant

 

Mr. Fogt asked, “After all the expenses and all the grants, how much money will be paid by the citizens of Marysville toward the JRS?”  Mr. Morehart responded there are no additional costs associated with this grant that the citizens of Marysville will incur.

 

Ms. House noted one expenditure, a professional fee for $5.75M.  Under sewer, those funds have already been expended in the projects that have already been undertaken.  There is a percentage of sewer and pump station and the water reclamation facility projects that were directly attributable to this site.  It was calculated how much volume would there be if this site were totally built out that would flow to our new plant through the sewer and to the pump station, and that percentage was calculated out of our projects that we already were in the midst of and attributed to our local match for the sewer.  Under professional fees, the $2,500 for the phase 1 environmental and (inaudible) survey were both paid by the property owner. Even though it’s listed under local match, it was not city funded.  City’s total contribution, which was already made at the time this application was submitted, is $5,767,890.  Total of JRS Grant $3.5M.  $440,000 for water lines, $1.8 for construction for the portion of the southwest trunk sewer that will serve that site and $484,000 for professional fees for engineering for water & sewer, $781,000 natural gas, $28,248 for electricity and $19,712 for demolition costs.  City received a 10% advance and the remainder will be reimbursed.

 

Mr. Fogt asked, “By doing the southwest trunk sewer sooner than planned, did that affect our current rates or our bonds or our costs.”  Mr. Morehart said no.  Ms. House said the southwest trunk sewer was already part of the 5-year rate structure.  The entire southwest trunk sewer is being designed, but will not be built all at once.    Ms. House said the widening of the pavement, which was originally part of the project application, got cut because we got $3.6M instead of $5M that was applied for.   City was able to secure an OPWC grant to widen that stretch of road.  That money won’t be available until July 2008.  There will be a local match on that grant.  It’s a $1.2M project, and the grant money is $875,000.  There will be some in-kind and out of pocket costs.

 

2.     Master Plan Adoption

 

Ms. House stated that the Wastewater Master Plan, Wastewater Master Plan Update and the Water Master Plan have all been completed.  Administration feels it’s important that everyone is on the same page about these Master Plans and feels it would be a good idea to officially adopt the plans.  Draft legislation was presented to the Committee.  The Mayor is willing to sponsor this legislation, and Ms. House asked if the Committee would be willing to co-sponsor.  Ms. Davies noted that even though Council may be adopting the Plans, everything needs to go back through Council because dollars are tied to them. 

 

Mr. Fogt said he was not sold on the Wastewater Master Plan Update.  Messers. Gore and Reams agreed to sponsor the Plans. 

 

Mr. Dick Noland referred to Union County Master Plan.  The area he lives in is shown as agriculture.  In the Wastewater Master Plan Update, his area is circled and marked office and industrial.  Mr. Roush said the Plan that was done and has not yet been adopted by Jerome Township Trustees shows that as something other than agricultural.  That’s how that came about.

 

3)     Sidewalk Repair Program

 

Amended legislation is currently on Council agenda.  Proposal is to expand the program to include all commercial and residential throughout the entire city, with the exception of new subdivisions.  The program is not retroactive.  A section was added for areas where there are no sidewalks. 

 

Mr. Reams asked about proximity of schools.  He feels the scale is too big.  Feels distances should be cut in half. 

 

4)     Reservoir Update

 

Pre-constriction meeting will be held mid-November.  A meeting will be held with the neighbors between the pre-construction meeting and the actual start of the construction.  The contract is for just the excavation of the hole, not the dam, pump station or water line.  Hope to bid out the other contracts soon for those projects.

 

5)     Wastewater Treatment Plant Update

 

The water reclamation facility is 50% complete.  They are making very good progress and doing an excellent job.  They are on target to meet their construction completion and final completion of December 2008. 

 

Mr. Gore asked if work was completed on Adelsberger Road.  Response was no.  The piping is in with the exception of the last portion.  Ms. Davies said the County has requested that the City put in additional roadway drainage tile.  A change order was submitted to the contractor, so have to wait on a quote from the contractor.  Will not be able to finish that road before winter. 

 

Trunk interceptor sewer tunneling has begun.  Tunneling is now complete from the first shaft at Scottslawn Road back to the pump station, underneath Scottslawn Road. 

 

6)     2007 Goals

 

·        Continue working on the traffic study -- Traffic Study contract has been received.

 

·        Continue working on the Town Run -- Town Run revitalization in progress.

 

·        Sidewalk maintenance discussion – This goal completed; remove from list.

 

·        Stormwater – RFQ’s done for the northwest storm study.  Evaluations are in progress.  Should be in contract before the end of the year.   Ms. Davies said the EPA has approved the City’s Stormwater Management Plan.  First five year window begins in January.  Credit goes to Ms. Davies for writing the Plan. 

 

·        Street Paving – Paving is completed for this year.  Minimal amount of paving is planned for next year; Plum Street behind the hospital, Suntra Way (area off of Industrial Parkway), some alley work in the uptown area with CDBG funds and Collins Avenue.  That project was put off a little in hopes of getting a better price if all were done at the same time.  As part of the Plum Street paving, looking at replacing the culvert, widening the roadway and putting in sidewalks.   Mr. Fogt asked about the pavement repair in front of the Moose.  Ms. House said Joe Tracy has that on his list to talk to the State about.

 

     Mr. Reams asked about long-term funding for street maintenance program.    Ms. House said this should be discussed with the incoming Mayor.  Mr.          Reams asked if this issue should be discussed by Public Service Committee or Finance Committee.  Mr. Roush said there will be discussions next year    regarding funding for firestation, safety force operations, etc.  It would       be good to bring all those items together for discussion and could be held in   either Committee or a Council work session.

 

     Remove Street Paving goal from the list.

 

·        Water and sewer projects – Remove from list of goals.

 

·        Explore a comprehensive impact fee – Mr. Fogt noted that President Bush vetoed the bill for the water projects because it doubled in size from the time it started.  He asked if the City had heard if they would receive any of this money.  Response was no word had been received.

 

Mr. Dick Noland complimented the City on the job they do on publicizing what’s going on in the City.

 

Meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m.