Sewer repair on council agenda
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The Mount Ayr city Council covered a short agenda at its regular meeting Monday, October 17.
Sewer line repair
City Superintendent Brent Wise presented a quote from AccuJet Sewer and Drain Cleaning of Perry for repairs to a sanitary sewage line that runs under Highway 2 near the Glendenning racing shop. Wise explained at some point in the past a second utility line had been bored under the highway that damaged the sewer line, but he could not identify the purpose for the second line. The point of damage creates a clog in the sewer line that repeatedly needs cleaned for the sewer system to operate properly. Wise said many of the past clogs are due to mop heads that somehow got into the system. After a short discussion the Council approved the quote of $10,813.62 to remove the second utility line from its intersection with the sewer line. A second quote to install a liner to repair the damaged sewer line will be addressed at a future Council meeting.
Nuisances
During the public hearing portion of the meeting, David Zollman appeared before the Council to ask for an extension in time to bring his properties into compliance with city ordinances. The city has already filed a municipal infraction on one property located at 700 E. Jackson Street for which Zollman must appear before a magistrate on October 26. Zollman said the house on that property is used for storage, and he needs more time to remove items in storage before tearing the house down in the spring.
The municipal infraction asks for a civil penalty of up to $750 for a first offense of violating nuisance ordinances and up to $1,000 per violation of each repeat offense plus court costs.
Two other properties owned by Zollman have been identified as violating nuisance ordinances. In reference to those properties, Zollman explained he has arranged for a contractor to demolish the house located at 701 E. Jackson Street in the coming weeks, and he has also made significant progress to clean up a third property located at 304 S. Douglas Street.
In response to Zollman’s request, the Council declined to provide an extension but noted the magistrate could come to a different decision.
Other business
In other business the Council:
• approved the second reading amending the fees for the city’s garbage pickup utility.
• approved the first reading of the floodplain management ordinance.
• approved the retention of Lynn Rinehart on a part-time basis to cover some of the duties of Shawn Brobst, who has resigned from the city crew. Rinehart has been employed part-time to cover summer mowing duties.
• heard an update from superintendent Wise on the condition of the municipal swimming pool following the removal of portions of concrete decking to expose broken recirculation lines. It was decided to further investigate the preferable backfill material before proceeding with repair of the lines and installation of new concrete.
• heard an update on street repairs currently in progress. Wise said the concrete surface on Valley West Drive had been removed, and the surface is being prepared for new concrete. He added improvements on Polk Street, W. Columbus Street, and Van Buren Street were all on track for completion.
