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| City ponders street closure for water line repair |
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| Written by Danetta BArker | |
| Wednesday, 10 March 2010 | |
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By Danetta Barker Editor For now one lane of Water Street will remain open. The city of Flemingsburg Utilities department has requested from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet a permit to close the street on the north end where the justice center is being built for water line repair. The permit was denied, according to Mayor Louie Flanery. At Monday night’s meeting Flanery discussed the project with Utilities Supervisor Joe Dunaway. The contractor for the justice center, Trace Creek Construction, has 60 days to complete the work and open the sidewalk, and then the city can close the other lane for work. Dunaway did report that working with the contractors at the justice center, the city would save some money on milling and resurfacing the road where a cut would be made to access the water lines. Water is causing another problem for the city. Councilman Mary Voiers expressed his concern about compliance issues regulated by the Division of Water. Voiers concerns were with the water plant and the discharge of suspended solids. “We have to be in complete compliance by June,” Voiers said. Flanery said he had gotten that deadline extended, but the situation still needed to be resolved. Suspended solids are in the water as it moves through the tanks. Voiers said there are several options; one included building a storage tank to let water settle. Another would be building drying beds and haul the solids out the same way sludge is hauled from the sewer plant; or the solids could be piped to the sewer plant. “Or we can close the plant all together and use other sources,” Voiers said. Flanery and Dunaway said they are working with the Division of Water to bring the system into compliance. As all this takes place, the council passed an ordinance increasing water rates by eight percent. Sewer rates were decreased by the same amount. The ordinances reallocate the revenue. The water department loses money while sewer makes money. An ordinance regulating the television access board also passed. Council discussed the pay for the mayor and council members and passed the first reading of an ordinance that will set the rates. Council members now receive $3,900 per year that will change to $4,200 per year. Council does not have benefits such as insurance or retirement. The mayor position comes with a $15,000 a year salary. Council voted to increase that to $21,000 per year. Councilman Meredith Story, who heads up the finance committee said the salaries are comparable to other cities the size of Flemingsburg. “We feel we are saving the city money by having the mayor do the work of a city manager or administrator,” Story said. “City managers get paid between $30,000 and $42,000 a year.” The first reading of a flood plain map was held. A public hearing on the matter will be held March 24 at 5 p.m. at city hall annex. A called meeting will follow to vote on the plan. The flood plain map is required to get flood insurance for the area. If homeowners buy insurance now, before their home is placed in a flood plain, the cost will be much cheaper than it will be after the flood plain is decided in May. Mayor Flanery opened sealed bids for surplus items and the council voted to sell the items to the highest bidder. Flanery said he would sort through the bids and choose the highest bidder and notify them. |
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