Natural gas consumers in Wayland will get price break

BY KARYN SPORY

Mt. Pleasant News

WAYLAND ? Those who purchase natural gas through the City of Wayland may be seeing smaller bills in the future.

One of the first actions taken Wednesday night during the Wayland City Council meeting was to consider a decrease of natural gas rates. The council approved decreasing the price to $7.50 per mcf. Previously, the natural gas customers had been paying $8.25 per mcf.

Wayland Mayor Brad Roth said fuel costs have been staying down and so he would like to pass those savings on to the consumers.

Roth added the fuel in storage is currently 84 percent full and the city has two more fuel purchases scheduled over the course of the summer.

?I don?t see (the price of natural gas) going back up and if we choose $7.50, I don?t think we?ll have to raise (our price) to cover anything,? commented Councilwoman Melinda Ullery.

During the meeting, the council also discussed replacing the overhead flashing light at the intersection of Highway 78 and Jefferson Street.

Deputy Clerk Marsha Chalupa said the current overhead flashing light is so old, the city can?t keep it functioning. ?We?ll fix it and it will work for a few weeks or a month and it will go out again,? she said.

The agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation would be to put a stationary traffic control device at the intersection. The city would be responsible for the upfront cost of $10,000, but would be reimbursed by DOT. The city would be responsible for maintenance and replacement of the traffic control device.

However, the mayor and council agreed that a stationary traffic signal might not withstand the heavy traffic at the intersection, which is also next to the entrance for the BP convenience store. Roth said the stop sign at the intersection has been ran over more times than he can count and could see the same thing happening to the expensive device.

?It is very much needed, I think,? Councilwoman Karole Miller said of a traffic signal at the intersection.

The council decided to table the actionable item until they could talk with the DOT to see if an overhead signal could be purchased instead of a stationary one.

Also during the meeting, the council approved a resolution to certify a nuisance lien against real estate. The lien, Chalupa explained, is for the city mowing the property at 206 South Pearl Street. The cost for mowing and administrative fees was $130, for each time the city has mowed the property. This was the fourth time the property has been mowed.

In other business, the council:

? Approved the urban renewal plan amendment for the Wayland urban renewal area.

? Approved a tax abatement application for Wenger Rentals for reconstruction and renovation to the building at 208 West Main Street.

? Approved a building permit for Lyle Manning to reroof his house at 201 North Madison Street.

The next meeting of the Wayland City Council will be on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 7:30 p.m., at City Hall.