NL City Council talks sewer repair

BY KARYN SPORY

Mt. Pleasant News

NEW LONDON ? The New London City Council may have agreed to postpone any sewer work under the high school?s football field until after next season, but that doesn?t mean the council won?t be waiting to talk about the project.

Last September, the council decided to postpone replacing the sewer until after the 2016 football season. However, city project engineer, Matt Walker, said there is some work the city could begin sooner rather than later.

?There is a rather large structure that goes from the existing manhole south of the parking lot to just north of the track,? said Walker. ?That structure is going to take two months to get built, so why not try to get that short stretch of pipe and the manhole in during the summertime. That way, once football is done, they don?t have to monkey around with the manhole and they can start laying sewer pipe and connect up to it.?

However, before even that work can be done, Walker said there is a conflict with the sanitary sewer. The elevation of the sanitary sewer needs to be figured out. Walker said his concern was if the elevation of the pipes needs to be changed, that could delay future projects.

Walker said the council had talked in the past of just having Public Works Director Denny Bozarth dig up the area to ascertain the elevation. However, Walker said this work could become part of the bigger project and whatever construction company wins the bid could do it.

The council directed Walker to have Bozarth dig the sanitary sewer and get the pipe elevation and get quotes for the project this summer.

During the meeting, the council also discussed the use of city equipment for personal use.

Councilman Tom Davis said he has had citizens? comment on seeing Bozarth driving the city vehicle he uses home during the day. He added he has personally seen Bozarth driving the vehicle towards his personal residence during the day.

This is not the first time council members have brought up Bozarth?s usage of the vehicle. Davis and Councilman Frank Staley both voiced concerns with wear and tear of the vehicle if it?s being driven back and forth to a residence.

Mayor Ron Sadler said Bozarth has been allowed to take the city vehicle home of a night as he is on call 24/7. Sadler added Bozarth does go to his personal shop to grab parts that are then used in city projects.

Regardless of the mayor?s protests, the council voted 3-2 to no longer allow city employees to take city owned equipment to their personal residences. Councilmen Kirk Miller and Dan Berner cast the nay votes.

In other business, the council:

? Vetoed an action to purchase a new tractor blade for the public works department with funds from the sale of the crack sealer.

? Approved purchasing U-Stream equipment to broadcast council meetings.

? Appoint Shanon Wellingotn as a Utility Trustee with term ending Nov. 30, 2021.

? Appoint Steve Rotter as a Utility Trustee with term ending Nov. 30, 2021.

? Approved selling real estate at 315 N. Maple Street. The property will be open for bid, with a bid minimum at $6,300.

? Approved selling a 2007 black/white Ford Crown Victoria. The vehicle will be open for bid, with no bid minimum.

? Approved employing Elijah Gnann as a part-time police officer. Gnann will fill in while one of the city?s officers is called out for active duty.

The next city council meeting will be Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 5:30 p.m., at City Hall.