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New London City Council to hear Sanitation Service Proposals
By Gina Anderson
Nov. 22, 2023 1:38 am
The New London City Council met in regular session on Nov. 13, 2023 with Council Member Travis Benz absent. They approved the agenda and no one addressed the Council in open forum.
Council Member Helmerson reported that the Fire Department received their air packs purchased with a FEMA grant. The grant was for $356,914.28 and the cost of the air packs was $366.678.44. The grant participants were New London, Mt. Union, Olds, and Wayland. Each participant will pay a proportion of the remaining balance.
Mayor Miller advised the Council that the Public Works department completed the foundation and frame for a state championship sign near the New London Specialty Care. The sign will be installed soon.
They approved the consent agenda and then took up old business. The Council revisited the issue of sanitation services for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Comparing the cost of city garbage collecting to that of a private hauler, the use of a private hauler makes more financial sense. The Council will send requests for proposals for sanitation services to WEMICA Waste Management and Lance Refuse to be returned by the next meeting on Dec. 11, 2023.
The Council discussed streetlight banner designs, They prefer a simpler design. The Utility Trustees will be consulted to see if the design the Council likes is agreeable to them.
In new business, the Council took the following action:
- Approved change order #2 for Jones Contracting that will increase the contract for their work on the Pine Street Subdivision by $2,926.00. This will take the total contract price for the Second Addition to $546,195.05.
- Approved final pay estimate #8 to Jones Contracting in the amount of $29,822.54 for the Second Addition to the Pine Street Subdivision.
- Approved consent to Ahlers & Cooney to represent NLCSD in the acquisition of 102 W. Main Street, Apt. 1 from the City.
- Approved Resolution #414 setting a date for a public hearing for the sale of the 102 W. Main Street Apt. 1 property. The Public hearing on this matter will be at the December 11th Council meeting at 6 p.m.
- Approved the reappointment of Carolyn Jean Westerbeck to the NL Municipal Utility Board with a term ending 11/30/2029.
- Approved the Annual Urban Renewal Report for FY 2023.
- Approved purchasing 32 diffusers for the wastewater treatment plant from Nexom EDI for $46,900.00.
In other new business, the Council discussed the 28E agreement with the Henry County Sheriff’s Department for partial coverage of the police department’s on-call overnight hours. Problems have arisen. It is taking a toll on the officers to be on-call after working a 16-hour shift. They noted the city’s current expense for city officers to be on-call versus what constitutes appropriate compensation to offer the Sheriff’s Office for overnight fill in to replace the on-call.
The Council felt it was necessary to have the city’s attorney look over the proposed 28E agreement and have him draft an agreement that addresses not only the Sheriff’s Office helping out the city, but also the city helping out the Sheriff's Office. The Council also felt the agreement for the Sheriff’s Office covering the city’s on-call needed to be separate from the 28E agreement. The Council will let the Public Safety Committee negotiate a price for the on-call coverage with the Sheriff’s Office to be approved by the Council at a later date.
The Council discussed selling Lot 2 of the Second Addition of the Pine Street Subdivision. The proposed buyer would like a delayed closing date no later than May 1, 2024. The Council did not see an issue with the request and would like to move forward with the proceeding to sell the lot.
The Council finished up with a review of the Financial Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.
The meeting adjourned at 6:42 p.m. The next regular meeting of the New London City Council will be Dec. 11, 2023 at 6 p.m. in the City Office.
