Water problems continue to vex city council
Florence City Council learned Monday night the city had been issued a time extension on the water plant upgrades. City clerk Darla Gore presented a letter from SKEDD indicating the new deadline for the project is the end of June, 2004.
Gore said the problem with the cracks in the clear well lid "renders the project incomplete by KDHE." The original deadline was Dec. 31, 2003. The cracks in the clear well were discovered in October and have since been a source of frustration for the city council.
The council also reviewed a letter from Stuart Porter, project engineer, relating to the repair of the cracks. Porter said his firm's plan to fill the defective area with an epoxy substance should take care of the problem. However, Porter's firm, Straub Eaton, only was willing to warranty the solution for a five-year period.
Councilman Randy Mills said he felt without an opinion from an independent engineering firm, the city had no way of knowing if Porter's solution was viable or not. No action was taken on Mills' suggestion, but Mayor John Lehman agreed to invite Porter to the April 19 city council meeting to address the group and answer questions.
In another matter related to city utilities, city employee Ken Hoffman told the council he would be unable to take the wastewater certification exam April 15 because of a conflict with the classes he is taking to become certified in water treatment. Instead he will take the exam June 2 at Parsons.
Hoffman updated the council on a problem discovered by recent KDHE testing of the city's water quality. Higher than allowed levels of lead and copper were discovered in two of the 10 test vials submitted to the state.
Hoffman said this is a problem in the distribution system, not at the source. He has been working with Ron Kramer and Bert Zahr at KDHE to create a plan to treat the problem.
Hoffman said the first recommendation by the state is for the city to notify the public. At KDHE's suggestion, information will be sent to each address in the next water bill outlining the problem and the city's approach to solving it.
Hoffman also presented the council with a lengthy list outlining the status of projects the city crew is working on, as well as repair work they have done on the water lines, at the clear well, swimming pool, and ball park.
Randy Mills introduced a committee of four that will create a disaster plan for the city. Darla Gore, Trayce Warner, Scott Zogelman, and the Florence fire chief will form a steering committee to create a plan and bring it back to the council.
In other business, the Florence council:
— approved a new employee manual and voted to put it into effect immediately.
— heard from Sarah Cope that the housing project will not be implemented. Cope will look at another type of arrangement for the city.
— viewed and approved the newly painted street signs by members of the PRIDE committee.
— approved warrants in the amount of $15,227.98.
— approved the use of the former football field for parking on June 12 for a wedding to be held nearby at a private residence.
— approved the purchase of eight tons of asphalt for summer street repair, four new tires for the city truck, and two spine boards for the ambulance department.
— gave permission to the newly formed park board to make the grassy area south of the city building its first landscaping project.
— approved the use of the north side of the road at the sewer pond for parking by the Flint Hills Muzzle Loaders during their Labor Day encampment.
— heard that progress is being made at Grandview Park on the restroom project. The plumbing is being installed this week.
— tabled a discussion of motorized, non-street legal vehicles such as go-carts until legal advice can be obtained.
— accepted a bid from Oil Valley Lawn Service for mowing at the cemetery.
— heard that the county road and bridge department is working on a solution to release the log jam under the Fifth Street bridge.
