City seeking stimulus $$$

Published:  Thursday, June 11, 2009 (9 months, 1 week ago)
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By SUE GERKER
The Delphos Herald

DELPHOS — The city is going after more federal stimulus dollars.
Safety Service Director Greg Berquist told council members at Tuesday’s meeting that he has received permission to submit additional proposals totaling $13 million.
Seven of the eight projects are energy-driven, including solar panels for the water plant, public safety building, wastewater plant and municipal building, as well as geothermal systems for the water and wastewater plants. The largest proposal is a request for $5.9 million for a new fire/EMS building. The current building was erected in 1888.
Berquist is just beginning the process to apply for the funds.
The city has already benefited from the stimulus to the tune of nearly $2 million, with a majority paying for turbine blowers and power optimizers at the wastewater plant. The remaining funds will pay for signal upgrades at rail crossings in the city.
Mayor Mike Gallmeier handed out a report on the activity of the $90,000 sewer camera purchased in December. The report cites 23 uses, including views of storm and sanitary sewers.
In other action:
• Sharon “Sami” Kennedy attended Tuesday’s meeting and asked council to approve an easement in gross agreement for three city parcels along Washington Street between Fifth and Sixth streets. She and her husband plan to use the area for a parking lot for their new business, Delphos Pawn and Loan, located at the former Delphos Food Locker. Council passed a motion approving the agreement at a $1 annual fee.
• The utilities committee will meet 7 p.m. Tuesday. The group will discuss water and sewer rates.
• Gallmeier reminded members of the transcontinental convoy coming to Delphos June 17. More information about this trip can be found at www.mvpa.org.
• Council placed a lien on property at 1161 S. Bredeick St. in the amount of $437.46.
• Councilman Dave Eickholt requested additional signage be posted at the intersection of Krieft Street and Carolyn Drive, notifying traffic of the two-way stop.
• A public hearing to discuss the closure of a railroad crossing on South Canal Street is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. June 23 at the municipal building.
CAMERA PROJECTS:
• Viewed storm sewer at South Clay Street (Checking for connection into city combined) - Added elbow to reduce flow from farm fields into city’s sewer and Clime Street.
• Viewed Menke addition flow restrictions (Being engineered as we speak) - Kimmet basement back-up.
• Viewed and located infiltration at Clay and Cleveland streets. (Emergency PTI) - Repaired by Kaverman (All Purpose).
• Viewed and verified 12 sewers @ Superior Street (Plumbers request) - New tap.
• Viewed and verified sewer location on Jefferson (Plumbers request) - New tap.
• Viewed and located water leak @ Suthoff (Sinkhole resident report) - Needs repaired (scheduled for 6/4/09).
• Viewed and recorded LVF sewer back-up (LVF request) - Jetted and cleaned.
• Viewed and noted storm sewer @ new St. John’s baseball diamond (Recreation Dept.) - Informed the department.
• Viewed and noted plywood debris at Bredeick station (Wastewater) - Root cut some success.
• Viewed and recorded Gressal Drive sanitary (Berquist’s request) - New tap for future construction.
• Attempted to view and record South Clay Street sewer south of manhole that was replaced on Cleveland and Clay (Sink hole/too much debris) - Needs to be engineered.
• Viewed and recorded south park sewer (Partially repaired) - Waiting on engineering.
• Viewed and recorded sanitary sewer @ Elm Street (Resident’s request) - Jetted.
• Viewed and recorded sanitary @ Erie Street (Houses sanitary goes into catch basin) - Waiting for further direction (on list for repair/replacement next year).
• Wayne Street from Erie heading west (Habitat house tap) - Completed
• Bredeick and Sixth (Sewer location and condition for tap - requested by plumber) - Done.
• Clear Well (Water Dept. looking for leak in tank) - Found leak.
• State Street sewer looking for water leak (Water Dept.) - None found.
• Paving project list (Checking sewers’ conditions of all infrastructure under roadways prior to new paving) - Done.
• Viewed storm sewer on Carolyn Drive at location of washout – Storm sewer damaged, hole remains open and is on the schedule for repair (this week).
• Second and Maple streets – Homeowner installing new tap and looking for location of existing tap; found that they were connected to the storm sewer so they are removing sanitary from storm and re-tapping into available sanitary.
• South Main Street (catch basin at Grothouse Plumbing and Heating) – Not taking water, needs outfall to sewer repaired; on the list to be repaired this summer.