Council OKs loan to refund bonds

Published:  Thursday, December 17, 2009 (3 months ago)
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By SUE GERKER
The Delphos Herald

DELPHOS — In an effort to save money, city council members on Tuesday unanimously approved an agreement to enter into a loan for $2.1 million to be used for the refunding of bonds originally issued in 1998 for improvements to the city’s water system.
The 10-year loan has a 4-percent interest rate and is expected to save the city $17,000 overall.  The bonds were originally purchased for work at the Amanda well field and other projects associated with it.
In other action, council heard the second readings on legislation accepting a bid of $212,000 on the Suthoff Street Sewer Project and the engineering contract with Poggemeyer Design Group for that project.
In old business, Wastewater Superintendent Kim Riddell explained problems with the sanitary sewer located along Jennings Creek near the bridge just south of Jefferson High School.
The line travels from the Menke housing addition, along the creek and under the bridge. The 12-inch PVC pipe is encased in concrete but has severely deteriorated and needs repaired. Riddell said because of the condition of the pipe, water from the creek gets in to the line and causes back-ups in homes and brings a substantial amount of extra water to the wastewater plant, which must then be treated.
Riddell wants to relocate the pipe about 20 yards northwest of its current location and replace about 600 feet of the line.  She estimates the project would cost no more than $64,000.
After hearing an explanation of the project, councilman Rick Hanser asked Riddell whether she would rather do the sewer project along Suthoff Street or the one from Menke addition. She chose, after some hesitation, the Suthoff  Street project since the city is receiving 80 percent funding for that project.
After hearing her answer, council members failed to approve a motion to have the Menke sewer line project put out to bid.
In new business, Councilman Mark Clement asked Safety Service Director Greg Berquist about the city’s maintenance of the field near the reservoir. Clement had heard concerns about the city’s failure to mow the area and dumping of unclean fill.
Berquist said the city cleared the area in the summer and is considering planting clover or another low-maintenance substance in the area. He said the city has never put unclean fill in the area and has no plans to do so.
Mayor Mike Gallmeier told council members Allen County Refuse will go to a two-day schedule beginning in February or March. The plan is that Allen County residents would be picked up one day and Van Wert County residents on another, with recycling on alternating weeks, just as it is currently. More information on this change will be coming in February.