Tampa City Council: Decision made to clear sewer lines
by JANE VAJNAR
The major decision made April 4 by Tampa City Council was to have the sewer lines cleared of debris at a cost of approximately $6,000.
Mayor Jim Clemmer had ascertained that it would take 90,000 gallons of water to flush the lines. That could be obtained from Agri-Producers, provided the job was done between mid-July and the end of August. If the city wants the manhole covers raised, the cost is approximately $300 per manhole. The proposal for the project named a cost of $5,081.94.
Treating sections of the sewer line to kill tree roots would be an additional $1.35 per foot, and the city also would be responsible for the cost of water and labor for uncovering all manholes. Another alternative would be to spread the job over three years with one-third of the lines cleared each year.
"It's expensive," Tim Svoboda remarked, "but if we do it all at once, we'll save ourselves $1,200." (compared to doing one-third each year)
Wilbert Backhus raised the question, "Which is more important, raising the manholes or treating the lines?"
"We've got to do it, I think," said Paul Backhus. "But I think we should leave the manholes alone." Wilbert agreed.
On a motion from Paul Backhus, seconded by Reuben Kerbs, the council voted to go ahead with the project.
The mayor also had priced chemicals to put in toilets to clear clogs in the line. The company doing the sewer cleaning has a product available for $336 per case. The city is nearly out of the product which has been used, and the mayor asked whether the council wanted to change.
"Have we been getting along pretty well with the old stuff?" asked Wilbert. "Get one or the other, whichever is best. Ask Don (Beisel, sewer supervisor)."
Tom Moldenhauer attended the meeting. He had learned via the Internet that a fax phone and fax machine with the capability of being used as a copier, printer, and scanner could be purchased for $29 plus $36 shipping costs. After a brief discussion, Paul Backhus moved to have him order the machine. On a second from Tim Svoboda, the motion carried.
Don Zaideman attended the meeting to ask the council to address a noise problem with a refrigeration unit in a truck parked near his home. Paul Backhus agreed to talk to the owner, requesting him to park the truck facing the other way.
The council discussed a request from Ron Mueller at the March meeting concerning financial help toward an Emergency Medical Technician conference he plans to attend. The council agreed to give him some assistance after finding out how much, if any, funding he will receive from the Marion County Emergency Medical Service.
The mayor reported on a communication he had received about a county-wide neighborhood revitalization program, which would offer 10 years of tax reductions as an incentive for new construction.
Another communication from Leadership Marion County announced a family picnic to be held from 4 to 9 p.m. June 18 at Marion Reservoir. Donations of food or other supplies for the occasion would be welcome.
Paul Backhus mentioned that Jesse Brunner had suggested the installation of stop signs to replace yield signs on both sides of Main Street at the intersection of Main and Third streets. Council members agreed that many drivers go through the intersection too fast, some without looking.
Svoboda moved to get the stop signs, and Wilbert Backhus seconded the motion, which carried.
Kerbs asked about digging a ditch and putting in a culvert on the north side of Fourth Street to facilitate drainage next to his house.
The council discussed the need for rock in some of the alleys, and Paul Backhus agreed to order some.
Clemmer informed the council that administrators of Agri-Producers said they are willing to move the small anhydrous tanks to their facility west of town.
This was the final meeting for Reuben Kerbs, who stepped down from the city council after serving for more than 20 years.
Among bills approved for payment were $117.45 to refill the fire extinguishers, $84.44 to repair the floor covering in the restrooms at the senior center, and $84.25 to remove limbs from the dead tree in the alley behind the Berens residence.
