Millersburg Town Council Meeting

March 14th, 2007

The regular monthly meeting of the Millersburg Town Council was held on Wednesday March 14th, 2007 at 6:30 P.M. at the Millersburg Town Hall.
     

James Winkler called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.

A motion was made James Winkler to approve the minutes for February 28th, 2007.  The motion was seconded by Dean Hawkins and upon a voice vote was approved unanimously.

Park

• Council President James Winkler asked if anyone from the Park Department had find out about any grants for the walking path at Cook Station Park. Since Park President Duane Mahler wasn’t present due to illness nobody knew anything.
• The Clerk/Treasurer Wanda Chupp informed the Council that Mr. Mahler was recouperating at the Maples a nursing home in Goshen, but was to be released March 7th, 2007 to go home.
• Council President Winkler replied that he was concerned about the Park Board meeting and paying their bills for the month of March. President Winkler stated that he would talk to Park Board Member Doug Sherman and Jack Lantz Sr. would talk to Jack Lantz Jr. to make sure there will be a meeting and bills will get approved for payment.

Water Superintendent

• Monthly report-February-See attached
• Assistant Director Jack Lantz Sr. asked “when will the fire hydrants be flushed.” Superintendent Eldridge replied “early April.”
• Resident Jack Lantz informed the Council that his wife ruined a load of white clothes because of rust and wanted to know if someone had stirred up the water system. Superintendent Eldridge replied that Adam Sherman representing the Clinton Township Fire Department had opened a fire hydrant and hooked the fire truck up to the hydrant to test a seal on one of the trucks. Council Members James Winkler and Dean Hawkins both commented that the fire department should not be hooking up to the hydrants for testing without permission from the Utility Superintendent. Superintendent Eldridge stated that he would talk to Clinton Township Trustee Richard Groff and Fire Chief Abe Schlabach and inform them to let the Utility Superintendent know when they need to open hydrants for testing equipment.
• Council President Winkler asked the Clerk/Treasurer why the Water Improvement Fund and Debt Reserve Fund had such a large balance. The Clerk/Treasurer Wanda Chupp explained that the Debt Reserve Fund had to have one year’s payment per the bond ordinance in case the town would have an emergency and had to use all the operating money the town would have funds to pay one year’s bond payment. Any money left over in the operating fund in excess of two months worth of operating is transfered to the Improvement Fund per the bond ordinance.

Wastewater Superintendent

• Monthly Report- February-See Attached
• Superintendent Eldridge informed the Council that he would like to have a meeting with all the Department Heads to discuss how to fund further utility projects. Superintendent Eldridge stated that the water department is doing fine, but the wastewater department needs something done about the rates, due to the prices of gas, chemicals and operating supplies going up. After a meeting with TRAID Inc., Superintendent Eldridge was told that bio-solids at the treatment plant needs to be kept clean along with the reed beds more often then in the past. Superintendent Eldridge presented the Council with estimates for cost of maintenance at the wastewater plant now that it has been rebuilt.
  • Land application reports-$1,500.00 per year
  • Clean reed beds every 5-6 years-$4,450.00
  • Land-apply bio solids in Dean Rink’s fields-No cost
  • Haul wasted bio-solids from digester average 50,000 gallons at .11 per gallon plus $450.00 pump charge-$6,000.00 per time (4) or (5) times a year to equal $26,400.00 per year for plant maintenance.
• Superintendent Eldridge informed the Council that due to gas prices Merrell Brothers will charge a fuel surcharge, but if the town sets up a three month schedule to empty the digester they would wave the fuel surcharge. Council Member Dean Hawkins suggested that Superintendent Eldridge start out emptying the digester every four months and if it’s needed more often the Council will revisit the issue.
• Council President Winkler asked if there was any data on the rate study for the wastewater rates. Superintendent Eldridge stated “no”, as the Clerk/Treasurer was out sick there is more information needed to finish the study. The rate study will be paid for out of the Sewer Improvement Fund per the Clerk/Treasurer. Council Member Dean Hawkins stated that when the Council gets the data from the rate study a decision will be made accordingly.
• Superintendent Eldridge informed the Council that the County has concerns about flooding at the wastewater plant due to runoff from the new Carriage Plant. The County says Carriage has to hold three inches of water in a retention pond on their property. The County suggests the town talk to Carriage about a deed for right of way of the road back to the wastewater plant. Superintendent Eldridge stated that he would talk to Carriage about the road easement.

Maintenance Director

• Council President Winkler informed Maintenance Assistant Jack Lantz that he wanted to get together next week and mark trees to be trimmed or cut down.
• Assistant Lantz informed the Council that the cold patch didn’t come in this week. Also the new door openers for the maintenance building should be in next week.

Marshal

Clerk/Treasurer

New Business

• Council President Winkler asked Goshen News Correspondent Justin Cripe “what a person has to do to submit a letter to the Editor.” Mr. Cripe answered that most letters to the Editor get put into the paper all you need is your name, address, town where you live and comments.

James Winkler made the motion to pay bills. The motion was seconded by Abe Beachy and upon a voice vote was approved unanimously.

Adjourn: 7:45 p.m.             James Winkler made the motion.   Abe Beachy seconded and upon a voice vote was approved unanimously.