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Two issues dominated the regular meeting of the Fayette city council Tuesday: Complaints about trash service responded to by Veolia representatives and upgrade work for North Mulberry Street.
Veolia taken to task
Two employees from Veolia Environmental Services attended the meeting following complaints in recent weeks from residents about trash service in the city.
In July Robin Overstreet, city administrator, had sent a letter to Veolia listing concerns. But council members felt the issues were still not resolved at their last meeting, Aug. 19, and so asked to speak directly to Veolia representatives at the next council meeting.
Dave Sellhorst, general manager, and Amber Burnum, municipal marketing representative at Veolia, were responded to complaints:
• Trash being picked up at variable times. Mayor Joe Bex said sometimes his trash isn’t picked up until after 6 p.m.
• Veolia trucks running over curb corners, damaging the edge of lawns.
• Trucks running multiple times on the same street.
• Trucks running too fast on residential streets.
• Concern that recycled material was not being recycled.
Sellhorst agreed that none of the practices are acceptable. He said a few loads of recyclables were mistakenly taken to the landfill, but that this is not the normal practice. All recyclables, except plastic, are taken to Boonslick Industries in Boonville, he said. Veolia is trying to find a market for plastic.
Sellhorst assured council members he would talk to his supervisors and company drivers to resolve the issues.
North Mulberry upgrade work
Council members also discussed the cost of upgrade work to North Mulberry. MECO Engineering estimates the work will cost from $264,000 to $270,000. Lyn Heying, MECO engineer, explained proposed upgrades which include:
• Installation of a new storm drainage system. Cost: $22,000.
• Relocation of utilities for street widening. Cost: $35,000.
• Construction of new concrete curb and gutter. Cost: $17,500.
• Patching of existing pavement and pot holes. Cost: $12,000.
• Placement of three layers of hot mix asphalt on the road. Cost: $48,000.
Heying said that costs were estimated at “high” levels so the council will have no surprises when the job is eventually bid by contractors. He hopes several items will be bid lower than what has been estimated.
Council members will decide later whether to direct MECO Engineering to draw up plans for bids.
To pay for such a significant upgrade, the council could spread the cost over two fiscal years. Tentatively, work would begin next spring 2009 and be completed by late summer.
Council members are still wrestling with whether to use limited funds to patch up and get by through the winter, or save money for a more long-lasting upgrade.
Leak detection services ‘more than pays for itself’
After paying $1,750 for a leak detection service, the city will save about $8,000 after the leaks are repaired. The savings affirm a prediction made by Overstreet at the Aug. 5 council meeting. In recommending that the council contract with the company, she said, “Their service more than pays for itself.”
Westrum Leak Detection, an Iowa company, used sensitive sound equipment Aug. 19 to determine the location of four underground leaks and four hydrant leaks. After repairs, the city will save about $8,000 per year in 13.6 million gallons of recaptured water.
Repair work will begin and/or be complete by the end of the month.
In other business, the council:
• Changed one block of Sycamore Street to Turner Drive in honor of Earl Turner Sr., a life-long resident of Fayette. (See related article.)
• Approved purchase of a wood chipper for $39,608.
• Waived sewer fees for Karla Elliott, 506 W. Spring St., and Jeff Asbury, 106 Clark St.
• Refunded part of water and sewer fees to Donald Jones, 600 N. Mulberry.
• Learned of emergency aid funds to be distributed to the city for lightening and flood damage. For example, FEMA will reimburse part of the cost of the swimming pool’s new pump which was made inoperable by a lightning strike that occurred July 21 or 22.
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