All city councilmen, including Big Sandy Mayor Shaud Schwarzbach, were present except Colby Baumgarn, who was sick. Three city employees and Officer Dennis Hale were also present. There were five guests present. "A crowd," according to Mayor Schwarzbach.
The pool repair is halfway done. The weather hasn't cooperated, but the pool deck is cut, and they need to run the pipe.
Dennis Hale had nothing to report.
It was noted the pivot area needs to have soil samples done.
The City Council is working with Bear Paw Development on a Uniform Water Application for Public Facility Project. Mayor Schwarzbach reported that in 1998, a cost estimate was made, and it was cost-prohibitive for the town of Big Sandy to pay for their portion of the water pipeline bill. The pipeline should be in the ground in Big Sandy by 2021 at the cost of $1M to the town of Big Sandy. To be realistic, it's still two to three years before it's finished. It is paid for by 80% federal monies, 10% state funding, and 10% local match. The city is applying for a SRS forgiveness loan.
They are also working on a Storm Drain Planning Grant to explore the storm drains, which fail badly from 4th street to highway 87. Pictures have been taken, and plans are being investigated. The city is hoping to get feedback.
A resident brought a sewage problem to the city council after a plumber told her it was at the connection to the city sewage line. She had a video he took, and she would like the city to look at video footage to determine the problem and fix it.
Rotary was at the city council meeting to discuss the sidewalk project that would connect the grade school to the high school. It is a Fish Wildlife and Parks Grant. The project needs to be engineered, and they were asking if KLJ could be used. There were questions about ordinances for the width of the street. The city council agreed to work with Rotary on the project.
A meeting for a water ordinance decisions will meet January 30 at 7:00-basically to rewrite them. They have to be careful about how to legally approach water ordinances. So far, the council is about 80% the same as Chester. They are taking their time to make sure it is legal and have found issues they had not realized was there.
There was a discussion concerning Edward's easement for the water building on their property.
A relief clerk will be hired.
