Board of Works Meeting Minutes - 8/4/08
August 4, 2008 10:00 A.M.
The Pledge of Allegiance was given by all in attendance.
Prayer was given by Bud Ayers.
Mayor Small opened the Board of Works and Safety meeting
Director England moved to approve all payroll, city, water and sewer claims dated 7/28/08 to 8/ 4/08.
Attorney Copenhaver: second. Mayor Small: aye Aye vote: 3-0
New business:
Director England moved to make a change in a job description at the Water plant. The change within the job description would consist of certificates, licenses, and registrations. Requirements are as follows. Valid driver's licenses, grandfather clause previously assigned to this classification. The person signing for this position must have a WT3 water treatment plant operator's certificate and licenses. No increase in pay, just a requirement in licensing.
Attorney Copenhaver: second Mayor Small: aye Aye vote: 3-0
Cory Whitsell, Hannum, Wagle and Cline, appeared before the Board with an update on the swimming pool and bathhouse completion. Mr. Whitesell presented change orders for Division C, the bathhouse in the amount of $14,014.21 and Division B, the pool in the amount of $12,155,18. Mr. Whitsell said that any items that were on a punch list would be taken care of after the season closes. Director England moved to approve the change orders.
Attorney Copenhaver: second Mayor Small: aye Aye vote; 3-0
Director England made the motion to approve payment #5 for Division C, the swimming pool, to Oberly Associates in the amount of $166,143.70. Paid to retainage on this division is $54,380.45.
Attorney Copenhaver: second Mayor Small: aye Aye vote: 3-0
Director England made the motion to approve payment to R. L. Turner Construction, for Division B, the Pool, in the amount of $108,712.00. This will be payment #7 and will be taken from the Bond proceeds. Retainage on this is $57, 836.75.
Attorney Copenhaver: second Mayor Small: aye Aye vote: 3-0
Department heads:
Street Commissioner Cross stated that the department has just received a piece of equipment to do painting. This will include stripping on city streets. Mr. Cross said that the machine normally cost between 35 to 40 thousand dollars and the cost to the City is twelve thousand dollars.
Building Inspector Riggs said there was an issue on the swimming pool. He said the Gas Meters needed to be protected. Park Superintendent Ayers said that problem was being taken care of today.
Tom Bell, representative of the Reach Broad Band, a high speeds internet excess to those outside the region, PSL and Cable Internet. He said he was there to discuss an agreement that was signed at the last Board of Works meeting with a group call C. C. A. (Communications Authority.) This is to be for tracking of the inmates, but if this is the case, it will make them competitive with us. We already have an agreement, superseding this agreement which was signed in 2004. Anyone wanting to give the same services, we have to give our approval before they hang whatever equipment they are going to hang. They are probably going to hang unlicensed frequency equipment. What will happen when they put that out there, it is going to cause interference, not only between us and other local suppliers that are located on the water towers. This includes the school system and the hospital. He said he was concerned what it could cost his company, Solutions Unlimited , the hospital and the school system, in interruption of services. He said that his company needed a copy of their equipment list.
Mayor Small asked if Mr. Bell knew what extent the interference would be.
Mr. Bell said they didn't know until they received the equipment list or a map and if they are going to use the same frequency as his company. He said were already some issues and by adding another 30 or 40 nodes, you can imagine what that is going to do to the service. Another concern was the interference with the equipment.
Mayor Small said the Board would check this contract and get back with Mr. Bell in two weeks.
Laval Beatty, 1505 Illinois Street, appeared before the Board stating he had received a paper from the Building Inspector stating he had 4 violations against him. 1 violation was for a fence that he put up four years ago. He said it was the most inspected fence in Henry County. The Mayor was called out twice and the Building Commissioner at least twice, and several inspectors. Another violation was on a shed that went up that was also based on the property line at that time. The third one is a swimming pool. He said he was told that this pool required a building permit. He said he talked with Sandy York and that she was unaware that the Ordinance was being enforced on this particular kind of pool. This is one that you buy at Wal-Mart. He said he was intimidated by the Building Inspector and was told that if he, Mr. Beatty, continued to harass Mary Bertram, he was going to put Mr. Beatty in jail. Mr. Beatty said that he had never been talked to about this matter. He said Mrs. Bertram started this about 4 years ago. The fence has been inspected by the building inspector. Mrs. Bertram hired a surveyor recently and surveyed that property. He had pictures of the results. The frontage of both properties is accurate but the placement of that particular property line, the commissioner himself said it had to be off because it would through every property on Illinois Street off. He felt the surveyor had used the wrong reference point off of 14th and 16th streets when he did it. He said the reason for the pictures was to show the shift in all three-property lines compared to the old one. He said if his fence is in violation because of this new survey, then Mrs. Bertram's garage would be further off the mark compared to mine.
Mr. Beatty said he was concerned about the attitude of the Building Inspector, then the threat of arrest, it basically wants Mr. Beatty to have to get variances on something he had not violated to begin with. He said he had all paperwork on the fence and shed but was unaware of the swimming pool thing.
Attorney Copenhaver said the city does not get involved with property disputes. If Mrs. Bertram has a survey that shows an approachment and you have a survey that says you are fine, that is an issue to settle civilly. He said the city would be glad to look at any permits that Mr. Beatty has and the city will need copies.
Director England moved for adjournment.
Attorney Copenhaver: second
