Lind council approves funds to repair water main

LIND – Council members approved an application for a $180,000 loan and/or grant in emergency funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development for water main repairs on Vulcan Street August 17.

The motion allowing Mayor Paula Bell and City Clerk-Treasurer Kylie Buell to sign for the loan came after a public hearing in which no public comment was made.

Patrick Sheehy with Century West Engineering said the money will be used to purchase 500 feet of pipe to replace the temporary repair and damaged section of water main, a fire hydrant and a damaged valve.

Sheehy said the USDA program applied to has grant funds as well, but grants are very tight right now and he does not expect to receive any for this project. He said the estimate of $180,000 will cover the work to be done as well as the engineering services and construction administration. The loan is expected to have a 40-year term at 1.125% interest, and an annual payment, if no grant is awarded, of $5600. Sheehy said the lower interest rate is possible due to the temporary repair being a health and safety emergency. Sheehy said because the Department of Health concurred it was a health and safety emergency, the city was able to go through an expedited environmental process. He said if they had applied for $500,000 to complete the entire scope of the project, they would have had to go through a full environmental review and lost any chance of getting it done before winter.

Sheehy said that while funding is up in the air right now with the impacts of COVID-19, there will be grant funding opportunities like the Community Development Block Grant open in the future, for other needed repairs.

“This is not really elective. Something has to be done,” Sheehy said.

Mayor Bell said it would fit in the budget, “as long as three people pay their water, sewer and garbage monthly bill.”

“That’s kind of what it equals,” said Bell. “Or seven and a half people paying just their water.”

Sheehy said the rest of the project is part of the Small Water System Management Plan, and identified as a capital project in need.

“So that makes it easier to apply for funding going forward, and identifies it as a priority,” Sheehy said.

In other engineering business, Sheehy said the cemetery water line project is complete.

“We did testing on it last week, and the pump system seems to be working as it should be, and it’s about wrapped up,” Sheehy said.

In new business, the council unanimously approved offering a position to Donald Nolan as a second Public Works employee following interviews of three candidates earlier in the month.

“He’s worked maintenance for several companies and seems pretty enthusiastic about working for the town,” Council Member Rose Elkington said. “He wants to make the town better and he seems like he would be a good worker. He wants to put in the time to learn the things he doesn’t know, and I think he wants to be an asset to the town.”

In reports, Mayor Bell said the town received a check for $4313.75 with the close of the wheat season, for a little over 777 bushels at $5.80. The town leases acreage at the airport to a farmer, for which they receive 30% of the yield. The next crop will be 2022.

In other business, council

– Approved a renewal for Jim’s Market to sell beer and wine.

– Approved warrants for July 28 - August 10 in the amount of $27,067.

– Approved outstanding invoices from July 1 -21 in the amount of $15,768.