SNEAK PEAK 10.15

Council Approves Plan to Revamp Town’s Aging Sewer Lines

 At its monthly meeting Monday, October 12, the Gower City Council listened to a proposal from Barry Howell, a representative of Visu-Sewer. Mr. Howell gave the aldermen, city officials and visitors a 15-minute presentation of the products and process his company uses to reline and rehab old clay sewer lines.

Howell explained that the company cleans out the old lines, maps the lines with robots, and measures the sections of pipe for a new lining. They then insert a manufactured liner that, when finished and dried, will have a 50-year life. He said that the company will also offer to rehab the manholes in the area.

He said that during the final step of the rehab, his company will hang door hangers on all households on the sewer line, requesting that the residents not use dishwashers, washing machines, showers, and other water-using activities during a four-hour period to finalize the procedure. Residents will be able to use the toilets sparingly during this period of time.

After Howell’s presentation and some discussion between the aldermen and Gower City Administrator Carroll Fisher, it was decided to accept Visu-Sewer’s proposal to rehab approximately 3,300 feet of old clay lines in the city, with the price tag of $118,269.73. The funding for this project will come from the sewer bond money left over from the construction of the new sewer treatment plant. This will require a budget amendment by the city council.

The council also addressed the capital improvement sales tax meant for the November ballot. Mayor Holman informed the council that there was a clerical error and the proposition was not delivered to the county clerk’s office in time to be on the November ballot. There was discussion among the council members regarding placing this on the April election ballot. City Attorney Joe Gagnon will be putting together the ballot language and a timeframe.

The last item under old business was a request from Zoning Administrator Kenny Pike, who asked that the council consider waiving application fees for Fuemmeler Holdings, Inc., if there is a request for a new public hearing for the proposed senior living community north of town. Although no vote was taken on this matter since there had not been a new application filed, all four aldermen stated they would support waiving the application fees if Fuemmeler Holdings, Inc., filed an application for new zoning.

Police Chief Adam Hill reported to the council that both tornado sirens were tested that same evening. He also told the council that the department’s damaged patrol car was repaired and back in service and that the new radio for the chief’s car was installed and working fine, thanking the council for approving this expenditure.

Carroll Fisher gave his report, informing the council that the pump at the lift station was back online. He told the council the work had to be done in-house, as no companies wanted to take on this job.
 
Zoning Administrator Kenny Pike informed the council that the house on Fourth Street had been demolished and the property was cleaned up. He concluded by giving the council an update of 31 approved requests and one request currently unapproved due to a lack of paperwork.