Local News
Council OKs repairs for emergency items
OTTUMWA — First came rains, then flooding. The next item is always repairs.
Any equipment that directs water in the city has worked overtime in recent weeks. During the City Council’s Tuesday meeting, members approved whatever repairs are needed to keep machines going.
Public Works Director Larry Seals told the council one of the Oxbow Lagoon pumps needed fixed. The lagoon storm-water pump station consists of two 20,000 gallons-per-minute pumps that move the storm water from the lagoon system to the Des Moines River.
“During high river levels, the only means of getting storm water from the Oxbow is by pumping it to the river,” Seals said.
Councilman Gordon Aistrope asked Seals if other pumps needed fixed.
Seals said a pump at Finley Avenue had problems and Winger’s assisted by welding the machine’s housing.
“Iowa Crane had to pull it,” Seals said. “Actually, we have several pumps that have been affected. The one at Orchard Street was built in 1954 and it’s been running hard this spring.
Seals said Electric Pump of Des Moines repaired the lagoon pump for $9,468.80, an expense that wasn’t budgeted.
The council unanimously approved fixing the lagoon pump repairs and also the repairs needed for an outdoor warning siren.
In his staff report, Finance Director Mike Heffernan said the warning siren needed new front panel components.
“The city has 14 sirens and we propose to budget $6,000 annually for replacement parts,” he said.
The city had been budgeting $5,000 for maintenance but Heffernan said the amount should increase to $6,000 per year so one panel per siren can be replaced until all are replaced.
“If we follow this procedure, we can use the parts from the old front panels and get a longer life out of the old models that we can no longer get parts for,” Heffernan said.
If the city replaced the complete unit, the cost would be “at least $18,000 a year,” he added.
Dickinson Company, Inc., of Oskaloosa will do the work for a quoted price of $5,825.
The council unanimously approved paying for repairs for the lagoon pump and the warning siren.
Some outdoor items in the city parks were noted in the council’s consent agenda.
The Park Advisory Board approved the Holiday Nights ‘N’ Lights request to install white LED lights on the roof line of the Jimmy Jones Shelter for use all year. They also want to block off the campground entrance Nov. 19-Jan. 2.
ABATE of Iowa District 14 requested the park board allow their April 4, 2009, event at the Jimmy Jones Shelter. The event will involve live music and alcohol and may last until 2 a.m. April 5.
The City Council unanimously approved both items from the park board.
Cindy Toopes can be reached at (641) 683-5376 or via e-mail at cindy@ottumwacourier.com.
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