La Cygne council approves added land purchase for water plant upgrade
- Roger Sims
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
By Roger Sims, Journal staff
LA CYGNE – The La Cygne City Council has purchased a second tract of land adjacent to the city’s water plant. Following an executive session at the end of its meeting on Wednesday, March 4, the council unanimously voted to purchase a property at 104 W. Market St. for $35,000.
The property, which is approximately a half acre according to Public Works Director Dan Nasalroad, is located directly east of the city’s water plant. The motion to buy that property comes after the council voted to purchase a lot adjacent on the north to the water plant at 116 N. First St. for $47,000 at the Feb. 18 meeting.
Nasalroad initially was looking at the property on First Street to build a clearwell to hold from 250,000 to half a million gallos of water. However, the larger lot on Market Street will enable the city to build a larger clearwell. The lot to the north will allow the city to enlarge the settling pond in the future.
Building the larger clearwell is the final step in the upgrade of the city’s water plant. While the first two phases of the water plant improvement project have been paid out of the city’s budget, this next step is expected to be expensive.
City Clerk Jodi Wade in her report to the council said she is working with Ben Coltrane with MW Engineering Group, on the USDA pre-application for consideration for grant/loan funding for the third phase.
Councilmember Sullivan asked if he and the two other new councilmembers Oscar Marino and Kent Wade could have a copy of the information since they were not a part of the council when the analysis was proposed.
In a related matter, Nasalroad in his report to the council said that sales from Linn Valley’s water salesman were expected to begin that week. Prior to that, Linn Valley’s tower had been tested and filled. He also indicated that he had attended a progress meeting with Linn Valley officials.
There was some discussion about installing a new natural gas meter for a residence being built outside city limits. Citing a policy approved by the council at a meeting earlier last fall the council, which had two members absent, did not approve a request by Ben Shipley to locate a natural gas meter along the city’s pipeline from the Henson substation to city limits. Shipley is building a new home at 23052 W. 391 St. in Miami County.
Nasalroad warned the council about adding too many residences to its supply line, saying that at some point it would cause the city’s gas utility to be subject to more regulations. He also said that it would be a situation where it would be difficult for a meter reader to find a place to park in that location.
Wade said he was unwilling to even revisit the council’s earlier decision without all its members present.
While Mayor Debra Wilson told Shipley that the council’s first responsibility was to the city residents and that it was unlikely the full council would give him a different answer.
The council on a split 2-1 vote agreed to install a rebuilt engine in the police department’s 2016 Dodge Ram pickup. Last month, the council did not accept an offer by a Dodge dealer in Paola to replace the engine for an estimated $10,000, opting instead to get bids from local mechanics.
However, according to Police Chief Zachary Mathies, no mechanics wanted to take on a major job like that. Mathies contacted Superior Automotive in Paola for the cost to install a rebuilt engine and received a quote of nearly $3,800 not including the engine. He also received a price on a remanufactured engine from Powertrain Products for $3,999.
The police chief said it would be difficult to find a replacement for the pickup for less than $10,000, and two members of the council agreed. Marino made the motion to accept both quotes for a total of nearly $7,800, and both he and Sullivan voted in favor of the motion. Wade voted against it.
In other business, the council:
Approved the purchase of a spectrometer for pill testing for $5,250 (see related article). Money for the purchase came from a grant from First Option Bank.
Discussed the next step in determining how to proceed with converting the La Cygne Community Building into city hall. Marino said he was in favor of the plan using both the community building and current city hall because of the room it gave the police department. Further discussion was tabled until the full council was present.
Inquired about the status of the Wagon Wheel restaurant building that was destroyed in a fire in December. City Clerk Wade said she would contact the insurance company on whether demolition had been cleared and Mathies said he would contact the owner about taking down an overhang before demolition began.
Approved writing off nearly $3,000 in bad debts that were deemed uncollectible.
Approved closing city hall for March 10 – 11 to allow office staff to implement new account system. City Clerk Wade also told the council that the city’s program for Oaklawn Cemetery was close to being ready for public use.
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