Garden City Public Works

Garden City Council
Anita Weston, Reporter

 

GARDEN CITY – November 8.  Zan Murray, the City Engineer, was given verbal approval for a well in the Heritage park from the state.  He thought that formal permission to start digging would be given at the beginning of next week.  The money for the well will be taken from the General Improvement Fund.   

Currently the City is trying to reduce some of the expenditures and electricity currently incurred at the water treatment plant.  The Town only needs about 25 percent of the treatment plant capacity during the winter months.  Those working with the plant will attempt to shut down about 75 percent and see how things go.  This will result to a real savings if it can be done. 

The new lights in Garden City are going to be put in place soon.  Originally, the lights were going to be placed on City property.  However, it was decided that it would look much more uniform and pleasing if they could be placed evenly along the roadside.  The City obtained an easement from UDOT for the placement of the lights, but must follow their specifications.  They require a bigger footing, longer bolts, and breakaway connections.  Even those lights that are placed on other properties need to be held to the same standards, so, the additional features are being added to all of the lights. 

All but two of the Idaho water users now have meters placed on their water lines.  Two connections are rather complicated and won’t be completed until spring.  All of the needed installation has been completed on Payne Spring.  Three sections of snow fence has been put up–one on First West, one on 700 West  by the Negus home, and the other is in Buttercup on the upper Southwest corner near the Schnetzer home.  The ramp up to the fish pond has been extended approximately 8' to 10' so that when there is a need for new fish to be put into the pond, it will be a much easier process.  Riley Argyle, Public Works, reported that an 8" house water line pipe broke at the treatment plant. It has been fixed and was an item that had been insured.  Argyle indicated that he had ordered several different kinds and sizes of pipes so that quick repairs can be made in the future when such breaks occur. 

The  city GIS System unit is currently not working.  Mr. Argyle said he would look into the costs of a new unit and let the Council know about cost and maintenance on a new unit.  Radios used by the City workers must be replaced.  All units must go to a narrow band by January 1, 2013.  This includes the Fire Department, the Public Works Department, and all emergency services.  Because the radios are used so frequently, it was felt that some money from each of the budgets could be used in their replacement. 

 

Argyle thought it might be a good idea to purchase a snow plow for the front loader.  He had looked into the matter and said that such an item would cost about $15,000.  The Council asked that he look for a second hand snow plow.  If an emergency occurs, local people who had snow equipment could always be called on to help clear roads.  It was noted that to get to the Shundahi Water System tank is pretty difficult to get to, especially in bad weather.