Having not held the first bi-monthly meeting the first Tuesday of the month, the Rushford Village Council had some catching up to do at the second meeting, Tuesday, January 17. The bulk of the agenda highlighted annual housekeeping issues, but along the way, several items of old business popped up.
Kudos were given to Public Works Supervisor Travis Scheck and worker Hamilton Peterson for a job well done handling road work in this winter’s icy conditions. Thirty-three miles of the Village’s roadways are crushed rock and rural in nature. Mayor Gordon Johnson noted that during the most recent ice storm, Scheck and Peterson opted to catch a few hours’ sleep right at the Village Hall before heading back out again. “It’s been a couple of long days. I have heard nothing but good things.”
Scheck indicated that the city may want to look at filling the shed with crushed rock, salt, and sand. “In a normal winter, we’d make it, but this winter?” said Scheck. He noted that the 5.5 yards per load, with five loads, would fill out the shed and asked for council direction. Mayor Johnson responded that in situations like this, perhaps Public Works should be given the liberty to make the call. Johnson also noted that Scheck had conferred with himself and Councilor Dennis Overland.
“Every storm is different,” said Councilor Chad Rasmussen, who works for MnDOT. “Be sure to have enough. The way this winter is going, it could be harder and harder to get.”
Johnson agreed, despite the higher winter rock cost. “I’d rather have a pile in the pole shed in spring than scramble to find something to put on the roads.” The council approved the purchase of additional supply.
Related to roadways, Johnson also indicated that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding of some roadways due to storm damage earlier this year has brought forth more questions. Some were deferred to City Engineer Josh Pope, of Bolton & Menk. Johnson stated that a water flow study may need to be conducted in relation to a “Missouri crossing” at Benson Lane. “What they’re [FEMA] proposing is not necessarily what the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will approve,” he added. “We have to go through the steps.” It is unclear when a water study will take place.
The #2 well has continued to go through problems were it “kicks out,” according to Scheck. Norman’s Electric Service has looked at the site and can’t locate the cause. The issue is a motor failure which requires a reset. Scheck will research whether or not a record of maximum amperage is being recorded at the time of failure.
Scheck has also questioned whether or not an emergency dialer should be installed at the lift station to alert the city of malfunctions or emergencies. At one time, a light was placed on the east wall of the building as an alert, and an alarm goes off at the station, but unless someone sees them, no one is made aware. Scheck noted that the site is checked daily, but should there be a problem on a weekend, the city would be “real close on making it through.”
New Councilor Mike Ebner added that in the case of a break, the water would be dumping out at a fast pace. He also stated that it could create a problem in lack of water for a fire. While the only problem for the station historically is the pump float sticking, keeping the pump going unnecessarily, the city will look into the cost of a dialer setup.
The city is having some problems with waste pickup by Harter’s Quick Clean Up, of La Crosse, Wis. City Clerk Mary Miner stated that two weeks prior, garbage was not picked up on Tower Ridge Road, Ridgeview Road, and Benson Lane. Upon contact with the company, Miner was first told that garbages were not put out in time. After debunking that, Miner stated she was told that there was truck trouble and later that the roads were too slippery. She noted the roads at that time were the best they’d been all winter. Last week, the company called to say pickup would be moved from Wednesday to Friday due to the weather. Some streets and roads were not picked up again Friday.
“They’ve been relatively consistent, but not up top,” Mayor Johnson noted. “When they were here to talk with us, they wanted the contract in the worst way. Now that they have it, we haven’t seen them. Shame on you first; shame on me the second.”
“It’s not right that they charge us for those stops,” added City Treasurer Judy Graham. “It’s strictly for their convenience.”
In the case of a garbage change, Miner will place the information on the city’s website and the public access channel. Additionally, she will put a notice in the next newsletter for residents to check those two spots for any type of information notice related to the city.
The next regularly scheduled council is Tuesday, February 7, at 7 p.m., at the Village Hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
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