HomeMy Public PortalAboutMinutes_CCWorkMeeting_06232009CITY COUNCIL WORK MEETING JUKE 23, 2009 6:00 P.M. IONA COMMUNITY
CENTER
PRESENT: Mayor Brad Andersen, Council President Dennis McArthur, Council
member Steve Elliott, Council member Dan Gubler, Public Works Supervisor Zech
Prouse, City Clerk Robyn Keyes.
ABSENT: Council member Jane Shaw, Jeff Freiberg from Keller and Associates
VISITORS: Willy Teuseher, Ted Hendricks
Mayor Andersen welcomed Mr. Hendricks and Mr. Teuseher.
Public Works Supervisor Prouse said a 24 hour test pump was conducted on well #3 and
everything went well. The valves worked properly, the re was no sand, and bacteria tests
were negative.
Mayor Andersen asked how much it would cost to do the same on well #2. Supervisor
Prouse said it would be more expensive because some parts would need to be fabricated
for the project. Mayor Andersen said it was important to do the same testing on well #2
as a means of confirming that if well #1 was taken off-line, well's #2, and #3 can support
the system.
Mr. Teuseher, from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), said DEQ was
helping fund the water study in which Keller and Associates was conducting. Mr.
Teuseher said the information regarding the test pump, along with the results from the
structural inspection of the water tank would need to be entered as an amendment to the
current information DEQ has on file for the City of Iona. DEQ would then want to know
the direction the City wanted to go regarding improvements and upgrades to the system.
Mr. Teuseher said the City of Iona was on DEQ's priority list and was eligible for
stimulus money for project loans offered at .5% interest rate. The rate was set for a
twenty year payback period and Mr. Teuseher suggested either a bond election, or
judicial approval as a means of acquiring payback money. If the City chose a bond
election, the election would be in November.
Mr. Hendricks suggested applying for a block grant to subsidize the loan money. Mr.
Hendricks said the interest rate on the loan was at a 25 year low, and it typically takes
about 1 year to secure the money.
Council member Gubler said he understood the Council members agreed that the City
would pay for the smaller projects from money budgeted and from savings.
Mr. Hendricks suggested leaving the money in savings if the interest rate was good and
using the low interest loan money instead. Mr. Hendricks wanted to take a look at all of
the water projects the City would like to do.
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Mayor Andersen reiterated that the City planned on doing one or two smaller projects
each year with money from budgeted money. The Mayor explained the difficulty the City
had raising the water rate from $20 to $23, and assumed another water rate would not be
popular with the voters. The Mayor said the City is trying to honor the wishes of its
constituents and not raise the rate unless absolutely necessary, and that is why money is
budgeted each year for improvements.
Mr. Hendricks said the City could approve the rate through judicial approval, and the
City did not need the voter's approval for the funding.
Mr. Teuseher said many smaller communities such as Rigby have a water rate of $50 per
month. Mr. Teuseher said he had other communities that were interested in the funding
and asked for a decision from the Council regarding approval of the funding.
Mayor Andersen asked if the Council could discuss the matter and give a decision
tomorrow. Mr. Teuseher said that would be fine.
Meeting adjourned, 6:30 p.m.
Robyn yes
City Clerk
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