At the regular monthly meeting of the City of California Board of Aldermen, Utilities Superintendent Gary Wells announced his retirement, effective Dec. 31, 2010.
His letter of resignation recounted his time working for the city, first on a part time basis while attending college starting in 1967, then full time starting in 1969. He was recommended for his current position in 1988.
Mayor Norris Gerhart expressed appreciation for Wells' 43 years of service on behalf of the Council.
In new business, the Council reviewed bids from the landfill at Sedalia, and from the landfill at Jefferson City, then asked questions of the representatives of each. Since the Sedalia bid was lower, Mayor Gerhart brought up issues to consider including the extra distance which the trucks will have to travel, estimated at about 15 miles, and the two-lane highway to Sedalia versus the four-lane highway to Jefferson City.
Wells commented the trip to Sedalia would take an extra hour.
The Council decided to go with the bid from Jefferson City, provided the contract was for five years and it was acceptable to the company to cap the fee at a maximum increase of three percent per year or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower.
The Council also approved the low bid of J.D. Roush for $14,700 for work to be done on a building on the Proctor Lumber site. The bid is for installation of garage doors to allow the sanitation trucks to be parked inside and a regular door for people to enter the building.
The issue of health insurance was tabled until more information can be obtained. The current rate offered is a $9 percent increase for the same plan.
Bob Gilbert, Bartlett and West Engineering, reported that the sewer project is well under way.
The smoke studies contracted have been completed. It is now a matter of reporting the information and making recommendations. He commented one thing discovered was a number of clean-outs with no caps. They were found by the smoke coming out of the grass at various places.
An additional item brought up was failure of the computer system at the South Treatment Plant. He will review options provided by a computer company to fix the problem and make a recommendation to the Council at a special meeting to be held later.
Gilbert also proposed the study of the sewer system of the area west of California to determine what might have to be done to upgrade for inclusion in the city system. The Council approved a contract at a cost of $8,000, provided the residents of the area pay the cost of the study, with full realization that the City of California is not committed to anything.
The Council also approved having the data and video of the recent sewer work incorporated into the G.I.S. system the city already has. This will make some of the sewer information more readily accessible to the city workers when it is needed.
In department reports, Police Chief Fred Kirchoff reported for October 17 tickets, four charges filed, 69 incidents and nine accidents.
Fire Chief Allen Smith reported 39 calls with three fires, six rescue calls and 30 medical calls.
Brian Scrivner reported 54 swimmers at the municipal swimming pool in October.