The project to rebuild the east shelter house was discussed at the regular monthly meeting of the California Board of Aldermen, Monday, Aug. 3, at the City Hall. The council was advised of problems with the new prefabricated handicap-accessible restroom facility to be installed in the immediate vicinity of the shelter house at Proctor Park.
The city employees have cleared out the old shelter house and are preparing the base for construction of a new one. The prefab restroom facility project is on hold. The facility was ordered from a company on a state contract, but the state contract with the company has been pulled, putting the city project on hold. The state action was taken because of a problem with the dry vault restroom facilities manufactured by the same company. While this problem has nothing to do with the type of restroom the city has ordered, all orders are on hold. City Clerk Brian Scrivner explained that the status of the order for the facility is unknown. Until the state makes a decision, nothing will happen. The state contract price was $32,900 for the restroom facility. Another similar to the one placed at the north shelter house would cost $43,609.
Concerning the same project, it is hoped to put the restroom facility on the end of the shelter house, making it accessible without going outside.
Contact has been made with Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) on lighting the "Welcome to California" sign planned for the Highway 50 / 87 interchange. The council is waiting for written confirmation of acceptance of a proposal made to the state before proceeding with the project. The city hopes to use electricity from the state power lines at the interchange for the sign, in exchange for the city taking on the cost of the power for the traffic light.
Bob Gilbert of Bartlett and West updated the council on several projects in the city. The new water tower on the west end of the city went into service on July 28. Drilling for the new well in the area has reached 1,200 feet and is producing at least 1,000 gallons a minute. "It looks good," Gilbert said, commenting that testing is still being done. He said this is about the same depth as the other wells the city has in use.
The completion of the work on Kelley Street has been a problem, according to Gilbert. The old fill material is unstable, even though much of it has been excavated as a part of the work to put in new natural gas lines, water lines and sewer lines. It is estimated that at least another 12 inches of the old fill must be replaced with rock to provide a stable base for the asphalt pavement. The council had originally approved up to $20,000 for removal of the old fill and application of the crushed rock. The council approved an additional $20,000 at Gilbert's recommendation. With this work, plans are to have the paving done at the end of August.
In other business, the council approved the Waylon Martensen 5k route for the event to be held Aug. 29. Also approved was the route for the Ozark Ham and Turkey Parade, Sept. 19, which is the same as last year. The proposed new city logo was reviewed. Although the council liked the artwork, several aldermen said they would appreciate a better tag line. The logo, when approved, will replace the ones on the city trucks and elsewhere the old logo is in use. Plans are for the logo to be used, with slight variations, for several entities in the city, such as the California Area Chamber of Commerce, CPI, and the California Historic District.
On Aug. 24, a Public Hearing will be held to set the 2015 tax levy. The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 8.