There was one item of new business and several items of old business on the agenda for the Monday, Dec. 7, meeting of the City of California Board of Aldermen.
The new business item was a request by the California R-I School District for the city to assist by spreading chemicals on the school parking lots in case of winter ice and snow. The school has a pickup with snow-removal blade, but does not have a spreader or any snow-ice chemicals to spread.
Street Supervisor Vic Maurer was not present at that part of the meeting, due to another commitment. Therefore, any decision on the matter had to be deferred until more information could be obtained on the status of the city snow and ice chemicals available for spreading.
Maurer arrived near the end of the meeting and updated the council on the status of the city snow and ice readiness. According to Maurer, the city is no longer able to obtain cinders. The cinders were formerly available free, just to go get, load and haul back. The city now must purchase salt, sand and calcium chloride to utilize for snow and ice. Maurer said the city was able to obtain 200 tons of salt and is now unable to get any more. Unlike cinders, which can be stored outside, salt must be stored inside. The storage facility for salt is now full. Even if more could be obtained, there would be no place to store it.
In addition to not having any idea if the city has enough chemicals on hand for the coming winter, and not being able to obtain more, there is the possibility of damage to the streets.
Cinders do not appreciably damage concrete, but salt and calcium do. This raises concerns about the possible deterioration of the concrete and asphalt which will be caused by the application of salt and calcium to the city streets as well as parking lots.
All of this puts the city in a whole new situation - not knowing if there is enough chemicals on hand to do the job this winter, and not knowing how much damage to the pavement will be caused by application of the chemicals which now must be used.
The result is the council believes the city is not currently in a position to take on the additional task of application of the chemicals at the school and the possible liability of damage to the concrete parking lots.
In old business, the council received an update on the Country Club Estates (south of Village Green Shopping Center) project, which was to put all utilities underground. The work is complete, and the council approved the final payment of $77,148.77 and authorized Mayor Norris Gerhart to sign the closeout documents.
Work is continuing on the west water tower project, with fencing placed around the area. In addition, work continues on the new well near the new water tower and the well house.
After being updated on the proposed sewer improvements in the northwest quarter of the city, the council authorized moving forward with the project, estimated to cost about $1.76 million. The area has city water, but some of the area does not have sewer service.
The council was updated on the negotiations for the new electricity supply contract. City Attorney Ann Perry will continue to follow the project.
After review of the questions involving restrictions on the use of cemetery lots - how many urns and caskets and stones - approval was given for Attorney Perry to prepare an ordinance to be considered by the council in the January meeting.
City Clerk Brian Scrivner announced the filing dates for the April election for three seats on the Board of Aldermen will be from Dec. 15, 2015 to Jan. 19, 2016.
The next council meeting will be Jan. 4, 2016.