Glenwood City still has pump and well woes
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The Glenwood City Council has been wrestling with well and pump problems for a years. A number of years ago they were informed by the state that their well number two, which was located near the Community Center, had many deficiencies. The Council explored ways to bring that into compliance but in the long run decided to abandon that well and find a location for a new one.
They chose to construct a new well and pump along Third Street near the water tower at a cost of nearly a million dollars. The city did received grants that helped with the financial burden of the community.
That well, called well number four, just recently came on line and the city’s utility needed to do an inspection and repair of well number three, located at Hinman Park along Sixth Street.
At Monday evening’s meeting the council heard from Kevin Oium of Cedar Corporation and the City Public Works Director David Caress about what the inspection of the well and pump revealed. Oium informed the council that the pump and piping were wore almost beyond repair.
Caress noted to the council that it has been about 18 years since that well was pulled and inspected and it has been used daily since it was first constructed about 35 years ago.
Oium presented a bill of $4,180 from Mineral Services Plus, who pulled the pump and made the inspection and report. After discussing the matter for a time, Oium presented the council with two proposals to replace the pump. The Council chose to install a new submersible pump at an estimated cost of $29,822. The new well was constructed using a submersible pump. Oium noted that both pumps will be set to pump 600 gallons of water a minute, but in an emergency that can be increased to 900 gallons a minute.
Oium was asked how long before the well is back on line and he noted that the material will need about three weeks lead-time.
Mayor Larson reported that he had approved the purchase of a used trailer for the Recycling Center to replace the one that was removed by its owner a month ago. The cost was $4200.
Public Works Director Caress reported that they are steadily discharging from the lagoon. “Its down about a foot now and we look to discharge thru the winter,” he said. The draw down is to allow for construction at the facility next year.
Mayor Larson noted that the Christmas Lights are up and he praised Pat Murtha for his work with the lighting program.
Mayor Larson also spoke about the city hall and the need for more room for the city offices and for the police department. He had drawn up a proposed construction in place of the present building, which is rented from Hiawatha National Bank. Larson indicated that the present building is 28 by 70 feet and he proposed to construct a 48 by 100 foot building on the current site to house the city offices and police department including a garage for the police department. No action was taken on the matter by the council.
In other business the City Council approved the following:
• Renewed the building inspector contract for 2019 with Weber Inspections.
• Made changes to the personnel policy.
• Made changes to the rental policy for the Community Center.
• Appointed Ashley Maubach to the Library Board with Mayor John Larson commenting that they finally have a full board. Councilperson Ken Peterson reported that they have hired Katie Schneider as the new Librarian.
• Approved an operator’s license for Francine J. Weller.
• Declared a 1989 Ford Rescue vehicle of the Fire Departments as surplus property, which will allow it to be sold.
