BPW Hears Updates At November Meeting

Updates on the MoDOT project, and water and sewer systems were given to the Board of Public Works (BPW) at its regular meeting, held November 4.

Water Superintendent Tony Lerda commented on the status of the MoDOT project, saying progress has been brisk with the good weather we’ve been enjoying.

Crews are currently still working on 58 Highway/Pine St., moving south toward 9th St. Lerda explained the goal is to finish with laying asphalt on Pine St. before they move downtown to 2nd St. and begin digging up the street in the business district.

Crews will probably start work on 2nd St. around Christmastime.

Watch the Image for details on detours and alternate business entrances.

Lerda also mentioned there is a dip at the 131 Highway intersection near the Breaktime stop sign that will be repaired soon.

In a city lake/water update, Lerda told the board he is researching placing a curtain wall around the intake structure at the city lake.

He explained that taste and odor problems with city water are caused by carbonous material, vegetation decay and manganese and that it is very costly to treat.

“It occurs during the lake turnover or during heavy rains when there is a shifting of the water,” Lerda said.

He is going to research whether building a basin in the lake to pre-treat and treat the water for taste and odor by separating the flow will help.

In a sewer system update regarding I&I (inflow and infiltration), Lerda informed the board that the system is performing well.

“We are still finding some issues with I&I as we go along with our project and correcting them (as they are discovered).

In a SAGR update regarding rubber cap quotes, Lerda explained to the board that when he initially began researching this project, he was receiving quotes based on playground-grade rubber chips.

He contacted the SAGR producer for some specifications and determined that the rough cut size, which is between one and three inches and less costly than playground-grade, was what was needed for this project.

Lerda contacted all of the companies that had placed bids and requested that they re-bid the project with the one- to three-inch specifications.

He went on to say, The National Playground quote was for 331 tons of two-inch nugget size for $14,895, with shipping and handling charges of $16,250, for a total cost of $31,145.

The Rooster Rubber quote was for 260 tons of one- to three-inch nominal size for $7,800 with freight cost of $9,600, for a total cost of $17,400.

The last quote was from All Inclusive Rec for 300 tons of one- to three-inch nominal size for $8,850, with freight of $10,500, for a total cost of $19,350.

A motion was made to approve the quote from Rooster Rubber and to proceed. After a second to the motion, Chairman Katy Barrett called for a vote.

A roll call vote was taken, with all voting in favor of the measure. City Councilman Ray Briscoe, who was present at the meeting, is going to contact the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and inform them that Holden would still like to apply for the grant, but won’t be needing the maximum amount available any longer.

Since this is a reimbursement grant, the project can proceed and the city will submit the invoice to DNR later if approval for the grant is issued.

In old business, smart meters were discussed.

Lerda informed the board that he had returned the completed paperwork to Midwest Meters, and everything was moving forward.

“We are in the process of getting the sizes of meter pit lids together,” Lerda said.

“There are some apartment complexes (in Holden) that service multiple dwellings, but only have one meter servicing the location.”

Lerda asked the board to update the rate schedule to state, “If a single meter is serving more then one (1) dwelling, then the bill will be divided as per ordinance.”

Lerda explained the only other option would be to re-plumb the location and install four separate meters.

He also reported that some locations had been found to have two-inch meters that are not needed.

“This is allowing some accountability issues since a small flow going through a meter that is too large, is allowing the water flow not to register and be billed at times,” he explained.

These issues will be addressed. There being no further business, the regular meeting of the BPW closed, to reopen in December.