The Clearwater City Council Monday agreed to move forward with the first stages of a $1.3 million project to install a water main from Tower #2 near the maintenance building, under the Interstate to connect with points south of I-94.

 

The new water main will help future expansion and provide a back-up water supply in the event of an interruption of the existing supply.

 

Engineer Joe Pelawa with Bolton & Menk presented the council with an engineer’s estimate covering the project. It includes a 25% engineering and administration fee of approximately $260,000.

 

Pelawa said it would probably cost less, but the project has a significant amount of administrative work, like special permitting from the state, county and Dept. of Health.

 

“It will take more time and effort on administration than a normal project,” he told the council.

 

In order to move forward, Pelawa said they needed to approve the preliminary work - a topographic survey, preparation of preliminary plans to start the permit process and submittal of plans and permits to the Dept. of Health. He said once the plans were approved, the council would eventually give authorization to place the project out for bids next year.

 

Pelawa estimated the cost for the preliminary stages would be about 10% ($26,000) of the administrative costs.

 

“In order for this project to happen, those (items) need to take place,” said Administrator Kevin Kress.

 

Kress also said the council would eventually have to review the current water rates.

 

 “Rates are going to have to increase at some point or we won’t be able to continue to do projects like this,” he said.

 

After a 10-minute discussion, the council agreed to seek a tree service vendor who could dig up approximately 500 trees in one section Eldorado Park and re-plant them around the perimeter of the same park.

 

Councilman Richard Petty said the cost would be approximately $60 per tree ($30,000). He said the park commission discussed the possibility of purchasing a tree spade at $15,000 and having the city’s maintenance staff do the work.

 

However, members of the council felt  the maintenance crew would not have time to do the work with all their other responsibilities.

 

Administrator Kress said it wasn’t likely the crew could do the work this fall, which is the optimum time to move the trees.

 

He also said it was unlikely the city would be able to get a vendor on short notice to do the work this fall.

 

The council directed him to look for a vendor, and set a budget of $33,000. If no company could do the work this year, the council agreed to discuss the option of purchasing a tree spade in the spring.

 

The council amended the fee schedule for recycling and refuse fess to keep up with actual costs from vendors.

 

Monthly recycling fees increased from $3.35 to $4. Monthly refuse fees increased $0.25 for the three different size containers: $10.75 for 38 gallon; $11.75 for 65 gallon and $12.75 for 95 gallon.

 

In other action the council:

 

• Approved the purchase of a multi-purpose loader that runs on tracks for public works. The city currently has one quote of approximately $50,000;

 

• Amended the city’s ordinance to allow pallet fences as long as the pallets are of uniform size and color, are made of milled lumber, and are not stamped with markings that indicate hazardous chemicals.