New water tower discussed at board meeting
Photos by Katey Wesley
Caldwell Tanks lifted the tank for the water tower into place Thursday morning. They had planned to place it Wednesday morning but were delayed by strong, gusty winds. Workers are shown here waiting for the tank to be aligned so they can secure it to the pedestal.
The Licking Board of Aldermen met in the Council Chambers of City Hall on Tuesday, December 9, for their regular board meeting. Mayor Scott Ogden was unable to attend and Alderman Danny Wade fulfilled the duties of acting mayor.
The Board approved the agenda, the November minutes, financials, the court review and December tentative payables.
Lindi Schmitt, Hickory Manor Administrator, was present. She and City Administrator/Clerk Rhonda Kirkwood shared updates on the shower project at the nursing home. The nursing home is deciding what can be done to fix the shower while remaining ADA compliant and will keep the city apprised of any updates.
Schmitt reported their census is currently at 41 residents. A holiday dinner for residents and their family members was held on Monday, December 8, and around 60 family members attended. The facility has a new maintenance man. The facility is preparing for its annual inspection, which they anticipate will occur in January.
Steve Jackson, with Bartlett & West Engineering, provided updates on the water project. A grant application is being completed to try to get funds for plugging well #5. On Friday, December 5, part two of the water project began. The water tower is going up and Caldwell Tanks, Inc., plans to be done by the end of the week. The plans for the well house have went to Mid State Pipelines, Inc. Work is underway to finish up the easements.
Citizens spoke to the Board regarding the ordinance limiting the number of yard sales per year that a citizen can have. A discussion was held regarding the ordinance and the City will see what other cities are doing and gather more information about the issue.
The Board voted to approve a $0.50 per hour raise for city employees across the board, effective January 1. Five hundred dollars will be added to employees’ December 15 paycheck, including two seasonal workers who were just laid off.
The Board was reminded that the Christmas Party for the city will be December 19 and they need to RSVP by December 12.
Department Head Reports:
Chief Pat Burton: Tasers have been ordered and the HVAC project is progressing well. The LPD entered a float in the Christmas parade this year.
Superintendent of Utilities Donnie Trout: The salt is in and mixed, and some has been used already. The culverts for the North Main Street project have arrived. The John Deere tractor has been taken to Dale Evans to see if it can be repaired. Mowing around the Licking Cemetery has been done and bush hogging around ditches is underway. Crosswalks near the school have been painted, and wildcat heads were painted on College Street. Some temporary work has been done to Maple and Dogwood streets to smooth out the patches to the asphalt until the water project is completed. Three soft spots in city streets need to be dug out, oversize rock placed, then filled and packed for about six months before reasphalting.
Fire Chief Bobby Hearty: The fire department participated in the Christmas parade. First aid kits are going to be ordered for all the trucks and for the station.
City Administrator/Clerk Kirkwood: She will be off some before the first of the year. Some older utility records have been disposed of by her office.
The Board voted to enter closed session. Upon reopening, they adjourned with no further business conducted.
The size of the tank is not as obvious once lifted into place, but while still on the ground, it was much easier to compare it to the backhoe and workers it loomed over.
