Council approves increase in several budget line items

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

GARFIELD -- Explaining water loss and water lines, engineer David Gilbert, educated the City Council members at the regular monthly meeting Tuesday, April 11.

Gilbert, with Plymouth Engineering in Lowell, told city officials that there are two types of water loss -- first, non-revenue water, such as what is flushed when lines are cleaned and what is used by the fire department as well as water stolen from fire hydrants, and secondly, water that actually leaks out of the system into the ground.

Gilbert made the analogy of water meters to cash registers and said most need to be replaced every 10 years.

"You buy your water from Two Ton at two points," Gilbert said. "Theoretically ... everything is looped so you can probably close three or four vales and split the system in half so you can identify where the worst leaks are."

"It's a search and destroy ... leaks don't announce themselves. You have to go and find them. You can cut your system in half at no expense. I would recommend that to you since it's free," Gilbert said.

He said a 20-year master plan is highly recommended by the Arkansas Department of Health and he would be happy to help the city with that.

Council members agreed to hold another public forum prior to the May 9 meeting.

In other business, the council disagreed on increasing budget items during the mandated quarterly review.

Of the Water Department budget, the mayor said: "We're about $1,300 away from meeting budget and we're three months into the year. I would propose we would increase the budget for repairs and maintenance ... raise a minimum of $5,000."

Alderman Terry Warren asked: "Is there something unusual that happened there?

"We probably just didn't have the right figure," Blackburn answered, adding that Robert Button with Northwest Utility worked on a "pretty significant leak on Paul Pratt Road."

Alderman Katherine Shook asked how Button is paid, whether by retainer or by the hour.

"We pay him as we call him. I don't have it off the top of my head. It's a per hour charge," the mayor said.

"I thought it was $2,000 but apparently it is $5,000," Shook said. "It was my assumption that Robert Button would no longer be working for the city and that Gary (Wright, city employee) would be taking care of it."

Blackburn said Wright is the water systems operator and handles most of the day to day operations but he is still being trained. "Mr. Button and he have been doing it for the last year to year and a half when we have leaks Mr. Wright can do on his own."

Aldermen Susie Morrison and Warren voted for the additional $5,000 added to the budget. Aldermen Shook and Teeselink voted against. The mayor broke the tie by voting for it.

"This is your guys' budget," the mayor said, "so if you're in disagreement, we need to fix it right now. We need to be in agreement."

"I totally don't understand this process... how we have to make these drastic adjustments in just three months," Teeselink said.

Warren said when he received training as a council member he was told that he is required to adjust the budget.

Shook said she was concerned that $1,000 was budgeted for the year for the shop and $1,200 has already been spent. She also said she didn't realize the city would still be paying Button.

"We paid him for December," Blackburn said, explaining that he was called on three times -- once for a major leak and twice for training. "At the end f the day, you don't have a choice. I will tell you, there's value -- you're better using the guy with the most experience."

The vote on the water fund was recounted with all aldermen voting in favor of the increase.

General News on 04/19/2017