City council takes up various business

The Gainesville City Council met for its regular monthly meeting June 13. Council members Treva Warrick, Lana Bushong, Dana Crisp, Seth Collins and Renee Schmucker were present. Councilman Ken Crawford did not attend this month’s meeting. Mayor Gail Reich was present also. 

In addition to an update on the Third and Main Streets sidewalk and stormwater drainage project, the Gainesville School proposal for lighted signs, speed bumps and painted crosswalks and the bid for water line replacement (respective articles on this page), the council discussed the following topics:

Maintenance report

Maintenance supervisor Mike Davis gave an updated maintenance report. He told the council that city workers put in a new fire hydrant on Hillside Drive, patched a stormwater drain on Third Street (more information in story at right) and have been busy mowing grass. 

Davis explained that he found out that city employees are responsible for mowing grass at the city-owned Hoerman Memorial Park from the top of the loop road to the fence, an area that sits behind the park’s bathrooms. City employees originally thought that section was being mowed by the Gainesville School District. Davis said that they did mow that section when they found out it was their responsibility, and they will continue to mow it. 

Water department report

City Water Specialist Jessi Price gave an updated water department report. 

She explained that water loss is down across the board in the east, center and west districts. They found the biggest water leak in the center district and put the project out to bid. The council opened bids later in the meeting, and updates are included in the article below. 

Price said that most of the water meter end points have been installed, which allows her and other city employees to identify where a water leak is within 24 hours. She said they were able to test out the end point system when a water leak showed up at the mayor’s residence. 

“Gail had a leak, and we got to watch hers firsthand to see how it was fixed and how it worked,” Price told the council members. 

She said the whole system isn’t completely set up yet, but once it is, residents will be able to input their own contact information to be notified when a leak occurs near them. More information on the end point system will be included in a future edition of the Times. 

Price said that the city had its three tornado sirens inspected. The east side tornado siren was good, but the west side tornado siren had damage from woodpeckers. The company said they would return next year to fill the woodpecker holes and put wire mesh up to protect it from further damage. The tornado siren in the center district had a blown fuse that was replaced. 

Davis and Price said that they would like to approach the landowner whose property surrounds the east side water tower to gain permission to fence around the water tower because currently cattle are in a field surrounding the water tower. They’d like to fence it off so the cattle aren’t able to get near the tower. Councilwoman Bushong said she knew the landowner and would contact him to discuss the matter. 

Price said the state has requested that all water towers have a fence around them, and it will eventually be enforced. 

Wastewater treatment facility

The city’s wastewater treatment facility supervisor Josh Easterday also gave a report, revisiting the topic of heating and cooling the wastewater treatment facility. Easterday said he talked with several HVAC companies about the project, but he didn’t have very many workers come by to look at the building. 

Easterday recommended they go with a mini-split unit mounted in the window. He thought he and co-worker Mike Davis could install it. The cost would be under $1,500, which means the mayor can approve the purchase without a full vote of the council. 

Easterday and Davis both recommended that the city install a fence around the city lagoon. 

“We’re getting a lot of animals getting in there and drowning, deer, fox and coyotes,” Davis explained. “And if there were any people down there walking around, if they slipped, there’s a good chance they’d drown. They’d have to swim a long way to get to the cable.”

Councilwoman Warrick suggested that the city install signs that said city personnel only at the lagoon and wastewater treatment facility. The council seemed like they were generally all in favor of installing a fence. 

Davis said part of the project for the water line replacement (details in article on page 6) include clearing the brush around that area. The council tabled the matter until the work is done, and they can see what type of fence may work. 

Other topics of discussion included:

• The city attorney looked at the Cintas contract for uniform and floor mat rental that the city had considered terminating. The attorney said there was no “buy out” option and that the city would be required to pay 75 percent of its normal bill each month until the contract end date of March 2024. The city decided to continue getting the items it currently is.

• The council discussed a proposal to accept Plentywood Lane as a city street. The topic was tabled. The mayor will attend a county commissioners meeting to discuss the potential collaboration between the city and county to maintain three roads/streets: Plentywood Lane, McClendon Drive, Holmes Drive and Hill Springs Drive. The council will revisit the topic next month. 

• The Gainesville Church of Christ requested a permit for a fireworks show July 1. It was approved unanimously. Note: it is against the city’s ordinances to set off fireworks within the city limits unless a permit is obtained and approved by the council. 

• Beau Reeves asked permission to keep the Gainesville Airport sign that was installed at the former city airport. The council voted unanimously to allow Reeves to take the sign. 

• Propane pre-buy was discussed and approved unanimously: the city will purchase 3,010 gallons from MFA Oil for City Hall at the pre-buy price of $1.879 per gallon; the city will also purchase about 300 gallons from West Plains Propane for the Gainesville Volunteer Fire Department at the same pre-buy price.