Town pursues $500,000 storm water grant

Thursday, March 11, 2010

BAINBRIDGE -- Town Clerk Jason Hartman told Bainbridge town council members that he has been working on an application for a non-matching grant of just over $500,000 for a project to improve the town's storm water system.

The actual project would take place in a southwest section of the town from Depot Street, across Washington Street and would include W. Main Street from the fire department to the railroad.

New five-foot tiles will replace the old four-foot ones in most of those areas. Two bridges will receive improvements as well.

An income survey will have to be given to residents in the area and legal descriptions and title searches will have to take place in order to complete the application.

Council members discussed the issue of maintaining the storm water system once it is in place.

"Ladoga charges a $5 per household monthly utility fee," explained utility supervisor Jim Nelson. "Even if we only charged $3 a household that would be about $900 a month and over time that would add up."

The board agreed to look at options to pay for the system. They have to include what they have in place for maintenance in the grant application.

"This will really benefit everyone, not just the people in the actual area. It will eliminate standing water and people coming downtown won't have to step in a foot of water when they get out of their cars," said Hartman.

In other business, Town Marshal Rodney Fenwick told the council they needed to consider the possible purchase of some new video and audio equipment because of a new federal law requiring anyone being mirandized to be taped. He presented some possible equipment purchases and costs for consideration. Equipment has to be in place by the end of the year.

Town attorney Jim Ensley agreed to look into the new law and give the board an update in the future.

Nelson informed the group that his department had been filling in potholes and that some were so large they would have to be dug out and filled with gravel until they could be patched.

The board also discussed getting three bids to repair the furnace in the community building. They voted to give president Richard Cope permission to make a decision once the bids are in.

They also decided to take into consideration not making purchases for the town from any vendors who are on the tax delinquent list of the state.

"We just need to think about it when we are buying anything," said Cope. "This puts a burden on me if somebody isn't paying their tax. This town is dependent on taxes and I don't think we should use vendors that don't pay their taxes."

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