Lack of quorum limits meeting

CLOVERDALE -- Short a quorum, the Cloverdale utility board couldn't vote on any motions on Monday.

That didn't stop the present board members from hearing a few updates, though.

At the start of the meeting, board president Cathy Tipton said board vice president Dennis Padgett was running behind and would hopefully arrive within 10 to 15 minutes.

When Padgett did not come to the meeting, Tipton went ahead with updates. Board member Larry Fidler was also present, while Don Sublett and Terry Puffer were absent. Tipton, Fidler and other town officials tentatively scheduled another meeting for Friday.

Interim utility manager Richard Saucerman gave an update on a construction job on Lafayette Street regarding a damaged portion of sewer. Spiker Excavation has partially completed the job.

"He's burying up what he has in. I'm going to say he's got a little over half to two-thirds done," Saucerman said. "They have to get a bigger excavator so they pulled out."

Saucerman said a bill of $15,665 was not a final price on the job because it was not complete. The present board members expressed frustration with the mounting cost.

"We're looking at a job total of $20,000, when it started out to be $12,000," Tipton said.

Both Tipton and Fidler said digging up the portion of sewer that he covered should not be included in the cost to the city.

Saucerman said using new water meters had a noticeable effect on the recorded water usage at the Cloverdale Elementary School.

"I know they said that they increased their water usage 10,000 gallons by switching from the old meter to the compound one," Saucerman said.

Saucerman brought it up in response to a previous question about switching over Endeavor Communications' meter.

Saucerman went over uniform purchases for the city workers.

Saucerman said the new pole barn is almost finished. The door is the only remaining part of the project, which will cost around $3,700 to be installed. The project has $4,100 remaining in its budget.

At the Friday meeting the council will vote on a number of issues, including approving a storm drain project with Endeavor Communications on Market and West streets. The board will also approve checks and payroll.