Public works director updates projects

by Mary Coblentz
Aaron Schumaker, Wellman public works director, updated the Wellman council on public works projects during a work session prior to the regular council meeting Monday.
Shumaker told the council that the “chip and seal all over town” is the result of city workers attempting to replace water valves. The city anticipated replacing four to five valves and some hydrants and, according to Schumaker, “Looking at the map, we thought we knew what we were getting into.”
However, he reported, sometimes the water main wasn’t where the map indicated. Also, some functional valves were discovered that weren’t on the map.

Looking at the map, we thought we knew what we were getting into

A couple of hydrants have been replaced including one at 8th Street and 8th Avenue. Another hydrant was replaced on 1st Avenue two weeks ago, the day before a house burned there. The hydrant was used to fight the fire.
Several other hydrants in the city need to be replaced or repaired. Non-functional hydrants are marked with a blue plastic circle, and the Wellman Fire Department is aware of which hydrants don’t work.
The valve replacement project will continue to be a priority for the city workers. Schumaker said, “We need to be able to shut down the city (referring to water). We need to be able to shut down just a block or part of a block, not a whole section.”
Water plant improvements are on schedule, Schumaker said. The pilot reverse osmosis trial is ended and “water quality results are better than expected.” The equipment used for the pilot project was dismantled at the end of September.
Shumaker also stated that he anticipates spending $6,000 to $8,000 on wastewater plant upgrades.
He said that one of the medical clinic signs was installed this week on 9th Avenue.
Schumaker noted that he is in favor of a proposed change to have Parks be under Public Works. He said that he thinks the change will “streamline” the work.
Other issues discussed in the work session included:

• the city’s possibly applying for a Brownfield redevelopment grant. City Administrator Dave Ross told the council that the grant, which is due “very soon,” would allow the city to purchase the old DX station. The grant is for “urban blight” and is primarily used for old gas stations. Ross believes that, if the city purchases the property using grant money, the city can “make repairs in a fiscally responsible manner.” Currently, the property is on the DNR’s high-risk list. To get the property off the high-risk list, Ross believes a portion of water main that is currently PVC pipe would need to be replaced with ducted iron;
• a citizen’s request for more lighting in the Deer Meadows addition. Ross will look into the cost;
• Ivan Ulin’s request that the city pay for $153.06 damages to his home after a large limb from a tree in the city right-of-way fell during strong winds, hit power lines, and slightly damaged Ulin’s home. Ross will see who trimmed the tree last year when, Ulin said, his neighbor asked that it be taken down instead of trimmed. Ross noted that city ordinance states that the city is responsible for taking down trees if they are “dead or diseased” in the right-of-way; and
• Hill’s Bank’s possible drive-through. Hills is in the preliminary stages looking into the possibility of purchasing James “Boomer” Dawson’s building to make room for a drive-through. The council was generally in favor if cars backing up on 8th Avenue would not be an issue. Hills Bank indicated to Ross that they didn’t want to explore the option if the city was against it.