Council addresses streetlight snafu

LAHARPE — The city will reimburse former LaHarpe City Councilman Clayton Carr for electric charges he was improperly assessed after electric service to his property was upgraded in 2013.
Carr, who owns Jayhawker RV Park, told Council members Wednesday a pair of transformers — part of the upgrade — were installed incorrectly, and that three streetlights were improperly fed through his meter.
Crews were able to take one of the streetlights off of Carr’s system recently, City Superintendent Shaun Atwood said, and should be able to reconfigure a second transformer to remove the other two streetlights this week.
Carr remained sharply critical of CDL Electric, a contractor hired by the city this summer to help oversee upgrades to the city’s service.
“This is the second incident we’ve had a contractor in our community paid to do something, and it wasn’t done right,” Carr said.
Atwood said CDL employees did not have access to a lock on the second transformer. A key for the lock should be on hand by today. Work will commence shortly.
Council members voted, 4-0, to direct City Clerk Michelle Altis to go back and find out how much usage the lights have brought in since the upgrades, so that Carr can be properly reimbursed.
In a related matter, Council members hired BG Consultants for $6,000 for an engineering study of the city’s electrical distribution system. Such a study will give a preliminary report of LaHarpe’s needs as the city applies for a Community Development Block Grant to help fund the upgrades.

COUNCIL members agreed to allow five months, or longer, for a pair of rural water districts that work with the city to add required backflow valves to their lines.
Ronald Coltrane, representing Rural Water District No. 5, and Deb Tynon, with Rural Water District No. 3, both said they received notifications about the valves.
“It’s just we’re very short of funds right now,” Coltrane said. He estimated the cost for the valve at more than $500. “That to me seems excessive.”
Coltrane asked for a year extension.
Council members were sympathetic, saying they would allow extensions to December, at which time they’ll address the issue again.
Coltrane, however, noted it might be more difficult for such valves to be installed at that time of year because of the weather.
Still, Council members said they were willing to assist both water districts, as well as two others that work with the city, to determine if LaHarpe could purchase the valves on their behalf, and then be reimbursed, to help save costs.
Having all of the valves from a single supplier also could make it easier for repairs on down the road, Council members said.

THE COUNCIl also agreed to purchase four 40-foot, wood poles and steel cable to assist the LaHarpe PRIDE Committee, which is building a zipline at the LaHarpe City Park.
Atwood noted the city’s assistance would free up the PRIDE Committee to address other potential park improvements, such as redeveloping a sand volleyball court, adding a water spray fixture and installing more lighting.

A COUNCIL vacancy remains after Mayor Mae Crowell’s appointment of Billy Michael Riggins to the governing body was rejected by the remaining Council members.
Crowell indicated she would prepare another appointment for the Council’s consideration prior to their Aug. 12 meeting.
Council members tentatively set a special meeting date for July 23, time to be determined later, to discuss the city’s 2016 budget. The session is necessary so the Council can publish the budget prior to August.