By Bruce Rolfe
With a new budget being developed for approval in March, the Climax Village Council learned at its February 18 regular meeting there will be some government required water system maintenance projects that will be done in the new budget year that will be costly.
Department of Public Works Manager T.J. Gibson said the DPW attempts to overhaul village pumps every nine years and pump number 3 is scheduled to get overhauled this year. He said the cost will be approximately $31,000.
“We budget for it every nine years so we knew that this price was coming. It wasn’t a surprise to us, but it’s going to be an addition this year for our water budget,” said Gibson.
While it is not part of a required expense, the DPW manager said he would like the Council to include in the 2025-2026 budget the purchase of a Variable Frequency Drive to use during a state mandated tank inspection and cleaning scheduled for this summer. The Variable Frequency Drive keeps water pressure at correct levels in the water mains so residents do not lose pressure during the tank inspection and cleaning process when the water tower tank is drained. Gibson said previously the Village would rent a trailer from Peerless Midwest that would be used during the week long process to monitor and maintain adequate water pressure levels. The cost to rent the piece of equipment currently is $7000, however Gibson emphasized if the Village owned the Variable Frequency Drive, the equipment would pay for itself quickly and offer a savings in the future.
Repairing three fire hydrants that are not working properly will also add a large expense to the new budget. Gibson said the cost to have the fire hydrants repaired and operable will be approximately $21,000.
There are also three road improvement projects that will be considered that would be large expense items in the budget.
The Council is considering a chip seal project on North and South Main Street, resurfacing North Church Street from Cherry Street to East Maple Street, and resurfacing Columbine Street in the Snapdragon Subdivision. The Council may choose to do any combination of none up to all three of the projects.
Council Approves Volunteer Accident Policy Coverage
After listening to a presentation by a representative from the Village’s insurance carrier at the previous meeting, the Council approved adding Volunteer Accident coverage to its policy.
The Council became interested in adding the Volunteer Accident Policy when former part time Department of Public Works employee Roger Smith requested to be an on-call volunteer employee instead of a paid employee.
Groups and organizations also routinely volunteer with community projects in the Village. Adding the volunteer accident coverage will allow the village to approach the C-S School District about having students volunteer to assist with some projects in the village.
The policy covers up to 300 volunteers and costs approximately $400 annually.
• The council is working with the attorney to review a contract with a communications carrier to have equipment on the village’s water tower.
With a new budget being developed for approval in March, the Climax Village Council learned at its February 18 regular meeting there will be some government required water system maintenance projects that will be done in the new budget year that will be costly.
Department of Public Works Manager T.J. Gibson said the DPW attempts to overhaul village pumps every nine years and pump number 3 is scheduled to get overhauled this year. He said the cost will be approximately $31,000.
“We budget for it every nine years so we knew that this price was coming. It wasn’t a surprise to us, but it’s going to be an addition this year for our water budget,” said Gibson.
While it is not part of a required expense, the DPW manager said he would like the Council to include in the 2025-2026 budget the purchase of a Variable Frequency Drive to use during a state mandated tank inspection and cleaning scheduled for this summer. The Variable Frequency Drive keeps water pressure at correct levels in the water mains so residents do not lose pressure during the tank inspection and cleaning process when the water tower tank is drained. Gibson said previously the Village would rent a trailer from Peerless Midwest that would be used during the week long process to monitor and maintain adequate water pressure levels. The cost to rent the piece of equipment currently is $7000, however Gibson emphasized if the Village owned the Variable Frequency Drive, the equipment would pay for itself quickly and offer a savings in the future.
Repairing three fire hydrants that are not working properly will also add a large expense to the new budget. Gibson said the cost to have the fire hydrants repaired and operable will be approximately $21,000.
There are also three road improvement projects that will be considered that would be large expense items in the budget.
The Council is considering a chip seal project on North and South Main Street, resurfacing North Church Street from Cherry Street to East Maple Street, and resurfacing Columbine Street in the Snapdragon Subdivision. The Council may choose to do any combination of none up to all three of the projects.
Council Approves Volunteer Accident Policy Coverage
After listening to a presentation by a representative from the Village’s insurance carrier at the previous meeting, the Council approved adding Volunteer Accident coverage to its policy.
The Council became interested in adding the Volunteer Accident Policy when former part time Department of Public Works employee Roger Smith requested to be an on-call volunteer employee instead of a paid employee.
Groups and organizations also routinely volunteer with community projects in the Village. Adding the volunteer accident coverage will allow the village to approach the C-S School District about having students volunteer to assist with some projects in the village.
The policy covers up to 300 volunteers and costs approximately $400 annually.
• The council is working with the attorney to review a contract with a communications carrier to have equipment on the village’s water tower.
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