Thursday, May 10, 2007

Grey takes mayor's oath at Valley Falls

by Clarke Davis

Susan Grey, a one-term councilwoman and president of the council, was sworn in as mayor of Valley Falls Monday night.

Grey was the presiding officer following the death last week of Mayor Bob Zieg. Because she held the office at the time of his death, she can continue in the office although she failed to be re-elected to a second term in April.

Grey is an elementary teacher and will be the K-8 principal at Valley Falls starting next term.

Three new council members were also sworn in. Mark Boyce, a mechanic and business owner, Tony Trower, employee of the state Department of Transportation, and Paul Burns, a 25-year city water superintendent who retired in 2003, were elected in April.

Taking leave after serving their terms were council members Terry Sullivan, a former mayor, and James Clulo. Currently serving in mid-term are Roz Jackson and James Durand.

The first vote was for the largest project the council will probably see for quite some time. Midland Contractors Inc., Topeka, was awarded the contract to upgrade the water plant for a base bid of $450,000.

Several add ons runs the total bid up to $549,670. City workers will build a 12-by-12-foot building outside the plant, eliminating $21,000 from the bid. The building will house powder activated carbon, a black and dirty additive that needs to be separated from the main plant.

The project is being financed with a combination loan and grant good for up to $681,000.

The local firm of Kearney & Son came in second in the bidding, over by $31,000. Jackson thought that amount was not so excessive that the local firm should not be considered, but she was informed that the state would only approve the low bidder.

Engineer Chad Harrington of Larkin Group said once the state Department of Health and Environment signs off on the contractor, the work can begin. The construction phase is expected to run into December.

Bettis Asphalt and Construction, Topeka, had the low bid of $27,215 for asphalt overlays on approximately six blocks of city streets.

A&W Asphalt came in at $30,942 and Hamm Construction bid $35,510. Bettis has the state contract for paving the new K-4 approaches to the Delaware River bridge at Valley Falls.

The blocks to be overlaid are Elm Street from K-16 south and 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th streets from Oak Street east, all about one block.

The council’s first split vote came with a request for a donation to build a basketball court in the city park. The council voted 3-2 to donate $3,000 to the project with Boyce and Durand opposed.

The request came from the Valley Falls Recreation Commission. Commission member Jo Tichenor said they had a bid from local contractor Jim Metzger for $10,500 and that he was donating his labor.

Approximately $4,500 had been raised toward the project and a few contributions were still outstanding. Durand questioned the ever escalating cost of the project, stating that it started out to be much less. The increased cost of cement was the only answer he got.

The Recreation Commission will also fund a portion of the cost and members want to begin construction soon.

The 30-by-80-foot, 4-inch slab will be laid between the shelter house and the tennis court.

Durand was elected president of the council and Jackson will be the treasurer. Jackson will also join the city’s Economic Development Committee and Boyce will be the city’s representative on the District No. 11 board of directors.

Committee assignments were: streets and alleys, Trower and Durand; parks and pool, Trower; water and sewer, Burns and Durand; police, Grey.

The annual appointment of the police chief, city administrator, official newspaper, bank depository, judge, and legal counsel were tabled until the May 21 meeting. Boyce was asking for an executive session to discuss nonelected personnel before making the appointments.