Layne sewers to be fixed

DUNKIRK — Repairs to problem areas in city sewers that were first detected in 2009 will soon move forward.
Also at Monday’s Dunkirk City Council meeting, the mayor appointed two new officers and an agent discussed finding better rates for the town’s insurance coverage.
Mitch Hansel of Fleis & Vandenbrink Engineering told council the sewers in Layne Addition were televised in 2009 and the city began to set aside funds to make repairs. The city has $362,258.23 saved for the project.
The area has severe cracking along the joints in the clay tiles in the sanitary sewers and joints are separating causing water to get into the system, Hansel said. The pipes are more than 30 years old. Those will be replaced as well as the lateral lines that connect into the main.
“We went through and located all the pipes … and then came up with a design for lining them all,” Hansel said.
Council agreed to allow Hansel to advertise for bids beginning Feb. 22 and open them March 22.
Mayor Gene Ritter appointed Rick Buckner as the new health and safety officer and Duane Marcum as the new zoning officer. Councilman Jack Robbins formerly held both positions and didn’t want to continue in those roles.
Ritter also said applications are being taken to replace police officer Mike Kreps, with agility testing to be held Sunday and interviews on Feb. 2. Kreps resigned his position at the beginning of the year to become superintendent of the street department. Ritter is also looking for a new animal control officer for the city.
Kyle Champ of Portland Insurance Agency offered to shop around for the best price for municipality insurance for the city. Clerk-treasurer Tina Elliott is going to provide Champ with declaration pages, statement of values and five-year losses so he can check with his five carriers.
In other business, council members Jesse Bivens, Brian Jessup, Tom Johnson and Jack Robbins, absent Lisa Street:
•Paid $2,190 to Right Way Collision Repair, Inc., of Albany for a new salt spreader for the street department’s pick-up truck.
•Paid $1,415.68 to Cargill for salt for the street department.
•Heard that Billy Newsome, billing clerk at the city building, resigned. Elliott hired Jodi Hines to fill the position.
•Heard water department supervisor Dace Mumbower ordered a new pressure difference guage for the backwash filters at the Dunkirk Water Department and construction has begun on new roofs on the well houses.
•Agreed to allow the renter of a home owned by Deb Raines to pay $65 per month for six months on an overdue water bill caused from a leak in addition to the regular water bill.
•Paid claims totalling $124,555.32.