Council member suggests cost-sharing out-of-town water lines
Discussion on out-of-town water meters and a request to drill a well dominated business on the agenda at the Grant City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 28.
In a vote to approve the agenda, councilman Matt Greenwood voted against it, stating there was not enough information to take action on the water meters. With councilman Robert Bounds absent, Mayor Mike Wyatt voted yes in addition to council members Andrea Brueggeman and Darrell Pierce to accept the agenda with a 3-1 vote. Greenwood questioned whether Wyatt was allowed to vote other than to break a tie. City Attorney Phil Pierce confirmed he was.
The council reviewed and discussed the application to drill a well on the south-side property of Mark Cunningham and Pam Murphy, originally tabled on Feb. 28, which led to a discussion on the south side water lines and meters.
Included in the materials presented to the council was another estimate from City Engineer Tom Werblow for the three homes on the south side, running a 6-inch line from the Dollar General water main, which would be roughly $37,900 per residence. If a fourth home is added, the cost would be roughly $29,000, down substantially from the original $51,000 estimate.
Brueggeman asked how the homeowners would be expected to pay for it, whether it would be a lump sum or paid over a period of time.
Attorney Pierce said if they form a water extension district, it could be paid over a 15-year period, and the city has the authority to bond to build it.
Brueggeman questioned why this issue wasn’t looked at when they first started putting in meters.