Out-of-town water issues moving forward

By Brooke Pankonin

Grant Tribune Sentinel

The official creation of the Northside Water Extension District began with the first reading of the ordinance at the Grant City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 25.

Mayor Mike Wyatt reminded the council that ordinances are read three times, but they have the privilege to waive the next two readings.

The ordinance states the city shall levy the costs of the project, including the exploratory work, to the district, but councilman Bob Bounds said it was his understanding that the city would be paying for the exploratory work completed on the north side.

City Attorney Phil Pierce said the council could amend the ordinance to strike exploratory work from the costs. 

According to the ordinance, the city shall accept the district’s water main as a part of its own system, which includes the maintenance, repair and replacement as any other part of the city’s water system at the completion of the project, no earlier than July 1, 2017. 

Wyatt asked Pierce if the date of July 1 was the date the north side residents needed to be hooked up to the meter pits. Pierce said that is the earliest completion date of the project when the city will take ownership of the main.

Wyatt felt it was important to have a deadline for the residents to be hooked up to the main and metered. 

Alicia Patrick, owner of Country Gardens Greenhouse located on the north side, asked if construction on the main could be postponed until after the greenhouse closes for the season in mid-June. Since the line goes under both of the greenhouse’s driveways, construction would greatly inhibit her business. 

After discussion with the north side residents, the deadline date was set for no later than Sept. 1, 2017.

Wyatt said as soon as lines are ready, the meter pits will be installed. 

Council member Andrea Brueggeman asked if the city would not be providing loan money for those who needed it, as it was her understanding residents could borrow from the city to get their systems up and going. 

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