Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Water Works Department Project Updates

Article posted by John Boyd, Director of Water Works for Jerome City

A major push to complete the Butte project is under way before the weather turns cold and becomes inclement. A team of 10 from Public Works and Water Works are working to complete this project. It is a team effort to get as much done as they can in the quickest time possible. Compaction, pipe installation, service and pipe testing are all the facets being done at the Butte. During the summer, hot, muggy, windy weather was braved by the entire crew, now they are in the race to beat the cold. This project is part of the Economic Development Agency (EDA) grant that the City acquired a few years ago. The goal of the project is to provide saleable lots that concentrate mostly on computer and hi-tech businesses. The other part of the EDA project is the reconstruction of the Brockman’s liftstation to accommodate bigger and more efficient pumps that will pump to the sewer line to be installed down Victory Lane to the H Street pump station.

At no cost to the City, new design membranes are arriving this week for the installation at the Membrane Bioreactor Plant (MBR). This MBR addition will replace the old style membrane which will then be used as backup membranes. These backup membranes will be used to assist staff when they need additional capacity as when they do a chemical clean, or a membrane repair. Currently, there is no easy way to do a chemical clean other than coming in at 2:30 in the morning and to start the process when the levels are low. This still will put the plant in high flows by the end of the workday and on into the night. The City was able to get permission to keep the membranes that are currently in basin 3 and 4 intact and look at installing the new ones in basin 5 and 6. This is a win win situation for the City of Jerome and Enviroquip, as the City will now acquire additional new “older design” membranes to keep basins 3 and 4 operational for years to come.

Irrigation season is coming to a close. October 3rd will be the last day for water to go down the pipeline. Starting October 4th the irrigation crew will start preparation of the irrigation system for winter. If you have any repairs that need completed when the water is out, please call 324-8189 and we will add your name to the list and schedule. Water Works Irrigation crew is currently replacing the irrigation pipe on 5th Ave West from Lincoln St. past the first driveway of St. Benedicts parking lot.

Yes, it is odorous on 100 West. This is the smell of solids being hauled for the Jerome Wastewater Plant. We are currently hauling belt pressed solids to the landfill in an effort to remove the solids from the plants drying beds. The plant has 3-4 big semis hauling to the landfill. We appreciate your patience in this endeavor. Also in preparation for the hauling season, the City of Jerome is looking for 25-40 acres that are available for rent to start composting the belt pressed solids. There are some special qualifications that must be met for the land to be used for composting, so if you have some land for rent please call 324-7122 and John Boyd, Water Works Director or Dennis Gross, Supervisor will be glad to consider your land for rent or answer any questions.

Water Works Water crew has been replacing one service line and repairing several other water leaks in the City. The line at Buchanan and 1st Street East was closed off the first part of last week for a service leak and repair that started Sunday afternoon. To stop this leak, the corp stop valve in the street had to be dug up and a temporary pipe clamp was put on the line to stop the leak until the crew came. Then on Monday, crew came in and started the complete line replacement from the main line to the meter which was also replaced. Another leak at 408 East 4th and then on West G kept the water crew quite busy.

The Bio-tower Tank project was completed this past week. The final distributor drive was hoisted to the top of the tank and installed to complete this project. Water Works is now waiting for the arrival of two pumps that will then be installed to complete the 2010 project. This tower will aid in the treatment of approximately 8500 lbs of loadings that come from the City and the Industry. This allows the Wastewater Facility to continue to meet the permit and enhance treatment as the City prepares for growth now and in the future.

The City of Jerome Water Works Department is looking at hiring 2 full time Water Operators-(closes Oct 1st) and a Class A CDL Truck Driver (closes Oct 8th ), Interested? Please see the add on the webpage at www.ci.jerome.id.us/city government/human resources/joblistings.

Monday, September 27, 2010

E-Newsletter Sign-up

The September e-Newsletter will be published this Thursday, September 30. If you have not subscribed already, please visit the link below to sign up for the monthly newsletter. It is a great way to keep up with the City of Jerome and various projects within the city.




Sunday, September 19, 2010

City Council Meeting Agenda: September 21, 2010

Call to Order – 5:30 P.M.

Roll Call

Pledge of Allegiance

Consent Agenda

The consent calendar consists of items that are considered to be routine in nature and will be enacted in the form of one motion. Any item can be removed from the consent calendar and heard in its regular order at the request of any council member or the mayor.

1. Approve the minutes of the September 7, 2010 regular meeting and September 7, 2010 executive session

2. Officer’s reports – Fire, Building, Library, Law Enforcement, & Finance DeptBinder

3. Claims

Oath of Office

1. Mayor Shine to administer Oath of Office to Police Officer Jason Kelly

Citizen Correspondence, Issues & Reports

Contracts/Capital Acquisitions

2. Approval to allow Advanced Info Systems to prepare utility billing statements free of charge for a 3 month trial period – Finance

3. Approve the amended Idaho Milk Products Industrial User Agreement and Industrial Waste Discharge Permit – Waterworks

4. Approve a contract with Montgomery, Inc. to construct the park to the west of the Senior Center at a cost not to exceed $24,509.25 – Engineering

5. Approve a Change Order with Jerry’s Concrete, Inc. to construct additional sidewalk for the park to the west of the Senior Center at a cost not to exceed $10,000 – Engineering

6. Approve a contract with Wabash Valley Manufacturing to provide outdoor furniture for the park to the west of the Senior Center at a cost not to exceed $10,500 – Engineering

City Council Discussion & Possible Action Items

7. Approval to purchase a Dell PowerEdge R510 server at a cost of $7,773.55 – IS

8. Approval to purchase a Hustler lawn mower from Barry Rental at a cost of $21,964 – Parks

Council Reports

Staff Reports

Executive Session

1. Pursuant to Idaho Code 67-2345(a) to considering hiring a public officer, employee, staff member or agent, unless a vacancy in an elective office is being filled.

Adjourn

Friday, September 10, 2010

Live History Days: September 11-12 at the I-Farm

REMINDER: Live History Days will be from September 11-12 at the I-Farm, located at the crossroads of US Highway 93 and I-84, adjacent to Flying J. Admission: Adults $5, under age 12 is free. For more information, click the image below:

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

City Council Agenda: September 7, 2010

Call to Order – 5:30 P.M.

Roll Call

Pledge of Allegiance

Consent Agenda

The consent calendar consists of items that are considered to be routine in nature and will be enacted in the form of one motion. Any item can be removed from the consent calendar and heard in its regular order at the request of any council member or the mayor.

1. Approve the minutes of the August 17, 2010 regular meeting, August 18, 2010 and August 23, 2010 special meetings, and August 17, 2010 executive session

2. Approval of Association of Idaho Cities 2011 dues at a cost of $3,837.00

Citizen Correspondence, Issues & Reports

1. Letter from Sheriff Doug McFall asking for a letter of support for the county jail bond

Resolutions

1. Resolution No. 20-10 – Compensation Plan

Ordinances – New Business

1. Bill No. 550, Ordinance No. 1075 – the appropriations ordinance for the ensuing year – introduction, suspension of rules and adoption

Contracts/Capital Acquisitions

1. Approve the Letter of Engagement with Rexroat, Harberd, and Associates, P.A. to perform the audit for the year ended September 30, 2010 at the cost of $12,600 – Finance

2. Approve the contract amendment with Delta Dental to change the eligibility period effective September 1, 2010 – Finance

3. Approve the contract with Brian J. Williams of Williams, Meservy and Lothspeich, LLP, for prosecution services in the amount of $60,000 for the 2010-2011 fiscal year – Finance

4. Approve the contract with Gordon Paving Company, Inc to construct the improvements for 8th Avenue West from Fir to Date streets for a cost not to exceed $349,971.05 – Engineering

5. Approve an amendment to the Industrial User Agreement with Idaho Milk Products – Waterworks

City Council Discussion & Possible Action Items

1. Approval to purchase nineteen hand-held radios from White Cloud Communication at a cost of $19,953 – Fire

2. Approve Application for Payment #3 to Idaho Sand and Gravel in the amount of $25,478.53 for work completed on the 93 Tech Park Project – Engineering

3. Approve payment of Invoice #6822 to Riedesel Engineering in the amount of $6,930 for services rendered on the 93 The Park Project – Engineering

4. Request direction from council on the policy for the City Dump Truck and Chipper Fees – Admin

5. Utility Revenue Improvement Recommendations – Finance

Council Reports

City Administrative Report

Department Head Reports

Executive Session

Pursuant to Idaho Code 67-2345 (c) to conduct deliberations concerning labor negotiations or to acquire an interest in real property which is not owned by a public agency; and pursuant to Idaho Code 67-2345 (f) to consider and advise its legal representatives in pending litigation or where there is a general public awareness of probable litigation.

Adjourn

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Writer's Workshop: September 18, 10:00-noon at the Library


The Jerome Civic Club will be hosting a writers' workshop Saturday, September 18, 10:00 a.m. to noon.

This is a "kick-off" event for the upcoming Smithsonian "Museum on Main Street" exhibit coming to the Jerome Public Library December 11-January 22.

The theme of the exhibit is "Journey Stories." It focuses on American mobility, from the early days of Europeans crossing the ocean, to westward expansion and current-day travel, and everything in between, and the stories we tell about those memorable experiences. The library and community organizations are planning exhibits and programming to complement the exhibit. We are asking Magic Valley residents to submit their own journey stories to share with exhibit visitors. Write a short story about how you or your ancestors participated in the immigrant experience, or one of the great migrations, a relocation within the United States, or even a legendary vacation trip. Bring a type-written story and a photo if possible (we will scan while you wait) to the library by the end of October. We can arrange for help with the typing.

The writers' workshop will by led by Bonnie Dodge, an award-winning local author with a special interest in Idaho history and historical preservation. If you're not sure how to get started writing down a family story, or need some extra motivation, this is the event for you! There is no charge for this event; just bring your favorite writing materials.

For more information about particpating in the workshop or the Journey Stories project, call Lorna Irwin at 324-7544.