by Michael Howell –
The Town of Stevensville has sent out notification to city water users stating that coliform bacteria had been found in two water samples taken from the town’s system in May. Notification of the water users is required when testing reveals violations of the state’s drinking water standards. But Town Water System Supervisor George Thomas assured Town Councilors at their last meeting that no boil order was required, as would be required with more serious contamination such as fecal coliform or E. Coli. He said measures had been taken to address the problem and the Town’s wells had been tested and found to be clean.
“The drinking water in town is safe,” said Thomas.
The notification did advise those people with severely compromised immune systems, infants and some elderly who “could be at increased risk”, to consult with their health providers.
WATER, SEWER and PHOSPHOROUS ORDINANCES
At its May 23 meeting the Stevensville Town Council approved on second reading an amended Water Ordinance that will officially change the billing procedures. Billing was changed from the old quarterly system to a monthly system. Bills will be mailed within the first five days of the month and be due on the last day of the month. If not paid by that date a warning of default would be included in the next bill with a 10 day limit to pay in full or the water will be shut off. There is also a provision allowing action in Justice Court for collection purposes and or the placing of a tax lien on the property.
Discussion of the proposed amendment to the Sewer Ordinance, also with an aim towards changing the billing and collection procedures, was once again postponed as Town Attorney Keithi Worthington is still preparing a draft to present to the council. She said a draft may be ready for first reading at the June 13 meeting.
Worthington also brought up for discussion the possibility of adopting a Phosphorous wastewater Discharge Ordinance similar to the one that the City of Missoula has adopted. She said the action was recommended by the Town’s sewer engineer.
Craig Capara of HDR Engineering said that there are legal limits to the amount of phosphorous that can be discharged from wastewater treatment plants and the limits are probably going to get stricter. He said it is also very difficult and expensive to remove phosphorous once it’s in the system. As a result the City of Missoula has banned the use of laundry detergents that contain phosphorous, he said. The city also has the ability to assess a fee to charge high phosphorous contributors.
Councilor Towle suggested that the matter be put to the public.
Councilor Mullan said it was the council’s job to make ordinances and the public gets to comment. He said that it doesn’t appear to affect any existing businesses and was just a forward looking thing that made sense.
The matter was tabled to the June 13 meeting.
CLERKS FINALLY COMPENSATED
Mayor Lew Barnett told the Council that he had been assured by the auditor that funds from the NOW Account could be used to compensate both Utility Clerk Denise Philley and Town Clerk Sue Gibson for the time they put in doing the work of the Treasurer’s position during the time period from when former Clerk Roni Kimp resigned and the time that position was filled. Gibson, who had been temporarily hired, has now been officially hired as the new clerk.
The Mayor told the council previously that the clerks had both decided that since they shared the load that compensation for the extra work could be paid equally to them at the rate of $2.55 per hour. This brought the amount owed to Philey based on her time card for the period to $785.4 and for Gibson it added up to $674.47.
Put on the spot about his own recommendation on the matter Mayor Barnett expressed uneasiness at the precedent being set.
“If we compensate them, then don’t we have to compensate all our employees who are working shorthanded?” he asked.
Counclior Robin Holcomb said, “It was brought forward to compensate them for standing in for Roni. We agreed to pay it. Why don’t we just pay it and move on.”
Councilor Towle said, “We agreed to some compensation, but not on what amount that must be.”
Holcomb said the Mayor had been instructed to consult with the clerks and get a recommendation on that amount and that he had done this.
The Council voted 2 to 1 to approve the compensation at the quoted amounts. Towle cast the dissenting vote. Councilor Groninger was absent.
IN OTHER BUSINESS THE COUNCIL:
Scrapped the price differential that was being charged town residents versus out-of-towners for swimming lessons at the Town Pool. It will now be $50 across the board for all takers, no matter where they reside.
Approved a water system improvement management plan as part of ongoing grant applications.
Approved an Interlocal Agreement between the Town and both Stevensville Town and Stevensville Rural Fire Districts
Tabled till a meeting scheduled for June 27 a request from the developer of Twin Creeks Subdivision for an extension of the December 31, 2011 deadline for filing of the Final Plat.