City forgiven almost $1M
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The City of Chrisman has filled the open position of Sewer/Water employee. The spot has been vacant for a few weeks after previous employee Erik Bohle handed in his two week notice. The city made the decision to hire Michael Burgess for the position.
Back in April of this year, Jacob Lewis attended the meeting to ask for their assistance in an insurance claim on the foundation on his house. After not hearing back since, he attended the meeting held on July 11th.
Lewis has been dealing with the city’s insurance since April and was told that it was now up to the city for the process to move forward. “This is the first day that I’ve seen it,” Mayor Danny Owen said. Lewis was told that all he needed was the city’s reasoning as to why the backup was happening.
“I’m trying to figure out my next steps,” Lewis said.
Mayor Owen said that the city would need to find out who did the installation in the first place. Lewis mentioned that since the hole had been dug behind another resident’s house, there has not been any water back up, but the foundation still needs to be handled.
“We’ll get on it,” Owen said.
Two new library board members were approved at the meeting. The new members will be Loretta Fagg and Taylor Lovett. Bids were opened for the property at 221 South Illinois. The only bid was for $2,500 from Dave Mattingly and was approved.
Currently, the city is paying one hundred and fifty dollars to mail out water bills for the month, then another forty-five to sixty dollars for late bills. The shut off date will be printed on the water bills and late notices will not be mailed out. If the bill is not paid my the shut off date, the water will be cut with no reminder that your bill is late.
Commissioner Brice Stratton asked about sending residents a notice that they would not be receiving a second bill, to which Mayor Owen said that they were not going to blindside anyone with the change. “We will be sending one bill with the due date and shut off date,” Owen said. “There will be no more late notices or shut off notices. The days will stay the same.” A motion was made to send one bill with shut off date per water billing cycle.
Sidewalks around the square are in the process of getting fixed and painted. Bids will soon be opened for the tar and chip projects around town. Commissioner Crispin stated that he was still waiting for news on fixing the parking lot at the Chrisman Nazarene Church.
A bid was received for the trees in city park, but Crispin was not sure where it came from. It was in the amount of $1,690 for one tree removal. “I’m going to check with other tree trimming services,” Crispin said.
A total of twenty gallons of yellow paint has been used on the updates for the curbs, but a special red paint needs to be purchased to re-do the fire hydrants.
Mayor Owen received a letter from the EPA concerning the water project that they had entered with the City of Paris. In total, the city was quoted to be paying $998,635 for the project. The EPA is now forgiving the city for $900,000. “We now have to pay $98,635.66 out of almost one million,” Mayor Owen said.
Monthly payments for the loan will average around $1,800 per month. This also ensures that the water lines will be consistently checked to make sure there are no leaks or major changes in the water supply.
Also at the meeting, executive session minutes from previous meetings were approved as well as claims in the amount of $64,675.81.
Building permits were granted for 115 East Lincoln, 202 E. Jefferson and 224 South Iowa. A demolition permit was granted for 712 East Monroe.
