Holts Summit to seek bond for sewer

No citizens appeared at a Board of Aldermen public hearing Monday night on a $7 million revenue bond proposal to build a new sewage treatment system.

 Holts Summit City Administrator Brian Crane said the $7 million proposal to be placed on the April 2011 city election ballot will build a new wastewater treatment plant capable of handing 600,000 gallons of wastewater a day. It also would add sewer service to five new areas and eliminate the Choctaw Lagoon now in use. The plan also would permit automation of numerous lift stations.

 Crane said the current sewerage system is costly to operate and would not be able to meet new state requirements.

 It was estimated the cost of the $7 million entire project will be financed by revenue collected through fees paid by residential and commercial customers.

  The aldermen were scheduled to give final approval to the city's 2011 budget, but final action was postponed because of a heavy schedule of other business before the aldermen Monday night.

 Alderwoman Pam Murray told the board she took a walk in the city's Greenwood Park and was distressed to learn that one part of the park appeared to be used as a dump.

 Murray said more than 100 old tires were piled in a corner of the park along with crumpled fencing and old bleachers.

 Crane said after Murray brought the conditions to his attention he hired a firm to dispose of the tires, which was done within two days. Murray said she went back and found about three tires still remaining at the site and other debris as well.

  Crane said before he became the city administrator the city apparently had no clear cut policy on disposal of property. Employees were told to hold on to anything that could have value. He said that issue has been corrected and he would like to see a plan to make better use of the property that was acquired five years ago for a city park. Murray said she was pleased that the tires and most of the other debris were removed so quickly after she discovered them but she is distressed that part of the area that was supposed to be a park apparently had been used as what appeared to be a dump.

 Mayor Lucas Fitzpatrick said he also was upset to learn about the condition of the park and he is pleased the city is moving forward with cleaning up the unsightly and unsafe conditions.

 Earlier in the evening, the aldermen received a check from Mid America Bank in Holts Summit for $2,510 for improvements in Hibernia Park in Holts Summit.

 Brenda Leydens of Mid America Bank presented the check to the board, saying the bank set aside $10 for each new checking account in a drive to benefit the park.

 The aldermen also approved an ordinance that would permit the city to prosecute someone ticketed for failure to register a vehicle in city court rather than state court. The change was made so the city could receive the fine rather than the state.