City governments are responsible to their citizens and are expected to handle the money entrusted to them responsibly. Some city officials accomplish this task admirably. The following article is a case in point. It shows how Plain City is fixing their sewer lagoon system for about $100,000 dollars.
Then there’s Perry City with Mayor Jerry Nelson at the helm. He and his council unilaterally, and without a vote of the residents, committed Perry City to a debt of $11.8 million dollars to build a sewer treatment plant. Unlike Plain City, our mayor and council did not seriously look at less expensive alternatives even though several viable options, including the “PooGloo” system developed by the University of Utah, were brought to their attention.
Please read this article and ask yourself if you really believe that Mayor Nelson and his Council is acting in your best interests?
Ed Skrobiszewski
Candidate for Perry City Council seat
Industry News
University of Utah’s “PooGloo” treats sewage
By Wastewater Compliance Systems
Aug 6, 2009 – 1:37:29 PM
Salt Lake City, UT — A bizarre contraption has just been put together in the northern Utah town of Plain City. It's the first full-scale test of a major invention from the University of Utah. If it works, it could have worldwide significance and will save people here lots of money on their sewer bills.
It looks like alien mushrooms sprouting in a sewage lagoon, but it may be the wave of the future in sewage treatment.
Don Weston, Plain City director of environmental services, said, "The good bacteria stays in there and just continues to eat, eat, eat and propagate and propagate."
For the folks in Plain City, the new concept came at a good time. Their sewage volume is increasing with growth. Effluent discharges are getting closer to violating pollution standards. They face the enormous cost of a mechanical sewage plant.
"They figured it would be right around $13 million. And this is going to cost us $100,000," Weston said.
Over the next couple of weeks, they'll be filling up the lagoon so the sewage will rise above the level of the domes. Air will bubble through them and up through the sewage.
"We call them PooGloos," said Professor Kraig Johnson, with the department of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Utah.
A University of Utah team invented the igloo concept and have successfully treated sewage in the lab. "I don't know why somebody didn't think of this already. It's elegant in its simplicity," Johnson said.
The idea is to give bacteria lots of surface area to grow on, plenty of oxygen, and a dark environment to prevent algae growth. "If you can keep the algae from growing and enhance the bacteria, then the pollutants are removed by the bacteria," Johnson explained.
The result is faster, cheaper sewage treatment. "This way we can use two of our six ponds to do the same thing, and I can shut half this plant down once these are going," Weston said.
And homeowners don't have to pay for a big new plant.
Plain City mayor Jay Jenkins said, "We've got real low sewer rates. We're down around the $10-a-month area. And our feeling was if we would have had to go to a mechanical plant, we probably would have ended up having to increase that to around $40 or $50 a month."
If it works, communities all over the world may have PooGloos in their future. The University shares the patents, so if PooGloos catch on around the world, the U will split the profits with the inventors.
Source: http://www.wcs-utah.com/
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May 14, 2009
1. During the April 23, 2009 City Council Meeting there were no decisions made on the approval of an Inter-Local Agreement with Willard City regarding Fire and Emergency Medical Services. The Mayor and Council indicated that they were not ready to sign the agreement with Willard because they needed to get with Brigham City to make sure all three cities are in agreement with the overall tri-city fire and emergency services coverage.
Of concern was that the deadline for a Govt. Grant for a fire and emergency service building is July 1, 2009. Councilman Walker and City Attorney Murray were given authorization to submit the application for the Govt. Grant. The justification for this decision is that the city will need to build our own fire/emergency services Dept. with-in the nest 2-10 years. As it appears Perry will not be able to depend on Willard and Brigham City for these services and the cost for these services are continuing to rise.
Before the mayor and city council goes charging off on a crusade to get a Perry fire dept. at any cost, they should stop and have a reality check of the real costs of this venture. Maybe, they think they can make big decisions regarding spending for a fire dept. like the decision they made for the Willard Sewer, without a vote of the city residents who pay taxes which resulted in an $ll to 14M dollar city debt.
To cover fire dept. costs, taxes and/or fees will need to be raised to secure any Government loans/bonds to pay for this ill-conceived venture.
There are less expensive ways and probably better ways to provide fire protection.
In addition, the ISO rating for a new fire dept. will go up and directly affect every Perry City homeowner. Presently, Brigham is at an ISO level 5. Willard’s level is unknown. However, if Perry goes with Willard the ISO could be raised to level 7 or 8. If and when Perry would get their own fire dept. the ISO level would be 9-10. Level 10 is the highest level. When the ISO level raises all home owners’ fire insurance costs will also increase.
Question: How much will it cost to develop and maintain a fire dept. ???
Using best guess estimates the initial fire dept. cost could be somewhere between 3M and 4M plus dollars, this is without factoring in the building, maintenance and utility cost. If the building and maintenance cost are estimated the cost would be between 4M-6M plus dollars without utility costs. These estimates are based on the need for 20 volunteer firemen, equipment, 2 fire trucks and 2 brush trucks, and a 3-4 bay building. It is estimated that Perry city would need at least 20 plus volunteer firemen, with 10 to 15 on call 24/7.The estimate for wages are 100 K per year plus insurance and other city benefits. The ongoing fire dept yearly costs including the wages and benefits are estimated to be 500K to 1M dollars per year.
Because of our rural setting I wonder where these 20 plus volunteer firemen will come from, as most city residents work outside the city making it difficult for a quick response to any call out.
City employees cannot be on a volunteer fire dept. The cost to rehab the 2 derelict fire trucks presently owned by the city is unknown. They may not pass any of the county, state or federal government requirements for use as real fire trucks, but they could be used for the 4th of July parade, etc.
Note: Brigham City can handle 5 call outs at any given time. The number of callouts Willard can handle is unknown but they may be able to handle 2 callouts at one time.
What will this venture cost each taxpayer/resident? 1) Higher taxes, 2) higher city fees and, 3) Increases in home/business owner fire insurance.
By the way as taxpayers we also pay for Government loans, bonds and grants.
Remember there are no free lunches. Fire dept’s do not make money. A fire dept. requires taxpayer support and all costs are out of pocket expenses, which are “OUR POCKETS”.
Why not establish a fire district with Brigham City and use their already established fire department?
2. The 23 April, City Council discussions regarding the option for a $26.50/monthly sewer fee for city residents not currently connected to the sewer system. The Mayor and City Attorney stated that the city cannot collect sewer fees on those not currently connected and who are presently using septic systems.
According to the Mayor, “State Law” requires that the sewer must be available, therefore if they cannot connect to the sewer system NOW the city cannot collect sewer fees from non connected resident.
The Mayor and Council stated that they need to negotiate a monthly payment plan with the 20 or so residents. These payments could be collected, and later when the sewer becomes available these monthly payments could then be credited toward their sewer connection fees. In addition the sewer impact fees may be reduced or waived.
What is interesting about all this is, is that the State requires all residents within 300 ft. of the city sewer line to connect and if some residents cannot make a sewer connection because the sewer line is not within the mandated 300 feet no fees can be collected. However, when these services become available then all impact connection and monthly fees should be collected.
I suggest that no fees or payments be imposed or collected at this time and when the sewer system gets to within the mandated 300 feet of the property of any and all Perry City residents that the impact, connection and monthly fees that are in the Perry City ordinances at the time of the sewer becomes available be imposed and collected.
Note: some elected and past council members would benefit from any negotiations other than those required by City ordinance.
Question – If those residents that do not have access to the sewer are not required by LAW to pay for a service that is not available, then why are the residents that are presently connected to the old Perry sewer system required to pay for sewer treatment operating and maintence; when the Willard sewer is not in operation and there is no required maintence? In other words the “Willard Sewer plant is not available for anyone’s use”.
Note: There will be a Public Hearing regarding the issue of those Perry Residents on septic systems to be held on May 14, 2009.
3. The Willard sewer construction is progressing slower than estimated because of major setbacks.
The problem is excess water “Surprise”. It appears that everywhere they drill; dig or look there is water. They struck a major water source at the southeast corner of where the sewer building will be built. In addition there were major water sources found in a number of pilot holes drilled near the I-15 freeway. These holes were drilled in preparation to bore under the freeway.
One of the sewer contractors requested a waiver from the city before any further drilling. The contractor was afraid the water and the boring could cause freeway damage.
Councilman Walker and Sun Rise Engineering were given authorization (by the council) to make any and all decisions regarding further drilling, and digging, relieving the contractor of all liabilities.
The water at the sewer site is potable, however, the previous landowner has filed on the water rights (one of the water sources is pumping approximately 1150 gal. per minute). It’s a good deal for someone. The taxpayers pay for purchasing the land drilling the well, and then loose the water rights to major potable water resources.
The city is looking at the purchase of a used 200-500 MV generator that will require a contract amendment for the over and above monies allocated for the generator.
4. 23 Apr Council also initiated 2 requests for proposals (RFP) for improvements in the City Center Subdivision. One RFP for installation of the inter-structure (roads, sewer, water, sidewalks etc.) and the 2nd for a realtor to sell the lots and/or for a developer to build the subdivision.
5. 23 Apr the Council approved an agreement with Mr. & Mrs. B. Davis, to donate a portion of 3450 S. St. (60 feet right of way) between Hwy 89 and 1200 West exchange for one each culinary water connection and impact fee.
6. Perry still has a large budget shortfall (look for restructuring the city user fees and new taxes, all to go higher) Just look at business license fees raised from $30 per yr to as much as $5000.00 per year. I find this increase to be obscene since it’s another ploy to cover indiscriminate spending. Walmart, each month, provides Perry City with approximately $30,000 to $45,000 in sales tax revenue. Their original assessment was $63,000. Walmart objected and it was reduced to $31,000 and reduced again to $5,000. To cover this new cost could easily influence Walmart to either lay off workers and/or move the store to Brigham City. The greed and arrogance of the Perry City Administration is appalling.
7. Apr 23 council discussed Box Elder/Perry City flood control. Currently Box Elder County has complete control of Perry’s flood control decisions and funds since the board operates under the umbrella of Box Elder County. There is approximately 200 K plus in Perry tax funds being held by the county. The current Perry city ordinances requires 5 Perry city residents to be elected to the flood control board, however Perry has not been able to submit any names for the elections for about 10 years. Now Box Elder County is concerned with the costs of an election, so the city council plans on changing the County Flood Control Ordinance to allow the 5 board members to be appointed by the mayor and council. To re-constitute the Flood Control Board, under Perry City control, would require a vote of the Perry Residents, since tax dollars are involved.
This is an attempt to get control of the monies being held by the county and use them to fill in for budget deficits.
Something to think about: Apparently the budget is not as bad as everyone thinks, why you ask? The city sent a planning employee to St. George for a week of training. Your tax money paid for all this. Best guess the cost was in excess of $1000.00, mileage, gas, food and motel. So much for controlling the budget.
Every dollar spent is one dollar less to balance the budget. I think it is time for the city to get serious and cut needless trips, equipment and projects from the budget. Oh by the way the city will not have a yearly spring clean up with large dumpsters because of the tight budget, but we can send someone for planning training to St. George. The Motto at City Hall is without a doubt “Spend, Spend and Spend Some More”.
Jay Newman, 723-2678
2420 S. 500 W.
Perry, UT 84302
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