DeWitt to conduct emergency pool work

By Janet Huffman
Herald Correspondent

June 08, 2009 11:26 am

— DEWITT — Under the title of emergency business, the DeWitt City Council has approved hiring ACCO Unlimited Corporation of Johnston to investigate a leak at the DeWitt Aquatic Center.
According to Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Lake, the pool is losing about 20,000 gallons of water a day, which is almost a tenth of its 244,000-gallon capacity. ACCO is a dive service which will investigate the main drain and inlet lines as well as pressure relief valves and hydrostatic relief valves in a full pool at a cost of $2,000 to $3,000. Further work to localize the leak may require an empty pool and cost $2,000 for the service plus repair costs ranging from $5,000 to $100,000.
The council recognized Scott and Annette Kaczinski as May Citizens of the Month. The Kaczinskis have for many years used their love for music to perform voluntarily at many events and places, such as Westwing Place.
With three slots yet to fill for the city’s 2008 owner-occupied rehabilitation housing program, the council approved amending the administrative rules for the program. The amendment would change the requirements for applicants to have lived in their homes for at least six months prior to making an application. There will no longer be a time limit.
Following the Clinton County Communications Commission funding change to a countywide levy, the council approved an agreement with the CCC for transitional funding. DeWitt will pay $21,791 by June 30, 2009, and be repaid by CCC in equal payments without interest on Nov. 1, 2010 and May 31, 2011. Other members of the commission (Camanche, Clinton and Clinton County) will follow the same pattern of payment. June 15 was set as the date for the public hearing for approval of a development agreement with QCA Spas, Inc., for authorization of tax increment financing rebate payments. Improvements to the property have increased the assessed value from $691,000 to $925,8000, and QCA has brought more than 45 new jobs to the city. This is a seven-year 97 percent rebate agreement not to exceed $50,000, according to City Administrator Steve Lindner.
The council approved street closures for the seventh annual Crossroads Triathlon Aug. 1; a change order for the 17th Street/18th Avenue reconstruction project for tees and a valve at the Cobblestone Estate subdivision at a cost of $775; and named DeWitt Bank & Trust Co., First Central State Bank of DeWitt, US Bancorp Center of Minneapolis, Minn., and Iowa Public Agency Investment Trust of West Des Moines as depositories.
IIW Engineers of Dubuque have requested a proposal for an archeological investigation for the Silver Creek Trail project. Since Bear Creek Archeology of Cresco was the only available provider, the council accepted their proposal at a cost of less than $5,000.
At the request of the Downtown DeWitt Improvement District, the council agreed to purchase two more planters at a cost of $2,500. This will be part of replacement of the planters which are defective in the downtown.
Lindner informed the council that the Transcontinental Motor Convoy on Lincoln Highway will pass through DeWitt on June 21; two new police interns, one from Western Illinois University and one from Clinton Community College, will be with the police department this summer; the Chamber of Commerce offices will be moved into the hausbarn this week; and the newly purchased Eastern Iowa Light and Power Cooperative property has been inspected with no visible signs of the need for immediate repairs.
The council also discussed a maintenance contract of possibly two hours a month at 40 per hour with Solar Pixel for the city’s Web site.