BY K. MCSTAY
HERALD DEMOCRAT
The Denison City Council voted Monday to take the first steps toward needed repairs at Randell Lake Dam.
"This is the initiation of the work that's required," said Public Works Director David Howerton. The cost for the initial studies would be approximately $27,000, and would include a study of the hydraulic adequacy of the dam, a breach analysis with inundation mapping and a plan and costs for automating the gate operators. These tests will determine how much work needs to be done on the dam, as well as qualify the city for possible grant money.
"We'll pay for this with unobligated water and sewer funds," he said.
Susan Way, the city's finance director, discussed payment for the repairs with the city. During the next couple of months, notices of intent for bonds will be published, stating the city's intention to repair the dam. Approximately 47 will be issued for the aggregate principle amount. There will be no increase to the water or sewer rates to finance the bonds, Way said, and the funding should be received at the end of January.
The council also voted to approve a sign request from Hyde Park Elementary. At last Wednesday's work session, principal Regina Prigge requested the sign, saying that often there was a traffic back up. A No Left Turn sign was approved for the area. "I'll be sending out leaflets to the parents," she said.
Some concern was voiced this past Wednesday at the effect on nearby streets, but Prigge raised the possibility of adding a school zone to nearby streets.
A months-long process to demolish a house destroyed a year ago by a storm was finished. The dwelling at 2604 Arapaho Circle was in the hands of Wells Fargo at the time due to foreclosure. Despite several overtures from the city, little was accomplished. Eventually, a company in Arizona contacted the city and sent an engineer to measure to destruction of the house.
At that time, he said some of the walls could possibly be repaired; now, months later, that assessment is no longer accurate.
At a recent meeting, an attorney for the bank arrived, and offered to repay the city for the cost of demolition; the city, however, voted to continue action to place a lien on the property. They did so, and bid the construction out.
"Once the demolition is complete and all the costs associated with the demolition, including the administrative costs, are tallied ... we'll put a resolution before you," said City Attorney Tom Akins. "We might be able to get that done by the December meeting, and if not then, before January."
Also approved was a conditional use permit for Carlos Chapa, allowing him to open a restaurant with a private club. Chapa cleaned up the building, which was formerly an oriental restaurant, and said he was looking forward to joining the community.
Denison approved casting votes to the Grayson Appraisal District for Normal Gordan as a candidate to the board, and approved the low bid to drill under Spur 503 and complete the city's 2009 Distribution Project. The council also approved Howerton's request to purchase capital equipment for public works, and extended a contract for the city's street overlay program.
In executive session, the council approved the reappointment of Philip Shaffer as Municipal Court judge, and appointed Lawrence Evans as alternate. The cost of Evans' training will be paid for by the city. In addition, the city approved the amendment of previous deals with Main Street Lumber to reflect the city's purchase of block 66.
The city also authorized "any and all" possible ways to collect Comfort Inn's delinquent hotel/motel tax, which Denison Mayor Robert Brady said has not been paid for quite some time. "They (the owners) have already collected it," he said. Currently, he said, it's a question of why the owners have not yet paid.