City council signs on for seeking grant funding

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by Mark Cheffey

The Palmyra City Council last Thursday took action concerning a number of proposed sewer and storm water drainage projects.

In addition, the council voted to pay for a hotel feasibility study, reviewed proposed street overlay projects and set a special closed session to discuss the city’s open building inspector/code enforcer position.

The council voted unanimously for the city to enter into contract with Klingner & Associates, at a cost of $4,800 to prepare a preliminary engineering report needed for the city to apply for a Community Development Block grant to help fund a storm water drainage project.

The council also voted unanimously to apply for American Rescue Plan Funds to help pay for storm water drainage improvements and to contribute $40,000 as part of the application, coming from the city’s capital improvement fund.

In addition, Board of Public Works Superintendent Brent Abell said the board is seeking American Rescue Plan Funds to help pay for needed sewer line improvements.

Abell said the city’s sewage treatment plant is near capacity and in need of expansion, but that lining the city sewer lines to prevent inflow could buy the city some time before taking on a major and expensive sewage plant expansion.

The council voted 5-0 in favor of accepting a proposal from CSG Hospitality Group for a hotel feasibility study at a cost of $7,500 and a retail study in the amount of $2,500 with the costs to be spilt with the BPW

Council member Brock Fahy abstained from voting, citing due to a personal friendship with the company’s CEO.

The council discussed the list of proposed city street overlay projects as put forward by Street Commissioner Austin Dornberger, who said bids would be sought for the work to be done later this summer.

The list includes:

• the 100 to 200 blocks of West Jefferson St.;

• the 100 block of W. Hamilton St.;

• Thompson St. from Main St. to W. Line St.;

• Marion City Rd. from Warren Dr. to the Marion County Jail;

• Warren Dr. from U.S. 61 to Industrial Dr.;

• East St. north of Water St.; and

• various streets in Flower City Park.

The council set a special closed session for 5 p.m. Thursday, June 23, at city hall to discuss the building inspector/code enforcement officer position that will soon be open.

Discussion indicated a need to keep it as a full-time position due to the work load and immediate action was needed to make sure it could be filled soon.

The council gave unanimous approval of an updated zoning ordinance regulating mobile homes or RVs.

City Attorney James Lemon said the main changes were to update the definitions of mobile homes and RVs.

Abell advised the council that the Marion County Water District has yet to sign a contract negotiated between the two entities regarding use of city water by the district, despite the date looming for which the contract goes into affect.

Lemon recommended the city push for the contract to be signed while opening the way for new negotiations concerning rates after the contract is signed.

Abell also advised that city electricity users would be asked to conserve usage in an effort to minimize the city’s peak usage amount and prevent higher costs for consumers.

Council member Patrick Barns, who chairs the Police Committee reported the department is hopeful of receiving its newly ordered squad car sometime in July, that the department’s body cams were in need of updating and about the possibility of rotating the school resource officer position between officers.