07-22-13 Public Works & Property Vacation

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PUBLIC WORKS AND PROPERTY VACATION JULY 22, 2013 5:10 P.M. Committee Members Present: Oliver Davis, Dr. David Varner (Excused Absence) Valerie Schey, Gavin Ferlic Other Council Present: Tim Scott, Henry Davis, Dr. Fred Ferlic, Karen White, Derek Dieter Others Present: Cecil Eastman, Eric Horvath, Cristal Briscoe Agenda: Update — Eric Horvath — New Energy (Ethanol Plant) The Public Works and Property Vacation Committee was called to order by Chairperson Oliver Davis at the advertised time of 5:10 p.m. Only Dr. David Varner who was on vacation was absent. The purpose of the meeting was to hear an update from Eric Horvath, the Department of Public Works Director, concerning the placement and operation of water wells near the former New Energy Ethanol Plant. Since the Ethanol Plan closed ground water levels near the plant had risen, flooding basements of nearby homes. Councilmember Oliver Davis has since lead an effort to get the City to respond positively providing relief to the scores of homeowners adversely affected. When the prospects for new ownership and resumed operation look bleak the City proposed sinking several perimeter water wells to lower the water table thus providing much needed relief to homeowners. After soil tests were completed and a "relief plan was devised, pumps were activated with final installation scheduled for October. In the meantime the plant was sold to an entity that intends to resume operations albeit at a lower level. The amount of water needing to be pumped to support a scaled down more efficient production process has yet to be determined. Eric Horvath said the new owners were "sensitive" to the plight of the nearby homeowners. He said the City was negotiating the terms of a contract with the new owners to address responsibility for costs of operating their water wells consistently whether in production or not. To assure long -term relief for the homeowners the City intends to sink new deeper wells than the originally proposed 40 foot wells. An operation cost of the proposed 140 foot deep wells was yet to be determined. Councilmember Davis thanked the City for their efforts on behalf of the homeowners. He asked Eric Horvath to update the Council regularly and to meet with homeowners personally as need to reassure relief. Councilmember Tim Scott asked Eric to be mindful of addressing the odor problems of the effluent generated by the production process.