BETHANY, MO: The lake improvement project at the two Bethany reservoirs will finally get underway this summer after a year- long delay.
The City Council Monday night awarded an $187,889 contract to M & M Utilities of Chillicothe to upgrade facilities at the New and Old city lakes. The Missouri Department of Conservation, which manages fishing at the two lakes, will be paying for a large portion of the improvements, with the city supplying in-kind work.
The city had to put the project on hold last year after bids on the project came in higher than expected. City Administrator Jonne Slemons said the new set of bids was lower than last year, allowing the city and MDC to move ahead with the project.
The project involves the replacement of restrooms at both facilities, parking lot improvements, an enclosed fishing dock at the New Lake and other new facilities.
On a related lake matter, Slemons said a pre-bid conference will be held on March 28 at City Hall for a project to strengthen the dam at the Old Lake and to install a by-pass pipeline in the dam that would serve the water treatment plant in emergencies.
The council awarded a contract to Nail Excavating of Bethany to bore electrical lines for the LED lights for 30th Street and along the new section of 39th Street from Bartlett Street to Bulldog Avenue.
In a related matter, the council approved on a 3-1 vote the Planning & Zoning Board’s recommendation for a zoning change and a preliminary plat for the Dale Sub-Division on 30th Street. The property’s zoning would be changed from agriculture to residential 1.
The property owners are planning a residential development along the west side of 30th Street adjoining Countryside East. Slemons said the Dale family intends to develop commercial business and small industry projects on the east side of the South TIF District.
Westward Councilman Randy Brejnik, who voted against the motion, said he wanted to table the issue until the property owners can be contacted about providing the city with an easement to extend the street to Crestview Road. Slemons said granting an easement at this time would be premature because the engineering has not be done on the best alignment for the street’s extension.
The council approved an ordinance that establishes the duties of the police chief. In a revision of the old ordinance, the city council and city administrator, in addition to the mayor, will be responsible for supervising the police department.
The council also approved an ordinance reinforcing the city’s policy on handling delinquent utility bills. Customers paying their utility bills after the 15th day of the month will be charged a 7.5% late fee. Delinquent bills will result in disconnections after the fourth Wednesday of the month. Cutoffs would not occur on the day before the weekend or holidays. It will cost $100 to reconnect services.
In other issues:
• Councilman Randy Mann said a local resident had expressed concern about an open well on the former Hub Club property.
• Councilman Brejnik asked the street department make repairs on King Street. The street is not a part of the summer resurfacing program.
• Administrator Slemons said the city is willing to engage in a discussion with the county on a plan to replace the West Bethany Bridge. She has been told by the county that the cost of building a new bridge would be about $1.5 million.