Scio projects moving ahead, council told at March 25 meeting

The village of Scio, with its park, water and wastewater plant and line replacement projects, seems to be moving well ahead, it was announced at the March 25 meeting.

Village Administrator Jason Tubaugh said 10 meters had been ordered at a cost of $360 per meter. He said updated software caused the price to rise from its original cost of $280.

“So, I want to make sure that’s public so if it freezes in someone’s basement the customer is liable for the cost of the meter,” Tubaugh explained. “So, each meter will be $360 if a new meter has to be installed.”

Tubaugh also touched on the resurfacing going on in the village and explained that when cross-cutting a state route, such as 646 or 151, “it’s the cost.”

“Because you have to put the aggregate down [and] it has to be compacted and then you got to put the base down then the road surface,” he told council. “So the cost adds up.”

Tubaugh said as of now they are looking at $640,000 and said they were a “little short,” but there were opportunities to bridge that gap. Addressing the wastewater treatment plant, Tubaugh said all easements had been signed.

Mayor James Clark touched on the restroom doors for the park, informing council that both doors combined would come to $1,068.

“But that is the total cost to buy all the equipment needed to put the bathroom doors on a dusk-to-dawn timer and make sure they actually shut and lock,” Clark said.

Clark, while acknowledging he is not a voting member, said he would be in favor of it if he were. He said it was “sad” to leave the restrooms closed except when the pavilion is being rented out. Councilmember Doug Whiteman made the motion to move forward with the project at that expense, and it was approved unanimously. Fiscal Officer Renea Riesen was given the go-ahead to take the money from the general fund.

“Squeeze it out where you can, I guess,” Clark said. “Yeah, a thousand bucks to do that I think that’s worth it.”

Income Tax Administrator Janeen Scott said they were doing “very well” regarding income tax collections. Scott said the village was more than $6,200 above where it was at this time last year.

“So we’ve got a few more days to go yet, so I’ll have a report on that next meeting,” she told the council.

Scott said they sent out approximately 25 shutoff notices for water and wastewater customers but could not provide any information on whether anyone would be shut off yet.

Also, cleanup day has now been changed to June 27. It had originally been scheduled for June 13, but Clark announced the change with no opposition.