Water studies approved by City Commission

The Williston City Commission approved $60,100 toward water-related project studies Tuesday at the request of Williston Public Works Director Monte Meiers'.

He explained that with increased growth of residential areas in the western part of Williston, the city is receiving more complaints about low water pressure in new homes. He said with the expansion of the city moving to the northwest and extending to higher elevations, the water pressures are lower.

Meiers noted that an early 1980s study proposed an additional water storage tank be created on the hill by the road to the golf course. Meiers said the city owns five acres of land on that hill for expansion.

He cited another option is expanding the 26th Street pump station's capabilities. Advanced Engineering of Bismarck, who oversaw the Phase I and Phase II of the Williston Regional Water Plant renovations, has been asked to be involved in the studies. Advanced engineering completed water system distribution modeling which maps out the hydraulic flow system for the city in 2000.

“That's why I would like to do this study to check the pros and cons (of our options),” Meiers said.

Studies approved include:

€ A pressure study for the reservoir in the 26th Street Area at a cost of $27,200.

€ 11th Street pump station rehabilitation for $8,900. Meiers said the pump station is old, and needs to be considered for upgrading.

A separate study, mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will determine the best places to monitor disinfectant byproducts. The board also agreed to foot the cost of that study for $24,000.

At Airport Manager Rick Marburger's request, a lease was transferred for the new Servair owner, Pat Giese, who operates the Dickinson Air Service in Dickinson. The business will continue to operate as Servair here and provide the same services as the previous owner, Marburger said - on-demand charter, aircraft maintenance and fueling. Marburger said he is satisfied the new owner has all of his insurance and all paperwork in order. Eric Anderson will manage the Williston site.

Marburger's request for a six-week extension change order for a snow removal storage building at the airport was approved on account of rain and load limits.

Meiers was able to obtain a leave of absence for Gerald Reighard, who was involved in a serious head-on car crash earlier this year with his wife and daughter, east of Stanley. Meiers said Reighard still needs some serious medical procedures to be completed before he can fully return to work at the landfill. The employee's sick time and vacation time expires July 28. The board allowed for up to a 10-month leave-of-absence if needed.

In a separate request from Meiers, employees who work with Reighard also will be allowed to pool some of their sick time on his behalf during his recovery.

Meiers also got approval to increase on-call wages to a $1 per hour rate, resulting in an increase of about $2,071 for the remainder of the year, beginning July 15. Meiers said the increase can be absorbed due to seasonal help positions that have not been filled.

Meiers also was allowed to review the city's fee structures for city maps, colored maps, plans and project specifications. Meiers also was given consent to review permit fees for water, sewer, sidewalk, driveway and excavation work in the city. The fees will be discussed at budget time in August.

In other business, the board:

€ Appointed Rick Lee to serve a three-year term on the STAR Fund Board, and it reappointed Craig Oksol to serve a second three-year term on the same board.

€ Tabled a request from fire and ambulance personnel to hire Fire Chief Alan Hanson's wife, Debra, to cover calls if necessary when the departments are short-handed for things like an emergency transfer. Personnel policies are being reviewed. Alan Hanson noted that his wife would not be directly under his supervision.

The request was made through a letter from EMT officials, not Hanson.

Alan Hanson said his wife would like to maintain her certification as an EMT.

“I told the other officers, it would be up to them, that I would not approach the commission about,” Alan Hanson said.

The fire chief also said a mock chemical fire that was conducted on June 27 in cooperation with Halliburton, Mercy Medical Center, law enforcement and the two area fire departments was very successful. He said it taught them there are some changes in procedure that are needed.