The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published February 14, 2018

$50,000 to fix water line?

CAMDENTON – Water was the main topic of discussion at last week’s Board of Aldermen meeting.

A large part of the meeting time was taken up with a discussion about a water line that is outside the city limits.

“City staff has informed the board that the city has not found documentation on how a water line at Southside Drive and outside the city limits became part of the city system,” a report to the Board of Aldermen stated.

Apparently many years ago (maybe several decades) a water line was hooked to the city water system to serve residences just outside the city limits.

During the discussion last week Mayor John McNabb stated that the city has reviewed past records and could not find any place where the board voted to approve the water connection.

Despite that, the city has been supplying water and collecting fees from the residences during that time and has performed all repairs on the water line over the years.

The water line is a two-inch galvanized line that is consistently failing and, according to Director of Public Works Bill Jeffries, was not put in to specifications required by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources or the city.

According to Jeffries, in some areas the line is only eight inches below the ground which contributes to the line freezing in cold weather.

“To thaw the line requires digging up about 30 to 40 feet of line and 40 man hours,” Jeffries told the board. “The condition of the line requires repair due to leaks anywhere between four to twelve times per year.”

One of the problems is that there are very few residences on the line and the city estimates it would cost them approximately $50,000 to replace the main line.

One solution is for the residences to hook on to water (located nearby) from Public Water Supply District #2 (PWSD #2).

During the discussion it was stated that the last time the matter was discussed between the city and PWSD #2, they would take over the situation if Camdenton would pay for the water main.

Since the water main is outside the city limits and they have not found minutes of the board approving the water line, spending that much city money is not a favorable solution.

Two owners of property on Southside Drive were at the meeting and expressed their opinions on the matter and also stated that the residents themselves cannot afford to pay for the line either to the city or to the PWSD #2.

Drilling a well for each piece of property would also be costly for the property owners.

The two who spoke at the meeting gave the impression that despite the city not finding any proof they ever approved the line, by collecting fees and doing repairs over the years the city has claimed ownership of it and they are responsible for the line.

It was also stated that the Public Works Department spent approximately $2,500 in labor and $2,500 in materials and supplies and also indicated that this year was the least amount that was annually spent.

One solution given in the report to the board was to give adequate notification to the residents and then stop supplying them water leaving them to fend for themselves.

“Since the area is outside the City limits and since there are some private wells in the area and a Pubic Water District within the area that might be able to service these residents, one of the options recently discussed is that after the City giving adequate notice to the owners and residents, the City might consider abandoning this line and request that the owners review and act on other options for water service.”

The board agreed to do some more research and check with PWSD #2 to see if a solution can be found.

The other water item addressed by the board last week was the approval of a contract with Drill Tech Inc. for the 2017 two-inch Water Line Replacement Project.

The total project includes two-inch waterline replacement on Helms St., Lakeview Circle, Poplar St., Roofener St., South High St., South Ozark St., and South Business 5.

This project received 13 bids, with Drill Tech winning the project with a bid of $207,370. This is $38,933 lower than his engineer’s estimate of $246,303.75.

The other bidders and their total bid amounts were:

• $374,738.25 from Reinhold Electric
• $312,247 from Do-Rite
• $281,940.05 from Orr Wyatt Streetscapes
• $264,170 from Travis Hodge Excavation and Hauling
• $257,753.34 from S&A Equipment
• $253,965 from RC Contracting
• $253,796 from Apperson Utility Contracting Inc.
• $253,185 from M&M Landscaping
• $244,413 from Donald Maggi Inc.
• $243,875 from Rhad Baker construction
• $237,998.40 from RAB Trenchless Solutions LLC
• $237,596.19 from Cody Martin Excavating
• $207,370 from Drill Tech

In other business at last week’s Board of Aldermen meeting:

• The board approved a name change for the Huelett Lagoon. Apparently it never had an official name but received its name because of its location.

Due to the controversy concerning the water contamination, the city voted to change the name of the lagoon to Lagoon #3 so people don’t associate it with the Huelett automobile dealership, which has nothing to do with the lagoon.

• Accepted the 2017 independent audit
• Agreed to an early termination of a hangar at the airport. There is a waiting list for hangar space so it should be filled very quickly.
• Approved the hiring of a Park Recreation Specialist
• Issued two proclamations, one for Ronald McDonald House and the other for Career and Technical Education Month

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