City Council okays large but safe sale of water to Keystone XL

The Malta City Council held it's bi-weekly meeting on Tuesday, August 14, and approved several items on the agenda.

During the Reports from Departments, Committees, and Meetings Attended portion of the meeting, Mayor John Demarais reported that the Water Project was complete.

"On August 9, we had Mike O'Brien, Michelle Turville, Jim Truelove, Eric Witmer, myself, Mike Randy and we sat here and hammered out the water project," Mayor Demarais said. "For all intents and purposes, the water project is complete."

He went on to say that the City of Malta would not see a few of the aforementioned people around town in regards to the project, but a few particulars are not finalized

"They haven't given us total quantities yet, so they aren't going to get their paycheck until we get those quantities," Mayor Demarais said. "If they don't have the paperwork, we can't pay them."

Jim Truelove manager of the Department or Public Works reported that the City Crew had to flush and replace a couple of hydrants due to the fact that the hydrants on 9th Street East hadn't been replaced since the 1940's. Several other hydrants were flushed due to "manganese buildup." Truelove's plan is to flush more hydrants in the HillCrest area.

Truelove also mentioned that the crosswalks have been painted for the new school year.

The council voted to approve the July 2018 payroll.

During the Public Comment portion of the meeting, Mayor Demarais spoke about Pet Ordinance 431, an ordinance that requires modifications.

It was proposed that quiet hours would start at 10 p.m. and conclude at 7 a.m.

"No more barking dogs (during those times) as soon as this ordinance passes," Mayor Demarais said. "The fine will be $100 and we will be very firm on that."

A suggestion was also made to put the price of impoundment up to $50.

Mayor Demarais stressed that if there was a call in for animal noise in which Animal Control did not witness the offense, the person who called it in will have to represent themselves as a witness through documentation.

"If Animal Control did not see or hear it, we have to have a signed complaint," Mayor Demarais said. "If they don't want to sign a complaint, there is no deal."

The council is currently reviewing changes and amendments to Ordinance 431.

In Old Business, the council took no action in the proposal to turn the alley running north and South between 1st and 2nd Avenue East a one way alley.

In New Business, the City Council approved the sale of 60,000 gallons of Malta's City Water to KLJ Engineering for the man camps to be set up in the Hinsdale Area for the Keystone XL Pipeline Project.

"I know it seems like an ungodly amount of water, but we gotta remember that we have 576,000 gallons of water in those two tanks up there," Mayor Demarais said, mentioning that it takes the pumps two hours to make draw 60,000 gallons of water. "So, we aren't going to endanger the city."

According to Mayor Demarais the sale includes a $15,000 deposit from KLJ that will be returned minus any payment not received. The council estimates that the sale will charge KLJ Engineering $240 a day.

Mayor Demarais' name and signature was added to the City's Short Term Investment Pool.

The Amended Plat of lots 18, 19, and 20 on Block 1 of Cosner's 3rd was approved.

An out of town garbage pickup was requested at the Old Packy's building. The City approved the action.

The City also approved to start the process of a $230,000 loan application for a new garbage truck.

According to the mayor and Truelove, trucks generally run for about five years before repairs become too expensive. The truck that the City is looking to replace is eight years old.