West side water work stops in its tracks

The Carrington City Council received some bad news at their meeting last week.

Boring under the Canadian Pacific Railway for the West-side Water Expansion Project didn’t go so well.

During the meeting held on Monday, June 12, engineer Travis Dillman explained that the trenching company is requesting an extension of the completion date to July 31 due to problems with boring under CP Rail.

Dillman explained that when they were trying to put in the steel casing, they kept breaking a rod by hitting something underground.

He also said that the two other bores went well.

“They are going to try boring five feet in another direction, but it takes time to get approval from CP Rail,” said Dillman.

The question to the council was should the city agree to the July 31st completion date. If they do, then they may only assess liquidated damages after August 1 if the July 31st deadline hasn’t been met.

A very rough estimate of at least $25,000 was estimated for the cost to the city for the complication.

A motion was passed to extend the completion date to July 17.

In other business:

Committee Reports

FIRE:

• A motion was passed to sell the Carrington Fire Department’s 1965 GMC truck to T&B Farms for $2,500.

The truck originally belonged to the Carrington Fire Department, but then was sent to the museum in Garrison.

The Carrington Fire Department received the truck back, but doesn’t have the room to house it.

FINANCE & LEGAL:

• Mayor Tom Erdmann reported that they are still looking for another member for the special assessment committee.

• Erdmann reported that the company they use for their website has been sold so they have been looking for another company to maintain their website.

• He said the sales tax revenue is at least $25,000 ahead of this time last year.

• Finally, Erdmann reported that a new time clock has been installed and is being used, but employees are also writing down their hours for now.

CCEDC:

• Mayor Erdmann reported changes to the Commercial Building Improvement Grant Program. Namely, the cost share for owners within the designated “Main Street” area has increased to 40 percent up to $50,000 to encourage investment downtown. All other projects within city limits are eligible for 25 percent cost share up to $30,000. More information on this and other financial assistance programs are available at the CCEDC office.

• The minutes of the CCEDC reflected that minor language changes were made to several incentive programs. Those programs are: Bank of ND Flex PACE, Building Demolition, Commercial Building Construction, Commercial Building Improvement, Community Connection Grant, Daycare Provider Grant, Job Credit Grant, New Home Construction Tax incentive, Work Local Scholarship and the Business Development Grant.

Two new nurses arrived from the Philippines to work at Golden Acres Manor and Estates; the roof of the CCEDC’s office building is leaking.

• New business: the CCEDC received an application from Teresa Hennings for cost share to demolish the house at 405 4th St. S.

CVB:

• The minutes of the last CVB meeting reflected that fund-raising for Carrington Rainbow Gardens is going well. They are on track for a possible start in 2024. A meeting in Washburn with other Strengthen ND grantees was set for June 15.

• They are no longer moving forward on the proposed 1 percent food and beverage tax.

LIBRARY:

• The minutes of the last City Library meeting reflected the following: A $3,000 grant was received for the Summer Reading Program from NDCF and the library requested $1,500 from Gate City Bank for the Summer Reading Program.

TREE BOARD:

• The tree board received new trees, and 19 of them have been spoken for.

• They identified 35-40 ash trees that will need to be taken down due to emerald ash borer.

AIRPORT:

• The airport was shut down on June 16 for painting and striping.

• The public works department has been busy mowing and repairing lights.

PUBLIC WORKS:

• Water plant production report: there are issues with the septic tank; mosquito spraying is taking place on Tuesday and Thursday nights; all lift stations have been inspected.

BUILDING OFFICIAL:

• The city received 23 new building permits in the month of May.

NO MEETING:

• Organizational Review

• Police