Monthly Departmental Reports

The City Council discussed how to spend the remaining $600,000 in federal COVID funds from the American Rescue Plan Act at its March 13 meeting as the deadline approaches to spend the money or lose it. “Over this next month, let’s work together … and come up with a list of what we think we will need with that balance, ” Mayor Rue Rogers told the Council. The Council voted to purchase two ground-penetrating radar devices and hire a technician to map the City’s underground utilities with some of the funds. They considered a hydraulic pipe cutter, new tires for the wastewater truck, and whether to upgrade the City’s current two-wheel-drive backhoe to a four-wheel-drive model. Mayor Tom Parker urged Public Works Director Michael Jacoba to also prioritize equipment needed for maintaining the City’s alleys to ease a changeover from residential dumpsters to single-family poly carts, which are to be picked up in the alleys. Mr. Jacoba asked for a lease for a track hoe and a roller. “I don’t know what size - but small enough to fit in the alleys,” Mr. Jacoba said.

Councilmember Harrison Wellman mentioned a long-simmering plan to replace the City’s aging water meters.

The City will receive a refund of about $24,600 from the Internal Revenue Service for an overpayment, City Secretary Tammy Hourigan told the Council. The funds will be used to pay a consultant to help with the City’s annual audit and to help set procedures and policies to streamline those audits, she said. The Olney Police Department responded to 224 calls, made 14 arrests, and deployed K9 Bond four times for four detections of contraband in February, Police Chief Dan Birbeck said. Olney Animal Control impounded 16 animals, Olney Emergency Services responded to 68 calls for service and Olney Volunteer Fire Department responded to 8 fires, Chief Birbeck said. The Public Works Department filled 20 potholes, repaired 12 water leaks and nine sewer stoppages in February, Mr. Jacoba said. Public Works replaced seven meters, and clocked 1,671 active meters citywide last month, he said. Lake Olney stood at 1,132 feet, or 56 percent at the end of February, he said. The City’s $13.5 million in revenue bonds, issued in April to finance a new water treatment plant, are earning 4.76 percent interest and have earned about $386,000 interest so far, City Secretary Tammy Hourigan said. The City’s first payment on the bonds is due on April 15, she said. The City plans to break ground on the water plant this summer, Mayor Rue Rogers said.