Sheldon aldermen OK bid for water system report

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Sheldon, Mo. -- An audience member quickly expressed the question on his mind during a Thursday, Jan. 14, meeting of the Sheldon Board of Aldermen, asking "Why not buy water from Nevada?"

Alderman Jared Lamb explained that there are several factors that would militate against that. Lamb explained that, for one thing, there is a public water district between Sheldon and Nevada, so an easement would have to be purchased from Nevada to Sheldon. Also, there is a mutual aid agreement between Sheldon and Milo for water and, he noted, Sheldon has two good wells.

"Milo used to buy from us, until just recently" Lamb said.

Sheldon Mayor Rob Sewell added that the problem is not solely with the supply of water.

"We have a problem with our water lines," Sewell said. "That would still be a problem if we buy from someone else."

A discussion of a bid for the engineering report to be done on the city's water system revealed that only one bid was received, from Allgeier, Martin and Associates Inc. for $5,000, which was accepted.

A discussion over the repair of a tractor clutch morphed into a discussion about selling the two out-of-service tractors the city owns and the purchase of a new tractor.

Alderman Robert Moran questioned the wisdom of repairing a clutch on the tractor under the circumstances.

"They have been sitting since July with the exhaust open to the rain, sleet, snow or whatever," Moran said. "I discussed this with someone and asked them what would happen if water gets into a diesel engine, and it would be destroyed."

Moran said that it made sense to him to save the money on the repair and use it toward the purchase of a new tractor.

"If we go ahead and spend the $8,000 or whatever it would be to put a new engine in as well as the clutch, all we would have is an old, beat up tractor," Moran said.

A vote was taken and the board decided to sell the two incapacitated tractors by bid. A bid request will be formulated for the purchase of a tractor that is at least 40 horsepower but not necessarily a front-end loader, since the city has a backhoe. A glassed in cab was likewise deemed unneeded.

Discussion moved on to the repair of well number two. Three bids were received and mayor Rob Sewell opened the bids at the meeting. Before deciding which bid to accept the board voted to choose based on the price of galvanized pipe, after determining that was better and longer-lived than black iron pipe.

The low bid of $7,431 was accepted from Lane Western for the repair of the well.

A representative from Lane Western was on hand for the opening and was asked how soon work could begin.

"We could start 10 days from notice to proceed," James Mace said.

Lamb responded that he could consider the board acceptance of the bid as notice to proceed.

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