ThisWeek CW 10/23/2014

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2014/10/20/rates-to-rise-jan–1-for-columbus-water-customers.html

Groveport residents who get their water from the city of Columbus will likely see an increase in their bills beginning in January.

At the request of City Administrator Marsha Hall, Groveport City Council tabled action Oct. 14 on a new agreement with Columbus that reflects 3-percent increases for water and sanitary sewer services, but will consider the legislation again Nov. 2.

Hall asked council to table the legislation because although Columbus had notified her of the rate increases, due to take place Jan. 1, no final documentation had been provided.

The new agreement does not include any increase for capacity fees, Hall said.

Expensive request

In other water-related news, Warren Motts, director of the Motts Military Museum, app-roached the city to request that when the water tower is repainted in spring, it be painted red, in line with Groveport Madison High School’s colors, and that the words “Home of Motts Military Museum” be added to the tower below the Groveport name.

Hall told council she had approached the city’s tank maintenance contractor, Caldwell Tanks, for cost estimates related to these changes, and learned the expense would be significant.

According to Hall, red paint is particularly problematic at this scale, and unless a special polymer is applied, the red will quickly fade to pink.

“This option would cost approximately an additional $50,000,” she said. “To keep the red color for more than two years would require a special type of polymer paint and even with the polymer, life expectancy of this option is somewhat less than normal (about 75 to 80 percent).”

Even with keeping the current color scheme, blue with white lettering, Hall said additional lettering on the tank would cost another $8,000 to $9,000.

“Painted in the current colors and adding ‘Home of Motts Military Museum’ in smaller letters is another option,” she said. “The problem with this option is painting ‘Groveport’ in larger letters and ‘Home of Motts Military Museum’ underneath in smaller letters would cause the letters to be smaller than they like. Caldwell Tanks’ suggestion is to put it on different sides, but I think this has its drawbacks, also.”

The money needed to cover the additional costs is not available in the city’s water fund and would need to be budgeted through the general fund, Hall said.

Groveport pays Caldwell Tanks $40,466 a year for an annual maintenance contract, Hall said. She noted that repainting the tank without changing the design and colors is covered in the current contract at no additional expense to the city.

Councilman Shawn Cleary said the only way he could consider supporting Motts’ request would be if he were willing to pay for it.

Other council members concurred and said it’s not something they felt the city should be considering at this time.

“The water tower changes asked for by Motts would be over and above what we already paid for. We’re not going to be able to do that,” Councilman Ed Dildine said.

Besides the additional cost, Councilwoman Becky Huston said if the city were to consider changes similar to those Motts requested, it would be unfair to exclude other possibilities.

“No disrespect to Motts, but what about the rest of the businesses, and the Cruisers, and what about Apple Butter Day?” Huston said. “I guess I would want to know what do the residents want?”