Council learns of well and transformer issues

During the public forum at the El Dorado Springs City Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 7, Julia Shaw addressed the council about recent thefts at her home. She said that a camper had been stolen while she and her husband were out of town working. She also mentioned other items. She said that even though she knows who is stealing and has talked to the police department, she hasn’t heard anything back from them. Police Chief Jarrod Schiereck was at the meeting and said he was aware of the situation and it was an ongoing investigation. After the meeting Shaw and the Police Chief conferred for about 1⁄2 hour.

Councilmen Jim Luster, Randy Bland and Jerry Baldwin were present along with Mayor Brad True, City Manager Bruce Rogers, City Clerk Lisa Allison and Schiereck. Cedar County Director of Economic Development Marge Vance and Chamber of Commerce Director Jackson Tough were also in attendance. Councilman Nick Bland was absent..

Schiereck gave the Sept. and Oct. reports for the police and fire departments.  He said there have been 5,192 calls for service this year, up from 4,800 for last year He also reported that there have been 349 arrests so far this year and 14 search warrants within the city limits.

During his city manager’s report, Rogers said he had followed up on concerns that Mr. Robert Valle had expressed about the Park at the Oct. 6 council meeting. Valle had said that the Park looked deplorable and wasn’t anything like he remembered as a child. Valle said that there were federal grants that wouldn’t cost the city anything that could be used to fix up the Park.

Rogers said that Valle had brought to him information from Colorado. Rogers provided copies of a letter he wrote to Jake Houston in Denver, CO, the program coordinator for Great Outdoors Colorado, requesting information about possible grants. Mr. Houston wrote back telling Rogers that the Great Outdoors Colorado grant program was created by Colorado voters in 1992 and funds can only be used in Colorado.

The council voted on a resolution approving a contract between the city of El Dorado Springs and Olsson Associates for evaluation, engineering design and construction inspection services for w

Well No. 3. Rogers said the work is for the well located behind Ehlers and the old bowling alley. He said the cost is $7,500 for the evaluation phase of the contract to determine if it can be repaired. If it is determined that a new well needs to be drilled, another contract will be negotiated and only the first $7,500 will be charged from this contract.

Rogers reported that the software company completed their work on the property tax module. They were on site Oct. 26 and 27 to install and train. Allison was able to get the taxes printed on Friday, Oct. 28, and is in the process of getting them ready to go out in the mail. Rogers said that vehicles will not be listed this year due to time constraints in getting them complete with such short notice, however citizens can refer to the county taxes for a listing of vehicles.

Roger gave an update on the transformer fire situation. He said that request for qualifications (RFQ) should go out this week with a return date of Dec. 2. Once received, interviews, similar to the ones held for the engineer for the work on Well No. 3 will take place. The insurance adjuster is waiting for approval to issue the insurance check to the city.  Rogers is waiting on confirmation on whether the insurance company will take the scrap or if the city will need to. The reason for the fire is still unknown.

The council voted to go into executive session to discuss real estate matters. There was no report from that meeting.