City Council discusses streets, revitalization and other issues

OSMOND — The Osmond City Council met on Monday, Sept. 13, with a number of issues to discuss, including revitalization; water, sewer and garbage issues, street plans and other street issues.

Funds for Revitalization

Susan Norris, Pierce County Economic Development Director, presented to council an update on the downtown revitalization project. She advised that Osmond does not qualify to apply for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) because the community does not meet the Low to Moderate Income (LMI) standard.

Norris explained that, to meet the LMI standard, 51% or more of the community had to be low income. Norris explained that even though Osmond does not qualify for the planning grant, they have found donations to cover the planning phase of the project with 5 Rule, an organization that assists with the comprehensive plans, along with PCED working together to complete this stage.

In the next month, 5 Rule will be meeting with council to go over Osmond’s comprehensive plan, which is needed to move forward with the project. Once that is complete, a Downtown Revitalization committee will be formed. Osmond then will be able to apply for a $435,000 grant to update building façade. The project would not begin until fall of 2022.

Water, Sewer, Garbage Discussed

Recent water main leaks were discussed. Timely repairs have not been made and residents are complaining water is running down the streets. Council agrees that repairs should be made within a week. Only if extraordinary circumstances are causing the employees to be too busy, the repairs will be hired out. Council stressed the fact that the repairs would only be hired out as a last resort because of residents’ concerns expressed at the meeting. Councilman Dan Timmerman was given approval to hire out only if needed.

Councilman Timmerman asked council to consider raising the late fee rate on water, sewer and garbage bills. Treasurer Timmerman stated that time spent calling on past due accounts and phone bill expenses haven’t been covered by the income of late fees every month. She added that, every month, the same residents are on the past due list, and she feels that late fees need to increase to help cover the expenses for calling on these accounts. Council approved increasing the late fee to $10 starting Jan. 1, 2022.

Councilman Timmerman stated that, at the budget workshop, council discovered the sewer department is in the negative just over $3,000. He went on to ask council what their opinion is on raising sewer rates. Treasurer Timmerman advised that the current rates are $10.50/single rate and $16.50/family rate. After confirming current rates, the council set sewer rates to $15.00/single rate and $20.00/family rate with the rate increase to begin Jan. 1, 2022.

Councilman Timmerman stated that the 2020-21 budget for garbage is a negative $2,400 and rates have not been increased for six years. She informed the public that, after hiring a new audit team last year, they started requesting all wages and insurance be divided among all department expenses, causing these departments to have a negative balance at the end of the fiscal year. After further discussion, council voted increase garbage rates from $14.50 to $19.50/single rate and $17.50 to $22.50/family rate starting on Jan. 1, 2022.

Treasurer Timmerman ask council to consider switching to Plainview for garbage disposal instead of Jackson. She provided a breakdown of costs showing the difference between Jackson and Plainview. She stated that, even though it would cost the city $89 more per month, she feels that it would be more beneficial to the community, allowing the maintenance employees extra time to complete projects needing attention in the city.

She also pointed out that, because of rough road conditions and the condition of the dump at Jackson, the tires and turbo had to be replaced, adding an additional $1,000 per year in tires and $666 per year for turbo during the last three years of owning the garbage truck.

Timmerman stated that these additional costs would not be incurred as often if Osmond were to switch to the Plainview dump. Council agreed to utilize Plainview’s dump on a one-year trial, starting immediately.

One-and-Six-Year Street Plan

Council opened the public hearing to present One-and-Six-Year Street Plan at 7:40 p.m. Clerk Timmerman stated that the streets in the one-year plan would include the streets that are included in the 2022 Street Improve