Flood Damage Focus Of Special SWC Meeting

Southwest City’s Board of Aldermen called a special meeting on May 2 to discuss flood damage in town.

According to minutes of the meeting, Mayor David Blake discussed damage to roadways and repairs that need to be made at Blankenship Park.

He said Broadway and Liberty roads were of concern, as was as the bridge on Frye Road. The roads need to be repaired, but patching will not last and it will be costly to do properly.

Blake also said the chainlink fence at the park needs to be fixed. He noted that some items will be salvageable to re-use.

The pavement in the parking lot was washed out and will need replaced. Minutes indicate Blake spoke about paying Shane Clark a wage of $30 per hour to operate the city’s backhoe as contract labor. Clark will remove debris from the lake and use it to spread gravel where needed. It was agreed, but not voted upon, that Shane will record his hours and turn in a time card to City Hall.

No other bids were provided.

Chief Bud Gow reported a police vehicle was ruined during the severe weather. An officer crossed Honey Creek bridge to check on the fire station and the volunteers stationed there. Upon returning, water was covering the bridge. When the officer crossed to return to the police station, the vehicle became submerged.

Gow spoke about used police vehicles that get released to the state once they reach 60,000 miles. They then become available to other cities at a cost of $18,250. The council voted to approve pursuing the purchase of another vehicle.

Melissa Lance, director of the Senior Center, informed the council that flood water entered the building and soaked the carpet.

Blake suggested having it deep-cleaned by a professional before taking steps to replace it.

Blake presented the council with two bids from Lil Eagle Contracting. The first was for three loads of SB2, delivered, at a cost of $675. The second was for park clean-up and hauling debris, at a cost of $400.

The council voted to accept both bids.

The council voted to allow Nathaniel Walter to repair the south dike at the park.