DPW and Clermont Tally Salt Loads

(posted Jan 17)

The Clermont Town Council withheld developing a memorandum of understanding between the DPW and the town until the town attorney can review emails between Councilor Walt Miller and the DPW. Councilor Vonda Kiger urged the town to formalize the agreement between the two groups.

The DPW agreed to give salt to the town in exchange for work the town did in error on property under DPW control.

Councilor Miller said he is keeping a ledger tracking the amount of salt used. The DPW is providing salt at $70 per ton. He said the DPW owes the town $9,500 to repay the town for fixing a culvert on 30th Street. The town inadvertently repaired the city's road in an emergency road repair. To reimburse the town, the DPW agreed to give the town $9,500 worth of salt.

Council President Bob Hinshaw said he preferred the town's attorney, Bob Lutz, review the emails before writing a contract. Hinshaw said the emails would serve as a contractual agreement. Councilor Nancy Baxter said Lutz should be able to use his discretion if he discovers a problem, instead of waiting until the next meeting to notify the council.

According to DPW Public Information Officer Steve Hardiman, "We are tracking their salt delivery to make sure it does not adversely impact our ability to keep our streets safe and does not exceed the debt that we owe. Larry Jones has been working with Walt Miller on this issue. We owed the Town of Clermont about $9,500 for their repair of a culvert failure on a segment of 30th Street that was the responsibility of DPW."

"It was originally suggested that we make repairs with our Operations workforce on a street or streets in Clermont. The Town of Clermont's normal usage has been in the 40 ton range per year. It appears they encountered what seems like an extra amount of icy conditions during December. As a result, their salt supply is close to running out and we wanted to assist them if possible. We've assisted other communities in similar swaps in the past. We provided them 40 tons of salt (about $2,800 value)."

Resident Sue Toft inquired if the Gray Street entrance to Clermont Lions Park is a town or Wayne Township responsibility. Toft said she asked the township to maintain and salt it.

Lutz said if it is township's responsibility that the town should not maintain it because it could open the town to liabilities.

Lutz recommended contacting the county surveyor's office to find out if it is a road dedicated to Clermont.

Lutz apprised the council that the Speedway Gas Station agreed to reduce its planned 40 foot high sign on Raceway Road to what they say will be "field goal size". It will not be at ground level as Walt Miller and the Clermont Economic Development Committee have lobbied for.