Odessa obtains grant for street repairs

Monday night’s town council meeting on November 25 brought a big smile to the face of Odessa mayor Doug Plinski, as he announced that the town had been approved to receive a grant in excess of $760,000 for the purpose of rebuilding the Fourth Avenue roadway. The town is expected to come up with $30,000 in matching funds. Hoping to combine the Fourth Avenue project with the already approved Fifth Avenue project to provide economy of scale, Plinski said all of the hard work of town staff and council members had paid off with this grant award and the Fifth-Avenue award.

Both the Fourth and Fifth Avenue projects will involve also digging up the underlying water mains and replacing the original pipes with new piping before completely reconstructing the roadbed, supplying a gravel swale and new sidewalks where needed.

The Fifth Avenue grant was for $387,825 which also included the funds for a new water main. Plinski was looking forward to having the workers in town over the length of the construction work.

Gun Club proposal

The award came just as council members were discussing the budget for 2014. The budget hearing held prior to the start of the meeting drew no interested persons from the community, so the council next took up a proposal by area farmer Jon Fink and amateur target shooter on behalf of the Odessa Gun Club regarding the property on which the clubhouse is located adjacent to the municipal airport.

The clubhouse, owned by the Gun Club, sits on 15.87 acres owned by the Town of Odessa. If the Club were to own that property, it would be better able to apply successfully for grant money to make improvements.

Fink said there was a core of 25 to 30 shooters who regularly participate in competitions, and seven traps from which the targets are released. The club also expressed an interest in offering archery. By eliminating one of the traps, there would be room for setting up a space for archery competitions.

Fink proposed that the club either buy the 15.87 acres, accept it as a gift or enter into a long-term lease agreement. Plinski responded that the town cannot give away any of its assets and is prohibited by law from doing so. If the property were to be sold, fair market value would have to be paid for it. In the case of a purchase agreement or long-term lease, council members said they would be willing to accept payments over time and were mostly in favor of the proposal. A committee comprising Plinski, Fink, councilman Frank White and airport manager Stan Dammel was appointed to enter into negotiations with the Gun Club.

Avista franchise agreement

Town attorney Mark DeWulf introduced a 20-year franchise agreement with Avista Corporation which provides some additional protections for the town and its rate payers. DeWulf highlighted the main points for council members. Town ordinance #656, approved by the council, introduces the franchise agreement and the vote to approve it will take place at the next town council meeting.

Commercial/industrial zoning

In accordance with the new state law allowing commercial use of marijuana, the town passed ordinance #657, stating that no producers, processors or retailers will be permitted within residential zones of Odessa. Conditional use by producers, processors or retailers will be permitted in commercial and industrial zones.

Other Lincoln County towns have passed moratoriums whichgive them more time to draft and pass laws conform to the new state law. DeWulf told the council that active steps toward passage of an ordinance were still required even though the moratorium afforded the other towns more time to act. By acting now, DeWulf said, the town was saving expenses and doing what they would have to do in any case.

Police report

Odessa police chief Helen Coubra wrote a grant application trying to obtain $6,800 to buy two onboard cameras for her office’s police cars and a body camera for the officer on duty. It will be several months before the outcome of the grant application will be known.

She also reported mostly routine calls and a fairly quiet time.

Public Works

Rod Webster reported that new windows for the town shop and police department building had been received and would soon be installed.

Budget

The ordinance to increase garbage rates by three percent passed.

A five percent increase in water rates was also passed.

Compensation for overtime for city personnel was discussed. It was decided to allow employees to carry 40 hours of compensation time and one week of vacation time into the new year. Councilwoman Lois Harp amended the resolution to give two weeks (10 days) vacation for years one through four of an employee’s tenure.

Plinski pointed out some expenses that residents often don’t consider when budget discussions come up. Odessa pays $11,000 annually, for example, to repay a loan it obtained when work was needed on the municipal wells. The town also pays $28,000 annually for street lighting that helps keep the town safe. Other budget items are available at the town clerk’s office.