Worthington Town Council meets

"We've got two pretty big projects," said Council President Hal Harp during the Worthington Town Council's monthly meeting Tuesday evening.

"Construction on both will probably be starting in the spring."

The Council received a progress update by Jonathan Keim, a project engineer with Hannum, Wagle & Cline, the engineering firm that prepared an initial study of problems and has been hired to oversee the construction projects.

"Both projects should be completed in 2010," Keim added.

The Town was awarded a $600,000 Community Development Block Grant to upgrade the sewage treatment facility and stop infiltration in several sewer lines.

The Town received another grant as part of the 2009 Federal Stimulus Package for Phase I of a Stormwater Project to fix drainage problems and construct new storm sewer lines in one part of town south of the downtown area.

Keim said his firm is in the process of completing surveying and mapping, determining locations for inlets, drains and lines, coordinating the project with the state highway and railroad company, obtaining permits and preparing documents for the upcoming bidding process.

Work on the sewer system will include upgrades of the aeration system and installation of an emergency generator at the treatment plant plus repairs to older lines and manholes in the collection system.

Town Marshal Dennis Conaway gave a year-end report to the Council on activities of the Worthington Police Department.

The report included the addition of Jason Wilson as a new reserve officer, upgrading communications with all new portable and mobile radios on the 800mHz system and completion by officers of a combined 170 hours of training.

So far in 2009, the WPD has issued 56 traffic citations and 347 ordinance citations, completed investigations on 21 accidents, 20 batteries including seven domestic batteries, 16 incidents of criminal mischief, four driving while suspended and two operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

The WPD also investigated 33 reports of theft which included all thefts of ID, vehicles, drive-off thefts of fuel, and one theft of a golf cart. The golf cart was recovered as was a four-wheeler, and three vehicles.

Conaway said the department's goals for 2010 include updating the ordinance and employee manuals, addressing property clean-ups including helping people remove unwanted items from their property, programs in the school addressing substance abuse, individual responsibilities and computer safety awareness, and programs for Senior Citizens on home safety, driving abilities and fraud.

Conaway said he is interested in starting a "Check on Your Neighbor" telephone program and he also wants to help rebuild equipment at the skateboard park.

Conaway recognized Deputy Marshal Don Richardson for his work in recently solving a burglary at the Assembly of God Church.

During the Utility Department portion of the meeting, the Council conducted a hearing on an additional appropriation of $14,000 to the Worthington Fire Territory.

Harp explained the appropriation was not a new tax levy but money already earmarked for fire protection that needed to be moved since the Fire Territory was established on July 1.

Harp said $7,000 came from township funds and $7,000 from the Town to fund the Fire Territory from July 1-Dec. 31.

Council member Malcom Stahl, the Town's representative on the Worthington Fire Territory Board, reported the board had decided on a new truck which would cost $225,715. To finance it, Stahl said about $75,000 would have to be borrowed but they have secured a good interest rate.

Town Attorney Jacob Fish reported a pre-trial conference is coming up soon in the Town's suit against Dayton Design.

In a matter affecting all employees, Harp noted there will be 27 paydays in the year 2010 instead of the usual 26. Normally the salary of employees is divided equally among the 26 pay periods. With the additional paycheck, each paycheck in 2010 would be lower so Harp suggested employees be given the extra pay without lowering any paychecks.

"They haven't received raises in two years and they may not next year either," said Harp.

The Council voted unanimously to grant all employees the extra pay.

Council member Gregg Roudebush was absent from the meeting.

The Council scheduled a year-end meeting at 5 p.m. on Dec. 29 and an organizational meeting at 11 a.m. on Jan. 1.