Published: April 06, 2009 09:28 pm      

Covington looks at cleanup options

COVINGTON, Ind. — The city council discussed spring cleanup options since the transfer station near Covington is closed.

Debby Gurley, clerk-treasurer, said she learned that Attica’s spring cleanup is built into the city’s trash pick up rates with Allied Waste Services of Danville. Gurley added that “Allied picks up everything in Attica for the spring cleanup on one day.”

Mayor Brad Crain said he would contact Allied to see if they could work out some kind of similar contract for spring cleanup. The council also discussed possibly contacting other trash disposal businesses such as Phelps Bros of Covington to see what they would do for a spring cleanup. The city council will make their decision regarding spring cleanup at the next city council meeting April 20.

In other business, council members:

-- Approved two zoning variances presented by Jack Macy, president of the zoning board. Macy said Stacy Stein and Sarah Rice have applied to have beauty shops in their homes. The council had no problems with their request since no problem with parking should arise.

-- Heard Curt Phelps of Phelps Bros Inc. request the city check its trash disposal contract with Allied Waste Services. Phelps said the city’s copy of the contract with Allied is incomplete as to when the contract expires. Phelps said his company would be interested in the city’s business if the contract with Allied expires this year.

Phelps also added that the city may be on an auto-renewal contract with Allied. Crain said he would contact Allied, which is now Republic Services Inc., to find out when the current contract, which began May 1, 2004, expires.

-- Learned the fundraising concert for the park swimming pool planned for Saturday at the Covington Middle School gym has been canceled by the school due to liability issues.

-- Rehired Cindy Bushue as the city pool manager for the upcoming season. Bushue has been the pool manager for the past two years.

-- Introduced Rick Smith as the new superintendent of streets. Smith has lived around Covington is whole life. Smith has been running his own excavating business for 31 years. Bob Tanner, the outgoing superintendent, retires April 17.

-- Decided the city water department’s old brown truck will be advertised and sold through sealed bids.

-- Learned from water superintendent Greg Myers that reox will be used in the city water to better control phosphates and clean up minerals in the water. The reox conditioned water is safe to drink and will really have cleaning effect to the water system. Myers has contacted other municipalities, such as Waynetown, and learned that it works very well in their water systems.

-- Approved electric Superintendent Dave Clodfelder’s request to move all of Douglas Manor electric lines underground. Clodfelder explained that currently the power lines are difficult for electric crews to get to and work on. The project is estimated to cost $16,000.

-- Learned from Police Chief Larry Weber that over spring break several teenagers were caught removing valve caps from car tires in town. Weber said that they have a box full of recovered valve caps at the police station.

-- Learned eight new trees have been planted in the park; most of these trees were moved because they were in the upcoming U.S. Route 136 sewer project path.

-- Passed an ordinance designating no parking on the west side of Fifth Street from the north side of Liberty Street to the south side of Harrison Street.

WHAT’S NEXT

The Covington City Council will meet at 7 p.m. April 20 at the city building, 1329 Second St.