Published: October 24, 2007 10:37 am         

Westville OKs fence contract

WESTVILLE — Mayor Jeff Slavik chaired a brief meeting Tuesday night with only four trustees present. Trustees John Barton and Dale Shannon were absent.

The Westville Village Council approved a proposal from Alvin Fence Co. for materials and labor to install a fence around the new lift station after the village takes possession of it following testing in mid-November.

The fence, with a rolling gate and barbed wire on top, will cost $2,450. However, Slavik will contact risk management regarding potential liability issues pertaining to the barbed wire. If the village could face any liability for injuries sustained if someone were to climb the fence, the fence will be installed without the barbed wire at a reduced cost of $2,200.

Slavik also reported the Kennedy Drive project would be finished within a week or so. The Trinity Church of Christ culvert project is scheduled for Nov. 9-10 and village employees have started exterior repairs to the police station.

Trustees also approved a motion to reduce operations and maintenance natural gas fees for the winter months, as they did last year.

The fees will be reduced by 50 percent from December through February; 33 percent in March; and return to regular fees in April.

Resident Debra Webber noted the village had recovered costs related from the telescanning on Connecticut and Moses streets from the sanitary district.

“Previously the district said that the village owned those interceptors. Since they paid it, does that mean they own it?” Webber asked.

“Yes, I believe it does. I believe they were incorrect when they said the village owned those, as you pointed out,” Slavik said.

Webber asked if the village was investigating the odor at the Madison Street lift station. Slavik said it was under investigation, and speculated that since the new 16-inch line had not been flushed yet it could be the cause of the odor.

In other business, trustees:

-- Were reminded that trick-or-treat hours are 5-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

-- Learned there will be fireworks at the football play-off game at Westville High School on Friday.