The City Council authorized a study of the city's water distribution system at its meeting Tuesday.
Studies of the storm and sanitary sewer systems are already under way. City Engineer Reed Schwartzkopf said the city will be able to plan improvement and future growth projects in a comprehensive manner with the inclusion of a water distribution system study.
The council unanimously approved the firm AE2S based on its proposal with a price tag of about $96,000. The council had originally authorized spending up to $145,000 to study the city's water system. At that time, the council was primarily focused on development in the Jamestown Regional Medical Center area.
Schwartzkopf told the council AE2S will concentrate on the south side of Interstate 94, but will also look at the entire distribution system. The study will look at water distribution from the water plant to water towers and through the city. It will also look at future development.
AE2S Operations Manager Eric Dodds explained the approach the company will take. He said the study will look at the distribution system's present needs then add growth areas beyond the city limits. Based on the information gathered, AE2S will develop a preliminary distribution model.
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"The bigger picture will be a whole distribution system model for the city of Jamestown," Dodds said. "You'll be able to use it as a tool for future planning."
The model will also be useful in planning improvements to the existing system, he said. AE2S will spend the winter developing the model. Although the company will start within 60 days, Dodds said it won't have the work completed and report written until next spring.
The City Council voted 4-1 to allow Reuben and Clarice Liechty to get two more estimates on the replacement of their driveway, which was damaged during the 2009 flood event. The adjuster hired by the council gave a figure of $9,035.56 for the cost of replacing part of the 30-year-old driveway. The council's Finance and Legal Committee approved that amount. At that time, the Liechtys had an estimate of $25,000 for the repairs.
Councilman Charlie Kourajian said in a letter to the council that Reuben Liechty removed a number of items from the driveway replacement and got another estimate. The same concrete company came up with a figure of slightly more than $14,000.
"We have two wildly different estimates from the same company," said Councilman Ken Schulz. "I'd rather see a couple more estimates."
Councilman Pat Nygaard said he was concerned that the council had hired a third party to determine a fair cost for damage and was ignoring it.
"We had guidelines for others, now we deviate from that for one 30-year-old driveway," Nygaard said.
He added this was selectively choosing to reimburse one party. The council didn't do that for others, he said, when it went by the adjuster's recommendation.
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"We have the authority to consider this separately," said Mayor Katie Andersen.
Nygaard was the lone vote against allowing the Liechtys to get two more estimates with the council paying the lowest estimate amount.
In other business the council:
* was updated on the Business Loop East reconstruction project. The project will be in the February bidletting. The construction plans are available in the Public Works office at City Hall.
* approved in a 4-1 vote the RTS Shearing proposal for repairs to the Buffalo Scenic Road. FEMA will pay about half of the $16,700 cost, but the city will have to pick up the rest. Andersen, who voted no, suggested asking Buffalo City Tourism to pay all or a portion of the repair cost.
The minimum-maintenance road, which runs along the James River north of Frontier Village, was damaged during the 2009 floods.
* was updated on the pavement replacement occurring at the Civic Center parking lot. FEMA is paying 97 percent of the replacement cost.
Sun reporter Toni Pirkl can be reached at (701) 952-8453 or by e-mail at tonip@jamestownsun.com
