Rosston council updated on progress

ROSSTON – March’s meeting of the Rosston City Council was more to fill the panel in than anything else.

The meeting, held Monday night, saw the council told about the budget and how the city’s balances have improved since last month – except for the fire department, which was down because the Rosston Volunteer Fire Department had to pay its 10 percent match on a grant and pay for the turnouts for the firemen.

Collections are up for the water department, mostly after people had their water shut off for non-payment of bills. Rosston Mayor Dale Quarles said people had gotten too comfortable when it came to paying their bills late, but the city relies on this money to operate. “We had no choice other than to cut them off for not paying,” he said. “I don’t enjoy doing it and encourage everyone to pay their bills (on time).”

Quarles asks customers on the Rosston Rural Water System not to call him if their water gets shut off, but to call the city clerk, as she handles these situations. He said if people don’t pay their bills, their water will be shut off and there will be a $50 reconnect fee added on. Those not paying on time after a month will get a shutoff notice. After the second time, their water will be cut off.

He added some customers have run over their meters, damaging them. He told the council this didn’t happen with the old meters and the new ones are in the same place as the old ones. Because of the expense of the new meters, customers who run over them, or otherwise damage them, will be charged for a new meter.

Also on the topic of the budget, he said the city has cut back on its spending and not buying things it can do without.

The council was told the water system’s new telemetry system is in place. He reminded them the new system was paid for using one of the city’s certificates of deposit (CD). When the second round of American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) money comes in this June or July, Quarles told the council, it will replace the funds taken from the CD.

The company that installed the old system, he said, no longer exists, but the new system will provide Rosston with 24-hour service. Installation was finished last Thursday, and the new system, he said, should prevent problems the city was having with the old one.

Quarles told the council all members of the fire department have been measured for their turnout gear, which will cover them head to toe, but it will be about 14 weeks before the gear arrives.

The final bit of business was about street aid, with the panel told measurements have been taken of the planned construction, with the roads staked out that will be improved. This includes the school, around the front and to the bus shop, and the road from City Hall to the water tower. Quarles said the city is building up the money in its street fund and plans are to use it to finish Scenic Drive and other streets. “We’ve been waiting on this for two years now,” he said, “now we’re just waiting on decent weather.”

The council was told there will be an Easter Egg Hunt in the park behind City Hall on April 9 starting around noon, weather permitting. There will be hot dogs, chips and drinks, along with prize eggs for the youngster.