The Jefferson Street/Sewer/Sanitation/Water Committees met Tuesday in regular session.

The sewer committee reviewed a sewer connection issue at 503 East Vest Street. The homeowner had work done on the sewer line ten years ago, and since then has had the sewer line backed up in the home about three times. When city crews used a camera in the sewer line, they found out the sewer line went over the top of the water line. The committee decided to have a contractor provide an estimate to dig up the service line area to fix it and then re-address it at a future committee meeting on a final decision.

The sewer committee then reviewed a sewer bill adjustment request from Peoples Bank of one of their properties at 303 East Lincoln Way. They received a water and sewer bill for over $8,000. The sewer portion was about $3,400. The City’s policy is if a sewer bill is over $500, then it would be considered for a review. The committee discussed the issue and it was mentioned that it might have been for pipes bursting and possible negligence on the bank for not consistently checking on the property. Peoples Bank had indicated that they would gift the house to the City after Building Official Nick Sorensen deemed the house unsafe due to the state of the foundation. Following the discussion, the committee will recommend to the City Council to forgive $1,000 of the bill.

Next, the street committee held a brief discussion on a request for a Children at Play sign at 608 McKinley Street. The committee decided to have the police department observe the area and report back to the committee.

The street committee then discussed two walking/biking path projects. The first was for the new bike path to the new high school. The ten-foot path was anticipated to be on the northside of Central Avenue and it will run the rest of the way to the school property where the Greene County School District will finish the project to the high school. More discussion was needed on the $243,000 project. The other walking path was to the Greenewood Center. It would be from the west of the Highway 4 from the Central Christian Church to the center. They also discussed an 8-10-foot path. The project is projected to start next spring.

The sanitation committee discussed the new trash truck purchase and replacing another truck. The new truck would have a mechanical arm to automatically load garbage containers into the truck. The cost of just the truck will be $275,000. The replacement truck is a rear-load with a couple of flippers. The bonds are anticipated to be sold at the June 10th City Council meeting for this project and others to be included.

During the recycling report, it was mentioned that no other city in the county is paying to have recycling picked up by Jefferson City crews. Notices were sent to the other cities. And only about 22.8-percent of Jefferson residents are participating in the recycling program.