Bethany Council Discusses Upcoming Lead Service Line Inventory

Bethany’s Board of Aldermen approved the resolution that will allow the City of Bethany to apply for funding to inventory the number of lead service water lines which are still part of the city’s distribution system during a meeting Monday night. The inventory is required to be completed for the Department of Natural Resources by the middle of October to get a number and percentage of lead lines still in operation and serving residents. Council members were told that the inventory will be determined from city records, a survey of city residents, and information obtained from an in-person inspection from a city official or contractor as a last resort. The resolution will allow the city to apply for grant funding from the Department of Natural Resources for costs associated with the inventory. City Administrator Jacob Taylor told council members that information he’s received has suggested that the city has a favorable chance to obtain the grant funding. The funding would be used to pay a contractor to perform the on-site inspections. The maximum grant amount would be $500,000. Administrator Taylor says the inventory will start with a review of city records, followed by a survey of residents, and then finish with an on-site inspection if necessary. He says the survey of city residents would likely be sometime this summer.

Administrator Taylor also gave a report on last week’s meeting with city landlords from the public forum that was held in regard to safety standards for rental properties. The landlords were provided with a checklist that includes regulations for house numbers, directives to provide carbon monoxide detectors, GRI protection for electrical sources near water, smoke alarms, and portable fire extinguishers. There were also standards set out for circuit breaker boxes and windows.

Bethany City Administrator Jacob Taylor received approved from Bethany city council members Monday night that two additional crosswalks will be added to 23rd Street in front of both the Head Start and Pre-K building near the South Harrison Elementary School Campus. Crosswalk signs with also be added. A stop sign ordinance will be prepared by the city’s April 1st meeting. Some discussion was held at the session Monday night where the signs will be specifically placed.

Bethany’s council approved the ordinance which authorized the city to enter into an investment agreement with the Missouri Securities Investment Program.

Fire Chief Jacob Denum detailed some of the issues which have been experienced with the Bethany Fire Department’s Command Vehicle. The vehicle is thought to be experiencing transmission issues. The repair cost is just over $7,000. The city will be taking bids for the repair. Options for an alternate vehicle were also discussed at the meeting.

Bethany Council members also reappointed Patrick Miller, Jayson Long, and Lisa Burrows to the Parks and Recreation Board and Patrick Miller to the Bethany Housing Authority.