Street supervisor Rod Clinger spoke to Edison Council last week about the problem of flooding with several big rains over the past month. The worst flooding is at Boundary and Railroad streets. A field drains into the area by the old John Deere building and water runs down Hill Street.
Council member Patti Feustal agreed that is a big problem and said that tile is too small to handle a heavy rain. She said it also creates a problem for several people who have flooding in their basement. Council discussed that several places in the village need either new drains, or repair of the storm drains.
This has been a problem for many years.
Clinger said the plan is to jet out the tile and clean out the drain. That will hopefully help the problem and give the drain enough capacity to carry the water in another big storm. Council gave Clinger approval to get the tile jetted out and repaired if necessary.
They suggested he also look into grants, with the village treasurer, for replacement of tile and drains.
In other business:
• In Citizens Communications, Jeremy West asked about paving property at his driveway approach. Mayor Sandy Ackerman said that a permit was not needed to do the work. Clinger said it would not be a problem for the street department as long as West maintained it and it didn’t affect the sewer line.
• Resolutions for three levies were approved to go on the November ballot. The 2-mill renewal levy for streets, roads and bridges for five years was approved. This is a renewal of the existing levy for construction, reconstruction, resurfacing and repair of streets, roads and bridges for the Village of Edison.
• Also approved was a replacement levy of 1 mill for current expenses for street lights for five years. Fiscal Officer Bruce Seaburn said that levy millage remains 1 mill like the village now has. It is called a replacement because it will now have the present property valuation. The cost of street light bills continues to increase and this will avoid a shortfall in paying the bills on street lights.
• The 2.5-mill levy for fire protection for calendar years 2017-2021 was also approved to go on the ballot. This was the levy amount as requested by the Mount Gilead Fire Department. The village needs to pass this levy in order to continue fire coverage with the MGFD.
• Feustal announced she will not run for council this fall. She encouraged Jeremy West to run for council and noted that Aug, 9 is the deadline to file for election. Feustal has served on council for at least 16 years.
Feustal said she learned a great deal as a council member and it has been very rewarding to serve the village. She is proud seeing the improvements as homes have made upgrades and the park has been developed.
• Fiscal officer Bruce Seaburn got approval to put brand new print cartridges for sale on gov.deals since they are no longer needed by police. Council also approved placing the amount of $600 on property taxes for cleanup of 219 Union St. that is abandoned. It is owned by National Home Investors.
