City seeks water plant apprentice

In a relatively quiet and quick meeting on Monday, Dec. 4 city commissioners received updates on several active projects.

Interim City Auditor Andrew Presnell noted that he had filled out forms to host an apprentice water systems operations specialist. The apprenticeship is offered by the North Dakota Rural Water Systems Association with partnership from the National Rural Water Association and certified by the U.S. Department of Labor.

According to the NDRWSA, the water sector is expected to lose between 30 and 50 percent of its workforce to retirement over the next decade. Many of these employees have worked at the same utility for the majority of their careers, and they will depart with decades of valuable institutional knowledge. This is certainly the case with New Rockford, as water plant manager Rick Swenson has worked for the city for over 20 years.

Presnell said that by filling out the forms the city will be able to host an apprentice should someone express interest in the program. The program is currently being offered to Bismarck State College students with interest in relocating. The individual would attend a 2-year training program that combines classroom instruction with on-the-job training right here in New Rockford.

The long-term goal is to train someone who will eventually become the next water systems operator for the city.

Presnell also reported that he had completed the quarterly report required by USDA for the water project. He said the report reveals that the water enterprise fund shows a deficit, and USDA will not accept the report unless the deficit is shored up.

Therefore, he proposed transferring money from the general fund into the water fund to balance the account. The primary reason for the deficit, Presnell explained, was the cost of chemicals used to treat the city’s water supply. The city has since signed a contract with a new chemical supplier at a reduced cost for 2024.

As the exact amount of the deficit was not yet known, city commissioners approved a transfer between $55,000 and $65,000. If the deficit exceeds $65,000, Presnell will come back to the commission at a special meeting for approval of the actual amount.

In other business, city commissioners expressed concern over the nuisance vehicle removal proceedings. Officials identified nine nuisance vehicles remaining in city limits as of Oct. 18 and requested that the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office serve the owners of each with 10-day notices to remove. As of Monday, Dec. 4, only two of the nine owners had been served notice.

Commissioner Jim Belquist read, for the record, clauses in the city ordinance which broadly define the sheriff’s responsibilities to the city.

“It’s a derelict of duty right now as far as I’m concerned (to not serve the nuisance vehicle notices as requested),” Belquist concluded.

City attorney Travis Peterson questioned whether the sheriff had an explanation for his failure to accomplish the service. President Stu Richter offered to approach the sheriff and address the issue with him directly.

Meanwhile, Public Works Superintendent Bruce Hirchert reported that several projects were either complete or underway.

First, the city has nearly 6,700 tons of crushed concrete, which was recently processed by Jamestown-based RTS. The company crushed concrete that was removed from the city during the street project construction and hauled out to the city’s inert landfill. The city will now advertise the crushed concrete for sale at $18 per yard, allowing them to make some money selling product that would have otherwise cost money to dispose of.

Carrington-based J&J Striping has been at work removing the substandard and dangerous homes slated for demolition earlier this fall. As of Monday, the third house on the list had been demolished, Hirchert said.

The concrete bases for the old street lights have finally been removed from city sidewalks. Hirchert said they rented a jackhammer to complete the project over the past month. They then turned their attention to Christmas decorations and learned that the new downtown street lights have different electrical receptacles than the old ones. Work was underway to make the switch and get the decorations lit.

The city will hold a special meeting later this month to review employee evaluations and make a final determination on pay rates for 2024 based on performance and the actual change in cost of living.

The next regular meeting is set for Tuesday, Jan. 2 at 7 p.m.