A Storm/Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Study was given the go ahead during Monday night's Spencer City Council meeting.

The study will serve as the first step in an extensive process designed to help the city comply with an EPA mandate handed down approximately eight months ago, requiring the city to eliminate its combined storm and sanitary sewer systems.

Based on the recommendation of the Public Works Committee, the contract was awarded to McClure Engineering out of Fort Dodge, working in conjunction with Kruse Cate and Nelson to complete the study.

The estimated cost for the study including the purchase of three new flow meters is around $290,000. The exact cost will be dependent on the actual number of flow meters that are installed in the city.

Terry Lutz, PE and president/CEO of McClure Engineering told the council that 16 flow meter test areas have been identified but as the field workers begin the process over the next couple of weeks, the number could be less. Lutz estimated that it would take the next couple of weeks to place the meters and then data would be collected over the next couple of months during what is typically the spring rain season.

From the data collected during that period of time, the study should help indicate how the system is functioning in varying rain events, allowing the firm to create a plan model from there.

This is the first step in a city sewer renovation effort that could cost between $21.5 and $32.5 million over the course of a 30-year compliance timeline.

A formal public presentation on the sewer prject will be held at 5 p.m. on Monday May 5. Residents and business owners are encouraged to attend the meeting at that time to learn more about the project.

During a public hearing regarding the proposed sale of city property for economic development purposes to Eugene Wood, doing business as General Machine Works, a neighbor put a couple of questions to the council.

Laura Carlentini, who resides at 108 W. Second St., asked if the two parcels of city property located near West Second Street, would be required to leave some green space as part the proposed expansion and relocation of the parking lot.

"At this time no, he does not plan on any green space," answered Mayor Reynold Peterson.

Carlentini also questioned water run-off concerns as well as fencing and property value matters. She wanted to know where to voice her worries.

"You can come to the meeting next Monday and voice your concerns," Peterson told her.

The Board of Adjustment is scheduled to meet on this request at 8 a.m. on Monday April 28 in council chambers.

Ward 3 Councilman Steve Bomgaars called Carlentini's concerns legitimate.

"We're not opposed to expansion, but I for one am concerned that there be green space."

The council will hold a special meeting that same night at 5:15 p.m. to action this item .

Following a quiet second public hearing on the 2008 HMA Overlay Project, two bids were opened.

Blacktop Service Company of Humboldt submitted the low bid at $119,832.48 with Tri-State Paving of Estherville coming in at $156,250.10.

On the advice of Engineer Jim Thiesse, the council opted to table a final decision until it revisited its budget situation. The low bid of nearly $120,000 came in nearly 18 percent over projected budget costs.

Thiesse recommended the board check its budget due to the estimate overage.

Action is expected at the May 5 council meeting.

In other business

* The council unanimously approved a development agreement with Spencer Avionics pertaining to their new building at the Northwest Iowa Regional Airport. The agreement for the most part rebates a portion of the developers property tax back to them to pay for the approach portion of the project that was not eligible for FAA funding. The maximum amount of taxes to be rebated would not exceed $60,000.

* Action on the Complete Recovery agreement for the city's residential recycling was tabled awaiting a signature from a representative of Complete Recovery.

The contract covers the cardboard that the city collects and delivers to them as well. According to City Manager Bob Fagen, the new agreement dropped the fee paid to Complete Recovery for processing the city's recycling from $48/ton to $0/ton. It also increased the amount paid to the city for cardboard by 15 percent. In total it should save the city approximately $35,000 to $40,000 per year.

That savings will help defray a portion of future increases to the residents.

* The council approved a request from Matt Stanzel to purchase a section of old railroad property located adjacent to 518 E. 10th St. for $3,392.

* Council members approved the Renaissance Initiative Grant requests for: Arts on Grand , $4,000; CAASA, $2,500; Grand Ave. Improvement Corp., $10,000; Northwest Iowa Youth Soccer Association, $5,000; Parker Historical Society, $2,500; Positively Spencer Youth, $1,600; SCT Playhouse, $1,860; Spencer Family YMCA , $ 2,940.97; and Renaissance Committee Intern/Exp, $1,500.

* During the mayor's report, Peterson told the council that he had attended the recent Iowa League of Cities Board meeting, and there were two main topics of discussion, the unions and fair labor issues in Iowa, as well as the fact that the no smoking ban has no enforcement mechanism in place.

"There's more to come on these two issues," Peterson said.

* Jesse Schmidt, owner and operator of JS Customs and Repair appeared before the council to request permission to host a "Spencer Car Show Jamboree" on July 19 from 8 a.m. to midnight, near his office on East 28th Street, near the UPS shipping center.

The show would include a car exhibit as well as a burn-out contest. As part of the plan, he has insurance and plans to barricade the action for safety purposes.

Peterson told him that he would need to get on the agenda at an upcoming Public Safety Committee meeting where he could share his ideas with the police and fire chief.