City planning for growth in water services
By JODIE GARCIA, Herald Staff Writer
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Several water improvements are slated for Ottawa to address current and future growth in the city.
City commissioners Monday heard an update on a Water Distribution Master Plan from officials from PEC, Professional Engineering Consultants.
Bob Koopman of PEC said city staff asked the consulting company to update the city’s existing 2002 water master plan.
“[Staff] noted that growth in the city seemed to be excelling beyond the historical growth rates,” he said.
Koopman said PEC reviewed previous studies and looked at growth and expansion areas, as well as reliability and redundancy in the city’s water systems.
He said PEC confirmed the need for several projects identified in the city’s 2002 plan, including a new water line, an additional clear well and high service pump station, and internal system improvements in the Ottawa University area.
Other recommendations included creating a northeast service area with a water tower and pump station and a southwest service area with a water tower and pump station, Koopman said.
He said the southwest service area wasn’t an immediate need but could be looked at in the future.
In November, commissioners agreed to move forward with designs for a new water tower, main lines and a booster pump station to serve northeast Ottawa.
Wynndee Lee, director of planning and codes, said most of the projects are in the city’s long-range capital improvement plan, and the city is in the middle of some of the projects right now.
In other matters, commissioners:
• Heard from Scott Bird, city clerk and finance director, about a secret shopper program the city participated in to gauge how City Hall meets the needs of the elderly. Bird said the city more than met standards for customer service, seating, accessibility and other areas.
• Discussed potential condemnations of West Wilson Truck & Auto Repair, 307 W. Wilson St., and a home at 519 S. Locust St. Public hearings on both items are set for 7 p.m. April 2.
• Discussed an ordinance to rezone 1215 W. Seventh St. from a Franklin County RE residential estate zoning district to a city R-1 low density residential district. Planning commissioners recommended approval on a 7-0 vote.
The next city commission meeting is a study session scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 101 S. Hickory St. The next regular meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 2.
Herald staff writer Jodie Garcia can be e-mailed at jgarcia@ottawaherald.com.
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