MIAMI — The Miami Town Council welcomed the town’s new finance director, Stacey Alison and launched into a busy agenda.  They increased trash collection fees, with house holders paying $22.50 per month, up from $20 per month.  Town Manager, Joseph Heatherly explained that the increase was the exact percentage the for-profit landfill increased its fees.  Sewer fees for homes and businesses also went up, from $43.25 to $44.26. Changes will go into effect 30 days after the February 12 action of the Town Council.

Financially, Heatherly  shared the fact that the city will be sending out letters to a “significant number” of businesses that had not filed, or not remitted any payment of sales taxes in years.  

In response to another important issue, the council approved a “Notice of intent to establish and set Pavement restoration fees to cover the preservation  and/or restoration of all newly paved streets within the town limits for a period of up to 10 years after new pavement installation as been completed.”  

Apparently, poorly made trenches in streets and poor remediation of the pavement has been a long standing problem. The notice of intent is a step toward addressing it  by letting utilities such as Arizona Water and SW Gas (and their subcontractors) know that they will be held accountable in a monetary way for their failure to return dug up pavement to a usable condition.  Town Manager, Joseph Heatherly saw the effort as two pronged.  Up front, the Town intends to work with utilities and sewer line contractors to coordinate paving and digging. 

The Town wants to let utilities know what the Town’s expectations are and to and notify the trenchers of non-compliance  in a timely fashion so that problems could be remedied. And failing that, the Town could collect money to make repairs itself. The Motion to direct the town staff to go ahead with the notice was passed.

Heatherly thought the letter of intent was timely since the Council approved a new street improvement project CDBG 143-17with Rick Engineering.

The Town also approved a contract with KE&G Construction in the amount of $10,447,648.00 for Phases 3-5 of the Miami Wastewater Collection System Improvement Project. Representatives from KE&G explained that their sub-contractor, InsituForm Technologies will be lining some of the deteriorated pipe with a “pipe within a pipe” for many decades more life.  Some lines will have to be dug up and replaced. Many man holes will have to be repaired or replaced, according to John Warner from KE&G  and new sewer lines, and man holes will have to be built.  The resin fill sock technology, which will save many distressed sewer lines is shown and explained on YouTube.  Just search on Youtube for Insituform to check out this innovative technology.  The Miami Centennial celebration update was given by Librarian, Delvan Hayward in place of Krissy Regalado of the Sr. Center.  The proclamation of Miami’s hundredth birthday and a canon shot in celebration will be held on March 5 at Bullion Plaza at 8 a.m. and at 4 p.m. Other activities including two car shows, dance performances, a Sports Hall of Fame, will take place in various locations in Miami.  The day will wind up in Bullion Gym with Social Hour 5:30 p.m. followed at 6:10 p.m. by a  dinner. For further information and to buy a dinner ticket call the Chamber of Commerce   928-425-4995.

The council went into executive session and adjourned.