The Russellville city leader recently sat down to talk about how things have gone during his first year in office.
“The year was one of learning, growth, changes, training and many opportunities, all of which were very fruitful,” Zick said. “We started with a capital plan for the year which included hiring a grant writer, completing Woodland Drive, pushing for the Highway 100 completion, the Southern By-Pass, sidewalks, water and sewer projects and Spa Lake Dam repair.
“I have underestimated a couple of things about this new position,” admitted Zick. “The amount of time a ‘part-time' job requires in order to do it right and the amount of criticism that comes regardless of what is done.”
Zick said he works 60 hours a week at times and says the calls and emails are almost overwhelming. Costs are another surprise, which Zick has learned can cripple a city if not managed well.
One of the most surprising costs which the city has little or no control over is that of pensions and insurance for the city employees as well as the medical costs and insurance.
“If these types of increases continue without the legislators acting on it, many cities could go out of business or have to drastically reduce all services,” said Zick.
In order to compensate for this increase, Zick said the city has done everything it can to get “free” money-grants.
“We have held back on raises, used regional C.O.L.A. rather than the national average, reduced staffing, cut costs and utilized team work between departments,” said Zick..
On a historical note, the city obtained the rights to the Littlejohn Cemetery in order to preserve the history of the cemetery for the future and finally, all of the remaining “brick sidewalks” have been repaired to the city's specifications.
After a considerable study on the needs in the water and sewer departments, lack of capital funding, no allowance for depreciation, LTWC rate increase, no rate increase since 1998 and the result of three professional rate studies, Zick said the city was forced to institute a rate increase in water and sewer.
This caused quite a stir among citizens especially the elderly and the single-parent homes. Zick had previously stated he did not like to raise rates but unfortunately the water and sewer departments were underfunded and had been told that for years by professionals who completed numerous rate studies.
Accomplishments in the city departments
Water Department
Installed over 700 feet of new piping, replaced 800 feet of 1-inch pipe, installed 1,200 feet of 2-inch pipe (this is 3-4 times the amount of piping replaced in recent years.) No longer just putting clamps on the leaks, the department is upgrading.
As a result there has been a reduction of water leaks to almost 20 percent. It has been over 50 percent, which is a savings of approximately $188,000 dollars a year.
Sewer Department I&I
Replaced over 16,459 feet of sewer pipe, including manholes and lift stations during the last ten months - this is four times what has been done in the previous years, sewer calls are almost non-existent, reduced I&I to 24 percent formally 54 percent.
Best of all, the usable capacity of the sewer plant which is rated at 2.4 mg/ is currently using only 300 kg/d. This will allow us to add new industries, businesses and incorporate other areas. Regionalization is now very possible. If we were able to sell this new capacity, we could potentially earn $4.3 a year.
Fire Department
During the course of the year over 700 calls were made as compared to only 300 last year. Most of these were medical assistance calls.
The city inspected all of the fire truck and equipment and found some minor deficiencies which were corrected. However, it was found that the #9 pumper has been unreliable since its purchase. We decided to trade in the truck at a reduced cost of $146,000.
As the city analyzed the results of the inspections we realized that it had 30- and 40-year-old pumpers that could fail at any time. There was not a capital replacement fund, or a means to finance or schedule the replacement equipment. The replacement of the 1990 ladder truck would cost $650,000. There is no plan in place to fund such a replacement. The city has taken steps to have on hand critical parts that are becoming obsolete. Four additional fire department employees qualified as EMTs.
Police Department
Although saddled with the purchase costs of three new police cars from last year, the department is reducing costs through employee attrition. The approved head count level has been reduced from last year and because of retirements and quits the current manning level is considerably below the new reduced authorized level. The department is manning each shift now with only two officers. Consequently new cars will not be needed in the near future.
Street Department
With the retirement of Darrell Baldwin, a restructuring of the department was made with the naming of Chase Gregory as superintendent. Several programs have been instituted along with the purchases of used equipment like a chipper to help reduce the double handling of brush and twigs. We have been busy burning the old brush pile that has accumulated over a few years. We intend to chip the material and use it on trails rather than stock pile and burn.
Carpenter Center
A consultant, Browning, Day Mullins, Dierdorf Architects, was hired to determine the problems with the aquatic center and present the solutions to fix the issue. This plan to fix it consisted of the following main items: remove the ceiling, remove the insulation, install insulation, install roof exhaust fan and relocate the lighting.
In order to fully utilize the pool, even though the insulation and the plastic ceiling is falling, a net was installed just below the ceiling to catch any falling material temporarily so it would not injure anyone or contaminate the pool. The city expects to operate in this mode until it believes it would be prudent to remove the ceiling completely. With the netting in place there is not a need to rush into the repair phase.
The membership has increased. The center had 700 members before the ceiling, now it has 1096.
Parks and Recreation
Costs are well in line - many more activities are planned for the square which will increase their level. The city intends to build a fishing pond at the Russellville/Logan County Park and add another shelter and improve the facilities.
Zick says the employees are working together more than ever before. “The word for this is teamwork - and there is no “I” in team. Everyone is sharing equipment now, it's no longer a policy that “this is mine,” said Zick.
Administrative Department
Code Enforcement - With the addition of a new ordinance which enables the city to get unsightly buildings and properties cleaned up considerable progress in cleaning up the city is the goal. The department has almost doubled the amount of NOVs (84 versus 149), and citations (24 versus 32) and made substantial progress in getting properties cleaned up.
Finance-Property Tax Section
The city has reduced delinquent taxes owed by 20.4 percent through June; working on a system to collect water and sewer receivables. For the first five months it was $25.531.
Grant Writing
Grant writing has been highly effective. The more grants the city receives the less it has to rely on loans or not doing the project. To date the following projects were financed with state and federal or other funds: Johnson Street Sewer project $825,000, Hospital Hill Water project $800,000, Spa Lake Dam - repairs $100,000, Homeland Security - communication $7,426, Global Fire Protection- training $2,000, Recreational Complex - Soccer $1,500,000, Baseball, etc. total $3,234,426.
Current Russellville Projects
Permitting process for: Johnson Street Sewer Process - $825,000 grant which will impact 450 homes, eliminate sewer overflows, better sanitary conditions and enables economic growth.
Plans to be submitted Nov. 15 will include the Hospital Hill water project which will improve water service (pressure) to 450 homes, improve fire protection and supply economic growth.
The newly constructed Woodland Drive will open up the industrial park to development, enables trucks to avoid congested areas, takes traffic off Hwy 431 North (Main Street) passed school and Hopkinsville Road improving safety and expand operations of existing businesses.
Manshart Sewer Project- $200,000 helped 49 homes, was completed this year after residents have been waiting over (10) ten years, installed 5,100 feet of main lines and widen road to increase safety and traffic flow.
Other programs that we instituted are: senior trash pick-up on a “call-in” basis, free monthly trash dumpster, schedule for branch pick-up, expediting street cut repairs, building of woodland drive, back-filling planned soccer field location and installing speed bumps.
Zick said the city is also working with Superintendent Roger Cook to install sidewalks around Stevenson School for safe routes between the developments as well as helping with the Rhea Stadium Wall renovation. Zick said on several occasions he has asked for citizen input.
He said they got in great responses for the recreational area, but when asked for input on questions on Russellville/Logan like: What do you like about Russellville? What you do not like about Russellville? or What you would take people to see? They received little or no responses.
“What do you want Russellville to be like for you, your kids?” said Zick adding, “What's next?”
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