TOP CAT TROPHY PRESENTATION
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Lewis County
Serving the communities of Lewis County, Mo. since 1862 (USPS 088-820) Vol. XL New Series, No. 3 Canton, Mo. 63435 • 16 Pages • 2 Sections • 55 cents
BREAKING NEWS UPDATES AT
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Water - A Hot Topic In LaBelle LaBelle residents gather to discuss upcoming water bond issue Dan Steinbeck, Editor dan@lewispnj.com
MOTEL ARSONIST SENTENCED TO PRISON
ROSALES Dan Steinbeck, Editor dan@lewispnj.com
The man responsible for setting the fire that extensively damaged the former Canton Motel building in November 2011, was sentenced to prison. Abel Rosales, 29, pled guilty to second degree arson January 5, and was sentenced by Second Judicial Circuit Judge Russell Steele to three years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Rosales had managed the Motel until it closed late in 2011. On the night of Nov. 6, 2011, a raging fire brought 30 firefighters from four stations. Canton Police have said Roasales was apparently offered financial gain from owner Brian Waschenbach, 39, Kahoka, for setting the fire. A trial setting for Waschenbach, also charged with second degree arson, was scheduled for January 17.
SNOW COVERS LEWIS COUNTY After weeks of above-average temperatures, the Tri-State area got a reminder of which season is still on the calendar. Snow fell on Thursday, Jan 12 postponing some basketball games, but not leading to any school cancellations, although Canton did dismiss early that day. However, there were numerous area reports of accidents or slide-offs including one minor accident north of Canton. The snow largely disappeard in warming temperatures Sunday and Monday Jan. 15-16.
ONE HURT IN SNOW ACCIDENT A Keokuk woman had apparently minor injuries in a weather related accident north of Canton Jan. 12. Miranda L. Messenger, 23 of Keokuk, Iowa, was taken to Keokuk Area Hospital by Lewis County Ambulance. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Messenger was southbound at 1:30 p.m. on Route 61, a mile north of Canton, when her 2006 Saturn slid off the left side of the road and came to rest in the median. There was no damage to the car. Assisting the Patrol were Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and the Canton Fire and Rescue.
There is a clear difference of opinion of the proposed $2.5 million LaBelle water revenue bond issue on the Feb. 7 ballot. At a Jan. 16 meeting, more than 70 people jammed the lobby of the LaBelle Fire Station to hear an engineer’s report, and to voice their concerns. Mike Logsdon, of Bartlett West Engineering told of the needs of the bond issue. “In the 1950s, I’m not sure how many of you had automatic washers and dryers. The system put in then was adequate. The usage of water has changed in the last 60 years,” Logsdon said. He showed a one-inch rusty pipe and told the crowd this was an early LaBelle water main, not a to-the-home-service line. Logsdon held up four-inch diameter samples of asbestos concrete pipe. “This won’t cause a health problem when you drink the water. Where this is a problem is when the pipe is cut and asbestos is released into the air,” Logsdon said of the asbestos concrete pipe. Logsdon said the largest of the LaBelle mains is six inches, and said the current system is subject to frequent breaks, has a limited number of control valves, and fire hydrants on undersized mains. “The new state and federal regulations call for a six-inch main on a fire hydrant,” Logsdon said. The new distribution system would be vastly different. “We’re proposing eight-inch PVC lines from the storage tank to the distribution network. An eight-inch pipe can carry up to 1,000 gallons per minutes, where as a six-inch pip carries about 800 gallons per minute. Logsdon said six-inch PVC pipes would put loops in high density population areas, and four-inch PVC would be on the rest of the system, and more than 100 new controls
Photo by Dan Steinbeck
Mike Logsdon, of Bartlett West Engineering, shows a slide of the rusted pipe from the LaBelle water system that he holds. The pipe is heavily occluded.
would be added, as well as 31 new fire hydrants. Logsdon said the bond issue also considers the available water supply. The current water tank is more than 50 years old and its current location makes repairs and even maintenance difficult. The 50,000-gallon tank was last painted in the 1980s and stands 98 feet high. “To sandblast and paint the tower (for maintenance) you would have to encase the tower in plastic (because of the proximity to other structures),” Logsdon said. He said 30,000 gallons is needed for fire protection, which would allow 250 gallons a minute for two hours. He showed slides of rustoccluded pipes and rust and bird droppings issues among the current water tower issues. “The estimated cost to correct the tower is $176,600. If it is fixed, you would be in compliance with all safety regulations, but your volume and pressure would be unchanged,” Logsdon said. A new 130-foot tower, 100,000 gallon elevated tower located near the city maintenance building north of LaBelle is proposed. This would
increase current pressure from 42 to 56 pounds per square inch. It would also allow sufficient reserve water for peak demands and fire protection. The new tank would cost $450,000, the distribution system would cost $1,328,800, and administrative costs would be $603,100, for a total proposed cast of $2,381,900. He said the balance of the bond issue would be set aside to handle anticipated Department of Natural Resources rules that will become mandates about sewer issues. The project would be funded by USDA Rural Development loan at 3% for 33 years and a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant. Some in the crowd pleaded poverty. “This little town can’t afford this. LaBelle has the lowest median income in the County and one of the lowest in Missouri,” some said. Some questioned why more grants aren’t sought. Logsdon said they are being sought, but they aren’t as available as they were in recent years. Some wanted the grants sought first, and Logsdon said those that issue grants want to see a city’s commitment first, and said “The days are num-
bered” from these program grants. One in the crowd challenged the naysayers, implying the costs would increase if the city waits. One said if the city doesn’t approve the bond issue, improvements might be forced on the residents anyway. One asked why the Clarence Cannon Water commission tower south of LaBelle couldn’t be used. The answer: It doesn’t belong to the city of LaBelle and is for reserve for the system. Logsdon said with 300 water customers, it would add $19.70 a month to retire the 33-year debt, and a recent rate increase should cover current costs. Logsdon said another quicker, but less certain option would be the city board voting to take out a private loan, which could get the project rolling quicker than the grants and Rural Development loans. “They (private lender) would need some collateral, maybe the water tower. It would be a higher interest, If the city defaults, they’ll shut the tower, and you won’t have water service,” Logsdon said.
CAR SLIDES INTO DITCH IN LAGRANGE Slick roads may have been the cause of an accident on Hwy B and Poage Street at the north end of LaGrange. The accident occured Friday afternoon, Jan. 13. The driver was unable to exit the vehicle without assistance, but refused treatment at the scene. Responding were the LaGrange Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, LaGrange Fire and Rescue, and Lewis County Ambulance. Light snowfall made road conditions hazardous in the Lewis County and surrounding areas. Motorists are reminded to use extreme caution during inclement weather. Motorists should also carry a blanket, flashlight, a fully charged cell phone, ice scraper, and also make someone aware of their travel plans. Photo by Rita Cox