Bonne Terre council talks sewers

BONNE TERRE — The Bonne Terre City Council meeting Monday night started off with Mayor Ed Hottle thanking the city employees for their hard work on the roads during the latest inclement weather.

Under new business, Terry Petrovic, who owns a building in Bonne Terre, discussed the sewer issue by his building.

“My sewer and two others are tied together and it has stopped up from time to time. I can’t get anyone to work with me and I end up having raw sewage running behind my building. There is a quasi manhole behind my building where the three properties run into that and then from there on down to the main line is where it stops up,” said Petrovic.

He considers that area to be part of the city’s responsibility, but doesn’t have a problem contributing in the cost to get a larger line put in to prevent the lines from backing up.

City Administrator Larry Barton said he doesn’t feel it’s a city issue. He said they didn’t install the original line.

“As far as I know we have been up there each time it has stopped up, but we don’t know whose problem it is really.  The people who have the problem say it’s the city’s problem, but there are only three people on that line and that doesn’t constitute it to be a main line,” said Barton.

Alderman Ron Elders brought it to the attention of the council with the help of a gentleman sitting in the crowd that there had been a similar issue with three houses tied into one line in the past that resulted in it being the city’s main line that was backing up.

After much discussion Hottle decided to table the issue pending an investigation of the problem.

In other business, the council accepted the presentation of the audit by Corey Roper with Daniel Jones, stating that they gave the city the highest rating they can give.

The Bonne Terre Airport was approved for a liquor license for the Bonne Terre Aire Festival in September,  Big River Chautauqua was approved for July 17-19, and the annual Baseball Parade was approved for May 17.

Representatives of the 4-H Club discussed redoing the park benches and the council liked the idea and asked them to submit a letter to the Parks and Recreation Department requesting to do the benches around the pond.

The council also approved subdividing a lot at 7436 Raider Road, a lot split at 416 Benham Street, and to vacate an alley at 224 Jackson Street.

The approval of the minutes from the last meeting was tabled until the next meeting due to no one having a copy of the minutes available. The fire department finances discussion was also tabled.

The Bonne Terre City Council discusses and approves several items for special upcoming events in Bonne Terre.

Members of the 4-H Club address the council about redoing the park benches around the pond in Bonne Terre.

Renee Bronaugh is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-518-3617 or rbronaugh@dailyjournalonline.com