Town gearing up for roadwork

Kennet Bertelson of the engineering firm of USKH, which has a contract with the Town of Odessa to provide engineering services, was at Monday evening's public hearing on street projects held prior to the meeting of the Odessa Town Council. He brought with him poster boards depicting current photos of the Fourth Avenue and Fifth Avenue projects in Odessa, as well as artists' renderings of how the streets will look once work is completed.

The town was recently awarded grant funding for both projects, which will involve complete removal of the old road material, followed by reconstruction of the road bed and installation of asphalt, concrete curbing and gravel-filled swales for redirection of water from the roadway. While the roads are torn up, the town also plans to replace the water mains running along the two avenues. Both are thought to be original piping from when Odessa's water delivery system was first installed early in the previous century.

Asphalt will also extend part way into alleys along the length of the roadways being reconstructed. New sidewalks with ADA-compliant ramps will also be installed as part of the project.

Soil samples were to be taken beginning this week, and an archeological review will also be performed.

Police

Police chief Helen Coubra reported that body cameras have been purchased for herself and officer Bryce Peterson. Also purchased and now undergoing repainting and refurbishment with Odessa's own equipment and logos is a 2009 Crown Victoria previously used by another law enforcement agency. At $10,000 the price was considered fair and reasonable, as the old patrol car was facing more and more repair bills the longer it was kept in service.

Coubra has also signed up to participate in a 40-hour class being offered in Spokane by the FBI for all area police chiefs and sheriffs.

Public Works

Public Works director Rod Webster said the town crew had to respond to three different houses with frozen pipes in the past few weeks. Absentee landowners and others who may be responsible for looking after the homes in question need to make sure that heat levels are high enough inside to prevent freezing of pipes. Another very simple solution, Webster said, was to turn faucets on just so that they are at a slow drip. The moving water is far less likely to freeze.

Fire Dept.

Fire chief Don Strebeck reported that the Firemen's Auction has been gathering a large amount of equipment and is looking foward to a successful sale day on February 22. Even Lincoln County is contributing some surplused vehicles to the auction.

The new safety equipment purchased by the department is now in use and the fire crews seem happy with their new "turnouts," Strebeck says.

The firefighters recently welcomed two new members to their ranks, Shawn Steward and Ryan King.

Gun Club

Efforts by the Odessa Gun Club to purchase the property upon which their clubhouse sits moved a step closer to fulfillment when town attorney Mark DeWulf advised that the town did not require that the parcel be put out for bids. The club will be able to purchase the land at fair market value (approximately 12 acres), with the remaining space (less than three acres located within the runway protection zone) to be leased to the club under a long-term agreement. Purchase of the bulk of the property will make it more likely that the club will be able to apply for grants and/or low-interest loans to make improvements to its clubhouse and traps.

Dog licenses

Residents are being reminded once again to have their dogs licensed. Licenses help police to return animals on the loose to their rightful owners.