News Briefs
Oct. 1
Pablo water issue minor
A cracked water line on Old Highway 93 was the likely cause of a mild bacteria contamination in the Pablo water system found last month.
Pablo/Lake County Water and Sewer District water operator Clay Sloan said water samples showed small amounts of total coliform bacteria during routine testing. He narrowed the likely spot of bacteria introduction to a crack on the main line.
The entire water distribution area will be treated with chlorine through the rest of the month.
“It’s nothing serious, we’re dealing with it,” Sloan said. “Right now, we’re just dealing with the immediate problem and the chlorine shouldn’t be strong enough to bother anybody.”
This week, a project began to upgrade the water lines throughout the town. Sloan said this will help get rid of other potentially cracked and broken lines.
A public notice placed by the water district said coliform bacteria “is not an emergency.”
“We will inform you when our sampling shows that no bacteria are present,” the notice said.
-Reporter Jenna Cederberg
Ronan council to review budget
RONAN — A new police department hire and an open container request were granted during Monday night’s Ronan City Council meeting.
Police Chief Dan Wadsworth requested that the police department be allowed to hire Jim Blackwolf as a part-time janitor at the police headquarters. Blackwolf would work around 5 or 10 hours a week, and the money to pay him would come out of the police department’s budget.
In other news, the Valley Club was granted an open container permit for their “Pheasants Forever” banquet, to be held at the Ronan Community Center on Oct. 3.
Also of note was the following “notice of public hearing” courtesy of Kaylene Melton, the city clerk:
The preliminary budget for the City of Ronan for the 2009-2010 fiscal year, as prepared, is on file at Ronan City Hall and open to inspection by all taxpayers. A public hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m., Ronan City Hall, Oct. 13.
-Reporter Sasha Goldstein
MIssion talks flu, speeches
ST. IGNATIUS — Among the topics of discussion at the September meeting of the St. Ignatius Board of Education was President Barack Obama’s education speech, swine flu preparedness and building projects.
Trustee Peter Matt asked Superintendent Gerry Nolan why the district did not show the president’s Sept. 8 speech on education.
Nolan said he “made the call” to not show the speech because the timing of the address was “awkward.” Ultimately, Nolan said it seemed like the speech would be more of a disruption and he didn’t “see that there would be much of an upside” to showing it.
Trustee John Biggs said he was worried about possibly showing speeches that might be “politically motivated,” and said any speeches should be previewed, and if necessary, edited, for content.
St. Ignatius schools are working with the Lake County Health Department on plans of what to do in the event of a swine flu outbreak. Principals of the elementary and middle/high school have put together information on avoiding getting the flu to distribute in newsletters going home with students.
Other plans for the school district include planning for a major outbreak — the possibility of classes online — and getting funding for a cleaner to use in the schools. Nolan said the district would continue to work with the health department to ensure St. Ignatius is prepared.
The St. Ignatius Schools also reviewed preliminary plans and discussed grant options for building projects. Nolan said they were “moving ahead with upgrading buildings and grounds.”
Funding for the projects could come from several grants. $70,000 will hopefully come from Quickstart money and will most likely be used for the boiler, Nolan said.
-Reporter Aimee Niles