Several residents on the city’s east side are waiting for the city to extend sanitary sewer service to their property. At least one resident, Ed Landuyt, says he’s been asking for 25 years and at Monday’s city council meeting, he asked again.

Landuyt, who lives on 13^th Avenue, told the council that his septic tank will need to be replaced within a year and he was was hoping that he could connect to the city’s system. He said he has asked previous councils who have investigated the scope and cost of the project, but nothing has yet been completed.

Julie Mantz, another 13^th Avenue resident, told the council that she has noticed many of the improvements underway and in the planning stages in the city and asked that the council take another look at sewer question. She also said that there is property located near her residence that she knows the city would like to develop and that sanitary sewer service is important in further development.

Longtime Councilman Harold Ealy acknowledged that the council has looked into the matter in other years. It was determined that the best course would be a lengthy extension of a sewer line across Franklin Park. Extending service to the area via a series of lift stations has also been proposed, according to City Administrator Bill Daily. But he said engineers have told city officials that this is not the best solution.

The council told the residents that they would discuss the matter at the council’s next work session later this month.

Fight ordinance tabled

The council tabled consideration of the second reading of an ordinance banning amateur fighting and boxing in the city due to the lack of a full complement of councilmen. Craig Van Scoyoc was absent from the meeting.

The ordinance was proposed after a recent ultimate fighting program at the American Legion building, where fighting erupted in the crowd and one officer was assaulted.

Abatement extension

In other action, the council granted a 90-day extension of a nuisance abatement for Vicky Nickel, 615 Seventh Ave. She asked for time to complete the construction of a metal building on her property.

Administrator’s report

During his report to the council, Daily said that the city’s downtown streetscape project is currently “in limbo,” pending the outcome of several grants the city has applied for. The Benton County Foundation has approved several grants for the various projects in the city, but several more sizable grants are in the works.

One of those projects, the city’s proposed new aquatics center, is currently in the final plans and specification preparation stage. He told the council that a projected 2010 completion is still the goal.