Beaver Creek Council approves contracts for law enforcement, refuse

Beaver Creek City Council members approved a new three-year contract with Ketterling Services, Luverne, for refuse and recycling pickup.
They had received a bid from Town and Country Disposal, Rock Rapids, Iowa, which would be less expensive and provide automated pickup and larger recycling bins.
The council discussed the fact that Ketterling doesn’t use an automated “arm” to pick up garbage cans and completely empty them, and this leaves some refuse in the bottom of bins.
The council agreed to renew the Ketterling contract with a request for improved services and then revisit the Town and Country bid in three years if necessary.
 
Rural water proposition
Beaver Creek maintenance manager Travis Helgeson told the council that Rock County Rural Water had approached him about becoming a rural water customer.
“I didn’t know this, but we’re the only city in Rock County that’s not on rural water,” Helgeson said.
Rock County Rural Water would charge $2.63 per 1,000 gallons of water, which Helgeson said sounds expensive until the costs of operating a well are factored in.
“We’ve always been told that water is a moneymaker for us, because we charge for our water,” he said. “But if we went on rural water, we wouldn’t have the expenses we have with our well.”
He mentioned testing and well monitoring, cost of chlorine and electricity to pump the water and maintenance on the pump and other equipment.
“We’d have to know how much we spend and how much we make on our water,” Helgeson said. “I think it’ll be closer than you think. I’m not saying rural water is a better option, but I think it’s worth looking at.”
 
In other business, the council
•approved a one-year law enforcement contract with the Rock County Sheriff’s Office for $11,088. Last year’s cost was $10,560.
•reviewed the bill from MC&R, Sioux Falls, which installed the community splash pad at the park near the ball diamond. The council will wait to pay the entire bill until it’s clear that equipment operates as it’s supposed to.
•heard a report that the Luverne Area Community Foundation will grant $5,034 to Beaver Creek’s splash pad project. Another $1,500 donation for the splash pad that was previously committed from the Sportsman’s Club was received.