Due to safety and legal concerns, the Perham City Council voted Monday night to terminate their contract for utility location services with Precision Locating.
Recently, the city has experienced two main gas line hits and "several other incidents which are significant safety issues," according to minutes from the September council meeting. At that meeting, the council decided to solicit requests for proposals and awarded a one-year contract with an option to renew a second year to Citi Lites of Pequot Lakes at the meeting Monday. The company held the previous contract with the city of Perham before Precision Locating.
Precision, based in Perham, was a new company when awarded the Perham contract in 2009, Mayor Timothy Meehl said.
"We wanted to keep it local," Meehl said. "Unfortunately there were some growing pains. "
Utility location is the process of identifying and labeling public utility mains that are underground. These include lines for natural gas, fiber optics, traffic lights, water mains and waste water pipes. Location is necessary in most areas because maps often lack the pinpoint precision needed to ensure proper clearance.
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Incorrect locates pose a threat to public safety, the council noted. The council ultimately decided it couldn't risk another mistake.
During the September meeting, John Schornack, who represents Precision Locating, stated that the incidents happened when he was out of town and the locates were done by an inexperienced employee. On Monday, he said more training would be implemented and an addition employee with experience would be added to the staff.
Councilmember Harriet Mattfeld said the risk is just too great.
"The water and wastewater is fine, but the gas scares the heck out of me," she said.
Before the vote, Meehl said he hopes this time will give Precision the opportunity to gain more training and experience and resubmit a proposal to the city in the future.
In other city business:
The council voted to adopt an ordinance that amends the zoning ordinance to allow body art, which includes tattooing, permanent make-up and piercings in both downtown commercial and highway commercial districts and a conditional use in the service commercial district. It will not be permitted in residential districts. A public hearing was held on September 29 and was passed by the planning commission unanimously.
