Almost Thanksgiving

 The Rensselaer City Council meeting on Monday (11-22) was short. The first item on the agenda was a public hearing for a gas-rate ordinance that will restructure rates, increasing revenue in the summer and decreasing it in the winter. The purpose is to make sure the gas utility has enough money to make bond payments on the debt used to finance the new gas feed from the trunk line. There were no public comments and the Council approved the second reading of the ordinance, meaning it will take effect at the start of 2022.

The Council approved the annual budget report to Rural Development, authorizing the Clerk/Treasurer to sign it and submit it. Attempts to repair Well #6 have not yielded the desired results, so the Council agreed to continue efforts to make sick Well Six well again. It also hired an outside contractor for sewer cleaning, agreeing to pay $35K for 3.5 miles of work. The Police Department received approval to purchase a new squad car for $33,855 less $4,000 for a trade in. The car will not be delivered until 2022. 

The Council also approved the Cemetery purchasing a hard-top cab for its mule. Supply-bid recommendations were approved. Ceres Solution was the only bidder for gas and diesel and the Council accepted both bids for tire repair. If the low bidder is busy, the City has the option of using the other bidder. The City Attorney is preparing a draft for a green-energy ordinance and I did not catch exactly what it will do but it is something IMPA wants. The Mayor was informed that he will be honored at the upcoming Chamber of Commerce dinner with the designation of Citizen of the Year. A local trucking company, AVC Environmental, will be departing Rensselaer on November 29 to travel to Maryland Maine to bring back wreaths to decorate graves for Wreaths Across America. Community members are encouraged to gather for a send-off at 8:00. AVC is located behind the Moose Lodge at 1395 McKinley Street.

As I left the meeting, I noticed samples of the new trash containers that the garbage utility is planning to provide next year.

The Council members praised the new Christmas decorations that the Electric Department was installing Monday.

On Saturday the Fire Department welcomed its new fire truck with a "push-in" ceremony. 

The new truck has a familiar Rensselaer icon on its side.

The truck has lots of dials and gauges. It takes training to be able to operate and that training has been scheduled.

A video of the ceremony was posted on Facebook. 

Last Friday Santa was coming to town. Or at least his house was.

The new restaurant that will occupy what had been Moonshiners will be Frida's Grill and Breakfast. Before it opens it needs to hire staff and many businesses in Rensselaer are also trying to hire.

I noticed that Main Street Bakery has a new sign. Perhaps it has been there for a while, but I just noticed it.

Have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving.