The new time frame on getting Kansas City water to Dearborn has been set: sometime between April 15 and May 1.
That was the word delivered Monday night by Dearborn Mayor Marvin Landes at his city’s board of aldermen meeting.
When Kansas City’s water becomes available, Dearborn will begin using it even before a vault/master meter pit is installed. Until the vault goes in, Kansas City will use Dearborn’s individual meter readings throughout the city to get a count on the amount of water for which to bill the city.
“That will be a good deal for us because they’ll absorb all the (cost of water lost to) leaks for awhile,” Landes told the board.
Getting Kansas City’s water to Dearborn was delayed recently when it was discovered the wrong pipe had been used to run the line along the Sharp Station bridge. That pipe is now being replaced.
Landes said the specs for Dearborn’s vault are at the Kansas City water department. When the specs are approved, it will take about five weeks for the vault to be built.
“We’re looking at estimates with Kansas City laying our portion of the line for us, with us furnishing the materials,” Landes explained.
When the connection is complete, Dearborn will disconnect its current water plant and use the savings to help pay for the connection to Kansas City.
Dearborn’s payment to Kansas City for the line will run about $4,000 per month. Water usage will be in addition to that total.
In other business, the city is considering a couple of pieces of property as a location for a new park. Acquisition and development would be done with a $300,000 grant from Platte County through the county’s half cent sales tax for parks. In addition, Steve Wegner, county commissioner, was present at the meeting and told Dearborn officials the county would also offer a dollar for dollar match up to $100,000.
Landes said the city already has a private $5,000 donation.
“So now you have $10,000,” Wegner said, referring to the total after the county matches that $5,000.
“This money will help you keep a local park that you’ll have ownership of,” the commissioner said.
Aldermen later met in executive session to discuss the possible acquisition of park land, but Landes said no decisions were made.
In another matter, Wegner asked the board to endorse the county’s proposed half cent sales tax for roads. He pointed out Dearborn’s portion of the tax would be about $328,000 over the life of the tax. The tax will expire after 10 years.
The county has been conservative in estimating income from the proposed sales tax, Wegner said. Estimates do not include revenue that could come from the new Zona Rosa and Shops at Boardwalk projects currently being developed near Barry Road, he explained.
He also said the proposal would allow for about $7 million worth of road improvements to be made in the North Platte School District.
After brief discussion, the aldermen unanimously passed a resolution urging passage of the tax on April 8. In other business, the board:
•Officially passed an ordinance spelling out the new water rates that had been initially passed a few months back. The new rates take effect on the next bill. The rates will reflect an increase of 50 cents per thousand gallons used.
“If you use 10,000 gallons a month, it will cost you $5 a month more,” Landes said.
•Passed an animal control agreement with Platte County. A county animal control officer will respond to calls in Dearborn once the presence of the targeted animal has been verified by a city official. The ordinance also spells out the definition of vicious dogs, among other things.
•Tabled a zoning variance request by Donna Reed at 206 W. Third Street. Parking area is the major concern at this point, and the Reeds are to come back with a written agreement with a neighboring property owner who has verbally agreed to allow them to use parking areas on his property. The board will discuss the issue again next month.

