At Monday’s meeting of the Ellsworth City Council, approval was given to a $48,083.35 bid from City Plumbing to complete the Evans Street sewer extension and to use TIF (Tax Increment Financing) funding to finance the project.

Clint Freeman, who is looking to start Freeman’s Car Wash, said one thing for the council to consider is the money that is not currently being spent in Ellsworth because there is no car wash in town.

“Not only are people leaving Ellsworth to get their car washed, they get groceries, go to restaurants and so on and so forth because they don’t have a car wash,” Freeman said.

“We definitely need a car wash,” said council member Tyler Renard.

The car wash is in the TIF District and would help pay for the project.

Stacy Schmidt of the Ellsworth County Economic Development, said the project would turn raw land into developed land and that Freeman is simply closing a gap that now exists in the community.

Patrick Hoffman, city attorney, said the project fits the text-book definition of infrastructure spending.

“When we enlarged the TIF District, this type of an extension was planned for,” he said.

In other business:

• Ellsworth resident Mary Ann Heard asked for a remedy on her monthly water bill. She has to pay a $10 late fee at least five times a year because sometimes she gets her paycheck late and misses the deadline.

Mayor Mark Kennedy said without completely revamping the city’s billing and payment system, he didn’t know that anything could be done.

“I’m sorry about that,” he said.

• The council tabled further consideration of a proposal to a install a slab of concrete near Caseys General Store until more information can be learned.

“I’d like to hear from Caseys,” Hoffman said.

“There needs to be some communication between us and them,” Kennedy said.

• Approval was given to have Maico Industries replace a pedestrian bridge at the Ellsworth Junior-Senior High School on the south end of the low field. The work is not to exceed $4,000.

• A $46,327.75 bid from Circle C Paving of Goddard was approved for the chipping and sealing of city streets.

• A $2,500 bid from Shep’s Painting of Ellsworth was approved to paint the ballfield concession stand. The city will provide the materials.

• A $15,650 bid from Yost Electric of Gorham to repair the Alco Lift Station was approved.

• Further consideration of the wiring of the new city shop by Harrison Electric of Claflin was tabled until the project can be reevaluated.

• An expenditure not to exceed $1,400 was approved for the purchase of a new desktop computer for the Ellsworth Police Department.

• Approval was given to a request by Bob Kepka, Ellsworth fire chief, to apply for a cost-share grant to purchase wildland jackets for his firefighters at a cost of $5,800.50. Kepka said the jackets are lighter in summer.

• Approval was given to sell the city’s old vacuum truck and trailer as surplus property on Purple Wave.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth City Council will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 9, at city hall.

"Not only are people leaving Ellsworth to get their car washed, they get groceries, go to restaurants and so on and so forth because they don’t have a car wash."

Clint Freeman

Ellsworth businessman