The Webster City City Council held a special session Tuesday night to discuss the Capital Equipment Program and the proposed Capital Improvement Plan. City Manager Ed Sadler said that the forecast for the city's financial situation was very bright.

"You're going to come in with a balanced budget and you'll be able to reduce tax asking by about 2 percent," Sadler told the council. Sadler also said that the city's budget would not feel the current recession until later down the road.

"Because we are funded through property taxes the recession hits us later than it hits everybody else. At the same time, because it hits us later, we come out of it after everybody else does," said Sadler.

Sadler told the council that the water treatment plant is in need of attention.

"The water plant is 30 years old. We haven't put enough funds away to properly care for it. The control panels are outdated and the piping doesn't last forever," lamented Sadler.

Sadler also spoke about how the waste water treatment plant is been over-worked.

"The waste water plant is treating two to three times more water than the water plant is pumping out. There are some days when the waste water plant is at capacity," said Sadler. "The reason we have this disparity between the water we treat and the water we pump is because of sump pumps."

Sadler explained that the water from sump pumps does not need to be treated but that it gets mixed in with the waste water that does. He added that he was unaware of any storm water pipe that leads into a waste water pipe.

"I believe we're completely segregated," said Sadler, referring to the separation between storm water and waste water pipes.

Sadler informed the council about what the Airport Commission is doing and what they're plans are for the future.

"A lot of what's being done now is steps to expand the runway. There is no sense in funding the early work they're doing now if you don't want to expand the runway," said Sadler, who added that he believed the runway expansion was five years or more into the future.

Sadler spoke about the possibility of building a new water park in Webster City.

"I think we still have life in our current water park (pool). Everyone and their dog is building a water park and they're all cutting each other's throats trying to attract visitors," remarked Sadler, referring to the water parks recently built in neighboring towns such as Fort Dodge, Eagle Grove and Iowa Falls.

Other issues relating to the water park surfaced, such as whether to buy another large umbrella for the pool.

Councilwoman Janet Adams expressed her desire to purchase the umbrella.

"I think it's a health issue for the kids. I've heard doctors say that kids need some place at the pool where they can get out of the sun for a few minutes," said Adams.

Another issue brought up was the possibility of improving the curb and gutters on the Boulevard of Valor on Des Moines Street. Adams said that the Pride Committee and the American Legion would like to make the boulevard more pedestrian friendly by installing a walk-way. Adams said that the Pride Committee is waiting to see if the city is planning to refurbish the curb and gutter before the committee spends any money.

The topic of whether or not to continue sweeping the streets also came up. Lanny Bauer, the Street Department Supervisor, said that the street-sweeper is used to clean the downtown area every other Friday over the summer and then is used every working day from mid-September until December. Sadler said that there is a connection between the cleanliness of the streets and the cleanliness of the storm sewer.

"If we don't sweep debris off the streets then guess where it ends up?" said Sadler. "I expect the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to come knocking on your door in five years about our storm sewers."

Mayor Eugene Gray was absent. Gray did not attend the two most recent city council meetings on Dec. 15 and Jan. 5.

Gray is also Webster City's representative to the Hamilton County Solid Waste Commission, which is scheduled to meet tonight at 7 p.m. Councilman Mark Gillette, who is also the mayor pro-tem, informed the council that Gray will be unable to attend the commission's meeting and offered to go in his place.