The Liberty City Council met in regular session yesterday.

A city police cruiser was declared surplus property and will be sold in an on line auction.

The Council has been debating water & sewer rates for over a year. Operating at a deficit, the antiquated system continues to hemorrage water and money. Bill Bartle, with the Water Department, told the Council that the current PLC system, which was upgraded in 2010, now must be converted from analog, to a digital system. The cost estimate was around $50,000. The Council voted to request bids for proposals to make the switch.

It was also reported that the city is facing a fine of $7,500 from the Division of Water Enforcement for infiltration to the sewer lines. Further bad news, half of the oxidation ditch at the sewer plant is down. That could cost another $150,000. The water treatment system is operating at 200% capacity on equipment designed to run at 50%, and there is no money for repairs (in the event of a breakdown). Currently, the city would be unable to obtain a loan to make repairs.

At the end of the a three hour meeting yesterday, there was still no proposals on the table.

Mayor Steven Brown...