Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Rosston Council Sets Holiday Plans

Plans have been finalized for the Rosston Christmas party.

The Rosston City Council, at its regular monthly meeting Thursday, Dec. 2, agreed to have the party Saturday, Dec. 11 at 5:30 p.m.

Citizens of Rosston can come by and enjoy the treats available.

From there, the council will spend Saturday, Dec. 18, working to put food baskets for the needy together, with the baskets distributed the week of Dec. 20.

Members of the council will meet at City Hall at 12:30 p.m. on the 18th to put the baskets together.

Rosston Mayor Lewis Jackson said the food baskets went over well last year, with the recipients happy to get them.

In other business the council was informed about a local woman wanting to sell a small parcel of land to the city.

Jackson said the property has been appraised, but the appraiser hasn't reported back with a value yet. He added less than an acre is involved so it shouldn't cost too much.

On the topic of non-residents purchasing water from the city, Jackson gave the panel a choice of continuing the practice or stopping cold turkey.

He said a meter is in place at the well so the amount sold can be measured accurately.

Either Jackson or water superintendent J.D. Luck is present when the water is being obtained and take beginning and ending readings.

In most cases Jackson said, the person buying the water pays more than they owe.

The water is being sold, he said, because many area residents's had their wells go dry during the summer drought, which has continued through the fall.

"I see no reason not to sell them water," he said.

Edna Kelly, a member of the council, said there was no way to keep up with how much water people were getting. The same argument she raised last month.

Again, Jackson told the amount people get is metered, and either he or Luck must be present as they have the tools needed to turn the water on.

Those whose wells have gone dry, he said, are undergoing an emergency situation and need water.

The money paid by those buying the water goes into the water department's budget.

Water samples are taken monthly at the meter to insure there are no problems, but, Jackson said, the city isn't liable after the water is put in other containers.

In addition, he and Luck keep receipts on the water being sold in this manner.

The council agreed to continue with the practice.

The final order of business was to pass a budget for the year 2000.

Overall, the city has anticipated revenues of $32,193.95.

Before the meeting ended, Jackson told the group the city's new firetruck still hasn't arrived.