At its May 18 meeting, the Claypool Town Council approved a few more streets for repairs.

At its previous meeting, the council approved several portions of a street improvement project, but tabled some sections for more clarification. Gene Warner provided some updates at the May meeting.

He said Super Seal had sealed the roads in Graceland Cemetery. The cleaning and edging had not been completed at the time of the meeting. The New Beginnings housing addition was still awaiting attention.

Additionally, Warner reported prices had gone up on some of the other street projects. The Section Street portion of the project went from an estimated $7,222 to $7,855. Clay Street jumped from $712.50 to $892. And the comprehensive Main Street project, which will overhaul the entire length of the street, went up to $2,199 for crack sealing, $1,497 to recoat a block uptown and $319 for line painting.

Both Warner and councilman Don Miller stated they had attempted to make contact with Super Seal prior to the meeting to discuss the project but were unable to get in touch with the representative before the meeting. Miller also expressed concern that the weather may be too warm, noting that most crack sealing is done in late fall or early spring.

Ultimately, the council approved coating of the uptown block of Main Street, between Section Street and Clay Street. The Section Street and Clay Street projects were tabled for more information, though the council felt it prudent to finish Section Street by year’s end, perhaps undertaking the project in the fall.

Clerk-Treasurer Connie Morgan offered some more information on cemetery management software that the town is considering purchasing. “It’s Pontem Cemetery Management Software,” she said. “Other towns have used it. Gene and I can tap into the same thing and look at the same information. This would put all the information into the software.”

Though Pontem offers a multitude of features, Morgan said the basic software would suffice for Claypool’s needs. The basic system for two users would cost $1,500 plus $337 per year for support. Morgan said for an additional $750, Pontem would digitally map the cemetery.

“When Gene and I have to go through things… it takes a moment,” explained Morgan as to why she’s recommending the software. “It’s never just ‘let me look it up.’” Morgan also said there was sufficient funds to purchase the software, should the council approve the purchase.

The council tabled the matter to do some more research. “I just want to take a look and see how it works,” said councilwoman Niki Miller.

At last month’s meeting Warner said that he’d received several inquires regarding changing due dates on water bills. During the May meeting, Morgan explained that in cases where due dates did not fall on a business day, she was printing the due date as the first business day following.

The town’s water ordinances state that water bills are to be paid on the 15th day of each month and water is to be shut off on the 16th day of the month, should a bill not be paid. The council advised that altering the due dates on bills was causing some confusion for residents, issues with water shutoff and costing the town in some late fee revenue. Morgan advised that she would no longer change due dates on water bills.