Culbertson council appoints Maynard Cellmer as water superintendent; engineering hired for pipeline under railroad

The Culbertson Town Council finalized leadership and advance planning steps for the town water system this year, appointing Maynard Cellmer as water superintendent and authorizing engineering work on a proposed pipeline under the railroad.

In a May 28 special meeting the mayor and council approved an appointment to the water superintendent post. That appointment was revisited in early June after the individual initially recommended, Martin Damm, reportedly declined the position. At the June 6 meeting Alderman Traeger moved, and the council approved, the appointment of Maynard Cellmer; Cellmer told the council he would be able to begin on June 13.

On Dec. 5 consultant Frank Foster presented an engineering estimate of about $13,000 to install a water pipeline under the railroad track. The council voted to hire the engineering firm Webster, Foster & Weston to provide design and related services at a fee described in the minutes as 13 percent up to $10,000 and the North Dakota rate thereafter. The clerk was instructed to advertise for bids to construct the pipe, with a target construction-start window noted in the planning documents.

The May 28 minutes record the appointment vote as "all three council men voted yes" when Martin Damm was initially approved; later minutes record that Damm refused the job and Cellmer was appointed. The May 28 entry lists a salary as "$000.00 a month plus $7.00" for additional duties; the numerical salary entry in the minutes is unclear and is recorded here as shown in the transcript. Council records indicate the clerk and mayor will process necessary forms and that Cellmer was to attend water training later in the year with the council covering part of the cost.

Next steps recorded in council minutes include finalizing engineering contracts, advertising for construction bids, and completing state approvals before construction can begin.