Staff writer
Peabody City Council accepted a bid Monday night from Middlecreek, Inc. to replace the sewer line from Second Street to Division Street between Pine and Elm streets.
The bid to replace the sewer is $19,500.
The city budgeted $60,000 for sewer replacement for 2013.
During the discussion, City Administrator Shane Marler told the council he considered having the city employees do the work themselves, using shoring borrowed from the city of Hillsboro.
However, the shoring that Hillsboro has available is not big enough to meet safety requirements for the job. He said the council should consider purchasing its own shoring when discussing the next budget. With the extensive problems facing the city’s infrastructure, he felt the expense would save money in the end.
In other business:
- Marler and Mayor Larry Larsen were appointed to serve as the city’s liaisons to the Kansas Municipal Utilities organization.
- Council members approved adoption of a municipal water conservation plan for the city. The plan was sent to the state for final approval.
- A plan for law enforcement/media relations procedures was presented. The council requested review by the city attorney and tabled a decision on accepting the plan until a future meeting.
- The council approved a $50 donation to the annual Safe Kids Camp to be held at Peabody-Burns Elementary School April 24.
- Marler reported that he had turned in the list of expenses needed by FEMA to qualify for a refund of some of the costs of snow removal. He cautioned that Marion County still has not been declared a disaster area.
- The council heard the American Legion repairs have been completed except for a cap that will be installed over the top edge of the brickwork to prevent moisture from seeping behind it again. A new sign for the Legion is being prepared and will be ready to install soon.
- Marler told council members he had created a database for the public works employees to use to keep up with issues around town such as potholes that need to be filled or limbs that need to be picked up. He encouraged council members to keep him informed of issues they would like to have addressed.
- Council, the mayor, and the city administrator went into executive session for 10 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel. No action was taken on return to open meeting.
The next meeting of Peabody City Council will be at 7 p.m. April 22 in the city building.