Staff writer
In past years, Peabody has restricted discharge of fireworks to July 1 through midnight July 4. Since July 4 is on a Sunday this year, fireworks will be allowed July 5 as well.
Peabody City Council changed the ordinance June 14, but the decision was not unanimous. Councilmen Steve Rose and Tom Schmidt opposed.
Fireworks can be discharged from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. July 1, 2, and 3. On the Fourth of July, the city allows them to be discharged from 8 a.m. until midnight. On July 5, fireworks can be shot from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.
For more information contact the city building at (620) 983-2174.
Another ordinance will change when the city approves standard traffic ordinances in August. After complaints from residents in the park, pool, and volleyball pit area, council members discussed lowering the speed limit in those play areas.
The council ordered Peabody Police Chief Bruce Burke to write an ordinance lowering the speed limit from 30 mph to 20 mph from Third Street south on Locust Street to the stop sign in front of the park gates. A second area with a lowered speed limit will be from the bridge on South Locust Street, north to the curve that becomes Second Street and east to the railroad tracks.
The city will order new speed limit signs indicating a play area and get them installed after the ordinance passes.
In other business:
- Jim Rippe asked whether the city would consider putting recycling carts in the parks along with regular trash carts. Manning will discuss it with Stutzman Refuse Service.
- Council members approved a resolution to allow Marvin Schmidt until July 14 to abate a nuisance at his residence at 509 N. Locust. After that date the city will abate the nuisance and charge the cost to Schmidt. Issues at the property include derelict vehicles, piles of building material, and a camping trailer intruding on the right of way of an alley.
- Shane Marler gave a report on Peabody Main Street and Peabody Economic Development. Operation Celebration logged more than 1,200 volunteer hours and made a profit for the Main Street group despite a smaller crowd and some weather problems. A memorandum of agreement with the state Main Street program was submitted. Marler updated July Fourth information on the city’s website and printed posters.
- Marler told the council he was in Kansas City June 11 to meet with the developer who bought the Baker buildings and see some of the renovated properties his company has completed.
- City council members and administrator Mac Manning went into a 15-minute executive session with Marler to discuss what were termed trade secrets of a proprietorship. No action was taken on return to open meeting.
- Health and safety officer Tammy Whiteside reviewed a list of properties with mowing violations. Council members also agreed to begin action on several nuisance properties.
- Manning reported he ordered large roll-off trash containers from Stutzman Refuse Service to help facilitate the flood cleanup by residents in the 100 block of North Maple Street and the 100 block of South Olive Street. He also reported the houses that were flooded do not need an inspection before the residents move back in. There is no ordinance governing an inspection process.
- Manning reported that new signs were in for the new city shop and police department, that a new filter for the swimming pool broke June 12, that the city is waiting on a part so the pool is closed temporarily, and that the finance and ordinance committee would conduct a budget meeting at 7 p.m. June 23.
- Councilman David Scott asked the council to consider forming an additional standing committee to review personnel requirements. Scott gave council members an outline of the committee’s mission. He said the council could do a better job of managing employees. Council members approved formation of a committee to study the issue.