Staff writer
After many years of sending trick or treaters home at 8 p.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, Peabody City Council rescinded the long-standing curfew Monday night by unanimous vote.
By adding a conditional clause to the previous city ordinance, the council can review the ordinance annually and change the curfew hours as needed. If problems arise again with destruction and bad behavior, a curfew can be reinstated by resolution rather than by rewriting the whole ordinance.
“This will be similar to the changing hours for shooting fireworks on July 4th,” Mayor Larry Larsen said.
The curfew will be 10 p.m. for children 15 and younger unless accompanied by a parent. An 11 p.m. curfew will be in effect for 16- and 17-year olds.
The city will acquire a piece of property adjacent to the east side of the sand volleyball lots at Locust and Second sts.
Peabody Recreation Commission president Beth Peter told council members that Ron Hedrick had offered the property previously owned by his mother to the PRC for $1,000.
The PRC cannot legally own property, but is interested in acquiring the Hedrick lot. A similar issue arose when the volleyball pit lots were purchased.
The PRC transferred money for the purchase to the city. The city bought the land and designated it for recreation purposes. The recreation commission paid for the installation of the sand pit and the equipment.
Council members approved paying the asking price plus closing costs, designating the purchase for recreational use, and accepting reimbursement from the recreation commission board.
In other business:
- Council members and USD 398 Superintendent Ron Traxson reviewed a proposed transfer of two lots formerly used as a park adjacent to the grade school parking lot. The city had offered the lots to the school and the school board had accepted the offer. However, a third, smaller piece of land was attached to the legal description and neither the school nor the city knew it until the deed cleared Marion County courthouse. After discussion, city attorney Rob Lane agreed to get the tangle straightened out and the property description re-written.
- The council approved a $50 donation to the annual Marion County Toy Run.
- Council members accepted the letter of resignation presented at the last meeting by member Travis Wilson. Megan Gallucci was elected council president. Larsen will appoint a replacement for Wilson subject to approval by council members.