Staff writer
The Peabody City Council will again pay for half the cost for three additional guards at the Peabody Fourth Celebration, which will include a new event this year: a sand volleyball tournament.
“We have someone who wants to organize a tournament and we are happy to have them on board,” organizer Lisa Hodges said. “With the volleyball court right there by the park, it is a great opportunity to have some competition.”
Hodges said that most of the traditional activities will be on the schedule again.
Other events will include the horseshoe tournament, dog show, poker tournament, parade, kids’ games, the alumni dance, and a flea market. The committee wants to find a sponsor for the car show, since it has always been a popular event.
“And the carnival will be back,” she said. “They run a good clean family-oriented operation and we are glad to have them return.”
The council appointed Preston Hodges, Brian McDowell, and Eric Barnes, each to a one-day position as city employees for the pyrotechnic display at the City Park on July 4, 2013. The appointment puts the three men under the city’s insurance.
Barricades will be up in the following locations: four to be set up at Second and Locust streets, two to be set up at 60th St. and Nighthawk Rd., two to be set up at Division and Poplar streets, and two to be set up in the 300 and 400 blocks of South Locust.
In other business:
- City Administrator Shane Marler administered the oath of office to Janice Woodruff, who was absent from the previous council meeting when fellow Councilman Tom Schmidt and Mayor Larry Larsen were sworn in.
- Applications for permits to drill water wells on private property were issued to Michael Berger, 611 N. Sycamore; Jacob Brunk, 112 W. Fifth; Duke Eldridge, 311 N. Maple and 408 N. Maple. Backhaus Water Well Drilling of Ramona will drill all four wells.
- Municipal Pool manager Beth Peter reported the first swim meet will be June 6. She said the Peabody swim team mothers were sending letters to the other teams advising them on parking. It will be available by the sand volleyball pit and inside the park this year in order to eliminate congestion.
- The council agreed to look into the possibility of making the restrooms handicap-accessible. Meanwhile, the council approved renting an ADA-approved portable restroom facility, placing it at the pool, and leaving it there until after the Fourth of July, which covers both home swim meets and the July 4th celebration at the park.
- Peabody Police Chief Bruce Burke said letters for mowing violations have been sent and next week the city will begin mowing properties still in violation. The city will charge $100, plus an hourly fee to do the mowing and will bill the owner. If the bill is not paid, it will be added to the personal property taxes of the property owner.
- Animal Control Officer Duane Davis has relocated 51 cats during his first month on the job. Area farmers had requested stray cats be moved to their farms to help with rodent control.
- Kansas Emergency Management representatives in Marion increased the city’s claim for snow removal funds to $6,300. The claim will be forwarded to FEMA for review and, if approved, the funds will arrive in six weeks or so.
- Marler also announced that city attorney Norm Manley will be retiring at the end of the year and the council will be faced with the selection of another attorney.
- Marler told the council that the telephone at the swimming pool costs the city about $700 a year, even though the pool is only open for a couple of months in the summer. He said the police department has a designated cell phone that is not in use. It is an older “flip phone,” but would serve the needs of the pool staff. He will contact Verizon for permission to switch the number from the police department to the pool. It will cost only about $10 per month.
- The council went into executive session for 10 minutes with Marler and Larsen to discuss confidential data relating to financial affairs of trade secrets of corporations. No action was taken on return to public session.
- The council went into executive session for 10 minutes with Marler and Larsen to discuss non-elected personnel. No action was taken on return to public session.
The next meeting of the Peabody City Council will be at 7 p.m. June 24 in the city building.