Staff writer
In a general discussion of July Fourth activities, Peabody Mayor Larry Larsen, City Council members, and City Administrator Mac Manning made comments about the celebration along with some suggestions for changes in the future.
“Parking around Poplar and Division was a problem this year,” Manning said. “I think we need to sit down with the Chief of Police and make an effort to create a one-way traffic pattern in the future. Once the sides of the streets were full of parked cars, two-way traffic couldn’t proceed and long strings of cars were left trying to back up to take another route.”
Manning also noted that there is not a great deal of crowd control at the park during the day.
“We had some young men who decided the picnic tables in one shelter house would make good skate board ramps,” he said. “We were able to stop them before they did any actual skating.”
He said there were some minor arguments about the use of shelter houses and some complaints about members of the Fourth Fest Committee allegedly having beer in the park after the fireworks show.
“There probably needs to be a system in place for scheduled use of the shelter house facilities,” he said. “And if we are going to have a sign that states ‘no alcohol in the park’ then that probably needs to be enforced for everyone, not just the guy bringing in a cooler with a six-pack in it.”
Council member Pam Lamborn relayed a complaint about the parade turning west on Second Street rather than going down Walnut Street to First Street.
The municipal pool had 253 swimmers during the day. Peabody-Burns Recreation Commission sponsored a free swim day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Generally the council and city employees thought the celebration was well attended and a huge success.
“Considering the number of people we had, it was really uneventful as far as problems go,” said Larsen.
In other business:
- Manning said Jim Ralston of APAC will get the schedule for work to be done on the south end of Locust to the city office early next week. Council member Tom Schmidt requested the city contact all residents who will be affected before paving begins and help them find alternate routes to and from their homes.
- Marilyn Jones of Peabody Historical Society addressed the council with questions about a celebration the group would like to have Sept. 29 to commemorate the park being placed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Jones was invited to meet with Public Works Director Darren Pickens, park volunteer group Partners of Peabody Parks, and the city’s park and pool committee.
- Peabody Economic Development Director and Main Street Director Shane Marler told the council that he has finished paperwork involved in seeking bids for roof repair work on the Baker buildings. He also told the council that members of a Kansas Main Street team had been here to work on design assistance for the Baker buildings.
- Marler said Peabody Main Street will be reviewing nominations for the governor’s awards at a meeting this week.
The next council meeting will be at 7 p.m. July 30 in Peabody City Building.