Market to get improvements

By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Peabody Market may get a facelift along with safety improvements.

Owner Michael Crow told city council members Monday that he’d like to add light fixtures and decorated metal awnings over paintings with historic themes outside the building.

“I’ve got to go to the high school and talk to the art teacher about the paintings,” Crow said.

Crow also asked the city to repair paving bricks in the sidewalk and potholes where the parking lot meets Elm and Walnut Sts.

Crow said he wanted to take care of any safety issues such as an overgrown tree, uneven curbs and paving bricks, and potholes.

“We’re willing to volunteer on the brick pavers,” Crow said. “I think the bricks are an esthetics thing and they are part of the history.”

Council members were clearly pleased to hear Crow’s plan.

Mayor Larry Larsen said the work would be both beautification and safety improvement. Larsen said he had been concerned about safety of downtown sidewalks.

“I would like to see us move forward on safety issues,” Larsen said.

Crow said it would be nice to have the project done before winter.

In other business, council members reviewed the city’s proposed 2018 budget and made tweaks to reduce the tax increase proposed. They also listened to Russell Groves of the county economic development corporation recommend they consider who to nominate for its board of directors in early October.

The proposed total budget is estimated at 87.9 mills, up from 86.3 mills in 2017. A budget hearing will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 14 at the city office.