Staff writer
Peabody City Council members might have broken a record for the speed at which they attacked a handful of city issues Monday night and headed home in just under one hour from the 7 p.m. starting time. The light agenda was mostly made up of reports that required no action and little discussion.
- The council approved a $7,650 contract with Knudsen Monroe and Company to audit 2014 city expenditures and income. The audit will begin on Jan. 16, 2015.
- Councilman Steve Rose told council members the Fourth Fire District would pay additional charges from Blue Valley Public Safety, Inc. for repair of the radio/siren system at the fire department. A new power supply and microphone were needed to complete upgrades to the system. The company also cautioned the city that the system’s interface box has likely been hit by lightning at some point and is not functioning at top capacity. It will need to be replaced in the future and will cost about $4,000. City Clerk Stephanie Ax was instructed to contact the city’s insurance carrier about a possible claim.
- A communication from the Kansas League of Municipalities indicated an error in the Standard Traffic Ordinance publication, approved each August in its entirety by Peabody City Council. Unsure of whether or not correction of the error would mean bearing the cost of a large legal publication in the newspaper, the council asked Ax request a legal opinion from City Attorney Rob Lane about how the city should correct the error.
- Ax told the council that Peabody Veterinarian Clinic owner, Virginia Skinner, renewed a permit for demolition of the former vet clinic on the northwest corner of Second and Vine Sts. A demolition permit/renewal is good for a year and costs $25.
- A $250 donation to the Peabody Main Street Association Shopping Spree was approved for prize money for the annual Christmas shopping promotion.
- Council members expressed satisfaction with the street work done in the 700 and 800 blocks of N. Olive St. by the Vogts-Parga Company. The concrete curb and apron replacement is complete and the company should soon be finished re-laying the street bricks. Ax was asked to contact Waste Connections and talk with their representative about the trash trucks driving so close to the edge of city streets and damaging the asphalt, brick, and concrete curbs at the edge.
- Department heads will meet with council members Bob Knapp and Tim Peterson at 6 p.m. Dec. 2 in the council room to begin reviewing budget concerns for the end of 2014 and department budgets for 2015.