Staff writer
Peabody City Council approved a second proposal by Wildflower Telecommunications for the installation of fiber-optic cable.
The updated proposal includes a less intrusive route through the community to bring Wildflower to the Verizon tower at Mid-Kansas Cooperative elevator. The fiber-optic installation will come in contact with fewer local utility lines, potentially preventing the need for expensive repairs.
After discussion, the council approved the new proposal with an addition that any damage to city rights of way caused by Wildflower Telecommunications be repaired.
In other business:
- Council members agreed to look into the need for an additional streetlight at the south end of the east baseball diamond on Spruce Street. Because spectators park along both sides of the street during games, council members felt the area needed additional lighting.
- City Administrator Shane Marler said Marion County Emergency Management Director Dan D’Albini had contacted the city about gathering information on costs associated with cleanup during the two recent snowstorms. Marler said D’Albini hoped to seek FEMA assistance for the cleanup.
- Marler reported that he had met with several companies about streamlining the computer systems for city hall and the police department. He said most of the representatives felt the city could save between $5,000 and $7,000 a year. He is waiting on one additional bid for service and will make a recommendation to the council at the next meeting.
- Marler said a similar issue exists with the city’s phone service and he has begun checking with other companies.
- Marler reported the city is having some problems with the dialing mechanism that triggers the storm sirens when storm spotters call in a warning. The telephone company has been notified and will fix the problem.
- Marler will attend a Community Development Block Grant workshop in Hutchinson on April 17 and 18 to begin a grant process to address the problems with the city’s aging infrastructure.
- Council members heard that the city is $25,976 under budget for the month of January, and while February’s final numbers are not complete, Marler expects the city to be under budget by a similar amount for that month. He warned, however, that March expenses will be higher than usual because of costs associated with snow removal.
- A grant application for equipment for the Peabody Fire Department has been completed and mailed.
- The council went into closed session for 15 minutes. On return to open meeting they approved a motion to add the discussion of raises for public works employees to the agenda for the next meeting.
The next meeting of Peabody City Council will be at 7 p.m. March 25 in the city building.