Staff writer
At the beginning of the Peabody City Council meeting Monday night, Mayor Larry Larsen read a letter of resignation from council member David Scott.
Scott, who served as administrator of Peabody Care Center (formerly Legacy Park), is leaving that position and moving back to Topeka where his family lives.
The council accepted the resignation and instructed City Administrator Mac Manning to write a letter of appreciation to Scott for his many contributions to the community.
“It is very seldom you find someone who doesn’t even live in the community who is as generous with his time and talents as David Scott,” said fellow council member Tom Schmidt. “He was willing to serve on this board, on several boards, really, for his adopted community. He was a thoughtful and patient man who brought his life skills and business experience to help where he was needed.
“He will be missed.”
Larsen appointed Scott to the council in January of 2010 to fill the unexpired term of Jim Philpott.
When that term ended this past spring, Scott ran again and received the highest number of votes among the six candidates vying for three city council positions.
It is the responsibility of the mayor to appoint a replacement for Scott’s council seat.
In other business:
- After considerable discussion, the council voted to postpone the purchase of a new police car until 2013 because of budget constraints and general economic conditions. However, since the money has already been budgeted for 2012, the council will be able to go ahead with the purchase of a vehicle if a major repair to the 2005 police car should make it more sensible to do so.
- The council approved a $50 donation to the Marion County Toy Run.
- An application from USD 398 to drill a well to water the football practice field was approved.
- Beth Peter, representing Peabody-Burns Recreation Commission reported the recreation commission is considering concrete dugouts for the baseball field at the park and wanted council input on what kind of materials to use. After discussion, council members recommended the commission reject any material that would cut down airflow and invest instead in fencing with woven material for shade. They also suggested a raised concrete floor.
- Municipal court training was approved for court clerk Jan O’Neil at a cost of $90.
- Council approved the purchase of a metal bench for the police department interrogation room and the installation of interior deadbolt locks for the station doors. Funds for both will come from the department diversion fund.
- Police Chief Bruce Burke announced the resignation, effective immediately, of municipal court judge, Bryson Mills. Mills served as judge for most cities in Marion County and Burke is trying to coordinate a similar job description for a new judge to keep court expenses down.
- The council approved police policy updates as mandated by the state of Kansas for the domestic violence policy and the racial and bias-based policing policy.
- Burke requested a 25-minute executive session to discuss personnel. No action was taken on return to open meeting.
- Manning announced that Marion County Road and Bridge Department began work on Peabody Street Monday and that APAC will be in town this week to finish some patching work.
- The city received two applications for animal control officer.
The next council meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Nov. 14.