Staff writer
Peabody City Administrator Mac Manning presented Peabody City Council on Monday with a final list of streetlights to be removed from various alleys in the community.
“Of the 18 streetlights originally singled out for removal, we had requests to leave four of them in place,” he said.
At the request of council member Janice Woodruff, the governing body tabulated the number of streetlights installed at alley entrances and found the city could save about $2,400 a year if they were removed.
The lights were listed in the city newsletter that accompanies the monthly water bill to give community members a chance to voice opposition.
Streetlights in the downtown area, on Second Street from Walnut to the park, and those around churches, schools, and elderly facilities will remain in place.
Monday evening the council approved the removal of the 14 fixtures that generated no support from the community.
The council also agreed to add a streetlight at the east baseball diamond.
Manning will contact Westar Energy to get the project done.
In other business:
- Manning presented requests from the police department and public works for new desktop computers. The department heads do not feel the older models they are using support various files and records they are required to use and keep. The council approved the purchase of two computers from Advanced Computers of Haysville for $1,369 each. Council member Pam Lamborn voted against the purchase.
- Manning announced that he had been working with the Planning and Zoning Committee reviewing city ordinances and putting many of the older ones into PDF files.
- The council approved a request by Police Chief Bruce Burke to send Municipal Court Clerk Jan O’Neal to Kansas Bureau of Investigation training sessions on criminal history records and incident-based reporting systems. Cost of the training will be paid from the police department’s diversion fund.
- Burke also received permission to purchase a new laptop computer, bag, mouse, and software for $1,299 from the diversion fund.
- The council heard that public works employees repaired a water leak on the lot at Second and Walnut streets Friday night.
- Council members went into executive session twice. One session was to enter preliminary discussion on the acquisition of real property and the other was to discuss personnel matters. After returning to open session, the council took no action on either issue.
The next Peabody City Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. March 12 in the city building.