Staff writer
Peabody City Council officially closed six streets and four alleys Monday evening by approving Ordinance 2013-0429 “Providing for certain street and alley closings in the city of Peabody.”
The topic has been worked on in the city Planning and Zoning Committee for some time.
“At some point in the past few years it was discovered that the driveway to Rex Watson’s house southeast of town is actually Potter Road,” said City Administrator Shane Marler. “When the committee was addressing that issue, they found that over the years there were several other streets and alleys that had been closed on the city map, but never noted in the City Ordinances. What this ordinance will do is spell out what is already on the map. We aren’t vacating anything new, we are just making streets and alleys already vacated part of the legal description.”
Marler also noted that the ordinance reserves the right to a utility easement in all of the vacated streets and alleys.
The streets vacated are Potter Road, from the north line of 60th Street to end of the street dedication; Chestnut Street, between 8th and 9th streets and between 9th Street and U.S. 50; Vine Street, between 1st and Central streets; Central Street, between Rock Island Railroad and Santa Fe Railroad; and from the north point of Potter Road east to the Locust Street right of way.
The alleys vacated are between Alley Sycamore and Maple streets, running south from Santa Fe Railroad to Central Street; Locust and Poplar streets, running north from 3rd Street to 4th Street: All being block 68; Plum and Locust streets, running north from 8th Street to 9th Street; Elm and Pine streets, running north from 7th Street to 8th Street.
In other business:
- The council noted that the final annual payment of $22,148 was made this month on the Police/Public Works building on 9th Street.
- The council tabled a decision to change its IT service from Konica Minolta to Heartland Technologies in Newton. The initial advance fee for 20 hours of technician service has been paid to Konica Minolta, with only a few hours used so far in 2013. Marler will contact them to see if arrangements can be made to refund the balance. Switching to Heartland would save a considerable amount of money.
- Dinah Richmond, president of the Peabody Senior Center board, was present to request a water pressure check at the center to determine why their commercial dishwasher is not getting the dishes clean. Public Works Director Darren Pickens said the check would be made this week.
- Pickens reported the city’s two John Deere mowers need repairs to steering boxes and hydraulic cylinders and the cost will be $2500. Pickens said he had the money in his budget to cover the repairs. Council members approved the expenditure.
- The council also approved the purchase of a new pool vacuum at a cost of $2,056.
- Pickens requested a 10-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel. No action was taken when they returned to public meeting.
- Peabody Police Chief Bruce Burke requested a 15-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel. On return to public meeting, council members approved Burke’s recommendation to appoint Duane Davis to the position of Animal Control Officer. Davis will begin work May 1.
- Burke also informed the council that he and his officers would begin logging the mowing violations in the city and sending letters to residents who do not comply with the ordinance.
- Marler announced he had met with department heads to begin the budget process for the 2014 budget. He noted the aim will once again be to keep taxes at the same level or lower them.
- Mayor Larry Larsen told the council he had appointed Rick and Hope Reynolds and Jylle Wilson to positions on the Planning and Zoning board.
- The council went into executive session for 15 minutes to discuss confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade. There was no action taken on return to open session.
- Larsen had to leave the meeting for an ambulance call and a scheduled executive session to discuss non-elected personnel during his report was cancelled due to his absence.
- Beth Peter presented a pool report. The council approved her recommendation to open for the season on May 26 and end the season on August 9. Usage fees will not increase. The pool will be closed on Saturdays because that is traditionally the day with the fewest swimmers.