Staff writer
At the final Peabody City Council meeting of 2011, on Dec. 27, Mayor Larry Larsen announced that Tim Peterson had agreed to return to the council and complete the unexpired term of David Scott, who left Peabody in November. Scott was elected in April of 2011.
Peterson is no stranger to the job of councilman, having served nearly a full term before taking a job with Marion County emergency dispatch in 2008. Because the hours he served at night conflicted with meeting times for the council, he resigned Aug. 27, 2008, and was replaced by Tom Schmidt. Peterson was seven months shy of completing his term.
Larsen said Peterson’s decision to go into the restaurant business and purchase the Korner Kitchen from Sharon Oursler made him a good candidate for the City Council.
“As a businessman downtown who formerly held a City Council position, Tim will be a good fit for the challenges we are facing in our community,” he said after his announcement.
Larsen also told the council that another new business owner had agreed to join the Peabody Planning and Zoning board. Linda Martinez of Manestreet Beautique will take one of the vacant positions that Larsen has been trying to fill.
In other business:
- An ordinance to revise the city limits for the City of Peabody due to the sale of the industrial park was approved.
- Police Chief Bruce Burke reported on the Dec. 8 countywide Emergency Planning Committee meeting and requested that someone from the council or a city employee also attend in the future. Peabody needs additional representation to qualify for Federal Emergency Management Agency funds in the event of a disaster.
- After an executive session with Burke, the council approved the appointment of Bruce Jantz as municipal court judge with salary to be determined later.
- The council also voted after executive session to allow Burke and City Administrator Mac Manning to fill the full-time/part-time police position as they see fit.
- The council approved a $50 donation to the HUB for the annual New Year’s Eve party. The donation will be in the form of Peabody Bucks.
- The renewal of Mendoza’s cereal malt beverage license for 2012 was approved.
- A decision on the removal of several streetlights at alley entrances around the community was tabled again to give council members more time to review the list of extra streetlights.
- The council approved carry-over vacation time for Manning, Stephanie Ax, Burke, and Justin Weerts.
- The council reviewed several letters from individuals concerning housing violations but took no action. Two individuals who had scheduled an appearance before the council did not show up.
The next council meeting will be 7 p.m. Monday in the city building.