Access to Florence burn pit will be reduced
In a desperation move aimed at trying to maintain a burn pit for citizens who need the service, but to penalize those who abuse it, the Florence City Council agreed Monday to consider a proposal from city workers limiting citizen access to the area.
The city has been operating under a "key-check" system for several months. The burn pit remains locked and the key is kept at the city building. In order to dump limbs and grass clippings, an individual must check out the key from the city clerk.
"We are still having problems," said city superintendent, Stuart Funk. "We just don't have the manpower to stop whatever we are doing and supervise people unloading debris at the dump. And it is the people with a key who are causing the problem."
Funk noted that KDHE has threatened to close the dump if the city can't control the illegal activity.
Funk's proposal would keep the dump locked except for a scheduled two-hour time span once a week. Either Funk or city employee Rick Burcky would open it and stay on the premises to supervise those using it during the two-hour period.
The council tentatively approved the plan. Funk will return with a suggested day and time that would serve the most people and fit the city worker's schedule.
The council heard from Larry Kleeman about the financing for the city building. It was the recommendation of Kleeman and financial consultant Dave Shupe that the Cottonwood Valley Bank handle the lease/purchase arrangement under a seven-year contract with an early pay-off option and an annual payment plan. The city will control the funds.
The council voted unanimously to enter into the agreement with the Cottonwood Valley Bank.
In other business, the council voted to add a brick facade to the front of the new city building, matching the brick on the ambulance building as closely as possible; approved the hiring of Nicki and Ramie Bina as pool managers at the same salary as last summer; and voted to hire Ken Hoffman as a third city worker effective May 1 at a starting salary of $8.25 per hour.
Roger Johnson was present again to discuss his dissatisfaction with the way the city proceeded with the decision to build a new city building rather than remodel the old one. Johnson was one of the contractors who bid on the remodeling job. No action was taken following discussion between Johnson and the council.
Jim Baldwin reviewed a bid he had submitted for work on the former school buildings to secure them in an effort to keep people out and reduce vandalism of the property. The buildings are owned by an absentee owner. The council agreed to seek a legal opinion before authorizing any work on the buildings.
The council approved a proposal by the city clerk Ann Brenzikofer to require that utility payments be made in cash or with a money order if a customer issues more than one check to the city which is returned for insufficient funds.
