Auditor says city bookkeeping in good shape
The sewer, however, is not
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
Peabody City Council heard Monday night that Knudson and Monroe gave the city a clean bill of health on its finances and bookkeeping.
Dale Clark was present to review his company's audit procedures and present his annual report.
"The audit went very well," said Clark. "The city has good records, the process flowed well, and we had good assistance from your staff."
Council members were hit with a potentially expensive sewer replacement job from Third to Eighth Street between Plum and Locust streets. At least one block of the city sewer has completely collapsed, with two others showing severe breaks and structural damage.
"Ideally, we would like to repair all five blocks," said public works director Darren Pickens. "But I don't know how far the money will stretch. Middlecreek Corporation is working up some figures for us so we will know what kind of expense this is going to be."
City administrator Jeff Benbrook noted the sewer repair fund has about $40,000 available.
Whether that will be enough is yet to be seen," he said. "And that will totally deplete the fund. If it happens again somewhere else there is no more repair money available."
Council approved the expenditure, authorizing repair of the block with the most damage. Additional repairs will be made between Third and Eighth streets as long as funds are available.
New health and safety officer Tammy Whiteside made her first presentation to council members. Whiteside presented information about a dozen properties that earned the nuisance property designation for violation of city ordinances.
From grass mowing violations to an inhabited structure that is a danger to the residents living there, the council reviewed the properties and procedures Whiteside will use.
"I think it will be pretty easy to take care of some of these properties," said Whiteside. "Some of the others are going to be a long process."
Council members discussed protocol for Whiteside's job and Benbrook reviewed the steps required to abate a nuisance either by repair or demolition.
In other business, the council:
— heard that Integrated Solutions Incorporated will be at the former sewer plant July 12 to remove the final load of mercury-tainted dirt and debris. The contaminated soil will be accepted by a regional landfill rather than be shipped to Louisiana.
— discussed National Incident Management Training for council members, city department heads, and emergency personnel. The training is intended to help communities have people in place who can respond properly in case of a disaster. Instruction and testing for several levels is available online. Other levels may be offered in Marion or Harvey County next winter. The training is not required, but is "highly recommended" for members of city governments and emergency services.
— heard reviews of budget items that will require council attention when they begin budget work meetings in July. According to Benbrook all insurance premiums, commodities used by the city (office supplies, fuel, etc.), and services (phone, gas, etc.) will go up five to 15 percent across the board. He warned council members that for the first time in 10 years it may be necessary for them to "bite the bullet" and raise the mill levy.
— approved the design for a new police patch and approved use of the city logo for letterhead stationery for Peabody economic development committee.
— heard from the light committee that lights are needed in several areas of city park, at the ends of a dozen alleys, and on Newell Road between Peabody Sausage House and Middlecreek Corporation equipment yard. Some will be available from Westar, but a formal proposal needs to be made to the utility company. Police chief Bruce Burke, Pickens, and city councilmen Mitch Cunningham and Tim Peterson will create a proposal and present it at a future meeting.
— heard from Pickens the sewer pump had been repaired and was back online at the lift station.
— selected "Toggle Teal" as the new color for the city water tower. The color was selected from samples available from the company that will do the painting, Cunningham Painting and Sand Blasting.
— tabled until a future meeting any decision on purchasing six shrubs for city park to replace the ones that died due to the late freeze. Agreed that city employees would water four new trees.
— approved registration fees to send Peabody Main Street director Kristen Hooper to a grant writing workshop.
— went into executive session to discuss the acquisition of property. No action was taken on return to open meeting.
