Booming bird cannon punctuates Peabody City Council business
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
Due to the close proximity of the city building and the latest nuisance area of roosting birds, Peabody City Council members learned first hand Monday night that the new "bird cannon" was operational.
Hundreds of birds, mostly starlings, have been roosting in groups of mature trees from behind the Christian Church at Division and Sycamore east to the homes on Maple Street. The roosting process begins just before dusk every night and creates unpleasant noise, odor, and health problems for the homeowners living near the trees.
Peabody City Council recently approved the purchase of a propane-powered "bird cannon" which emits an explosive noise when fired and scares the birds from their roost. According to information on roosting birds, they should abandon the area after a week or so of interrupted roosting.
The cannon was operational Monday evening during the council meeting, firing at timed intervals, and giving those at the meeting a first-hand introduction to the noisy solution to roosting birds. The cannon is small and portable and can be used in other areas of town as well. It will be fired just until dark for as many nights as it takes send the birds elsewhere.
Mayor Tom Schmidt and Peabody City Council members honored longtime volunteers Dave and Esther Stucky in appreciation for their efforts at city park where they have watered the park flower gardens for many years. Recently the city installed a well house to provide water to the area, but before that the Stucky's hauled water in buckets to keep the flower beds growing and blooming all summer.
The Stuckys also care for a couple of flower boxes and several garden areas downtown. They say they will continue to maintain them "for awhile."
Schmidt presented a plaque expressing the city's appreciation for Dave and Esther's service to the community.
In other business the council:
— agreed to not dismiss the grant administrator or the engineer for the sewer project until the demolition of the former sewer plant is complete. According to Jeff Benbrook, the city has withheld final payment for each. Council agreed to continue to withhold payment until the project is finished.
— reviewed the nuisance property list presented by health and safety officer Deb Buser. In discussion about the property at 807 N. Locust, it was noted that there is a financial institution that has been identified as a "party of interest." Benbrook has sent the institution a copy of all correspondence related to the property. Council approved a motion of finding to abate the nuisance and agreed to send an additional letter to have the property mowed. Since the back door is unlocked, Peabody Police Chief Jeff Pohlman agreed to contact the financial institution for permission to secure the property. Currently it is categorized as an "attractive nuisance."
— heard from Peabody Main Street director Kristen Hooper that she has arranged for Kansas State Historic Preservation officer Bob Bettis to come to Peabody Oct. 10 to review Peabody's downtown historic designation status with a group of city council, Main Street and Peabody Historical Society board members. Hooper also invited the mayor and council members to attend the state Main Street dinner and Governor's Award Program Oct. 24 in Manhattan.
— heard that Peabody public works director Darren Pickens decided against metering a sprinkler system for Westview Manor, due to the cost of such a system. At a tab of $4, 600 the city would never realize the sale of enough water to cover the expense. The system would be a "dry system," with water passing through it only in case of a fire that triggered the sprinkler system.
— heard also from Pickens that pool repair is scheduled to begin this week, the fence on the north side of the park will be installed in October, a concrete "lid" will be replaced on an obsolete storm drain near the auction warehouse on south Walnut, and that city employee Curtis Gray flushed the water lines two weeks ago and will do so again next week.
— went into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel. On return to open session, council agreed to extend the city's work agreement with Gary Markham until Dec. 31.
— heard from police chief Jeff Pohlman that officer Travis Wilson has completed his training at the Police Academy and that part-time officer Jeremy Wilkerson is in training with Sergeant Bruce Burke. In answer to a question about long-term boarding of a stray cat by Spur Ridge Veterinary Clinic, Pohlman explained that he had been trying to do the owners a favor. However the people left town and the cat was euthanised. Pohlman has been trying to get in touch with the former owners, but has had no luck. If they are found the city will bill them for the amount of the veterinarian's service.
— approved the purchase of two new lawn mowers for $15,000.
— was notified by Benbrook that Marion County Economic Development Commission has two voting member spots reserved for Peabody. Council did not appoint anyone to fill the positions. Currently Kristen Hooper is the only representative from Peabody.
— heard that evaluation procedures have begun for city personnel who are department heads. Benbrook is responsible for the evaluations and Council will conduct an executive session each month to review his reports. Each department head will then evaluate his own staff.
— declined an invitation to apply for a grant to receive a disease-resistant strain of elm trees to plant along city streets.
