City council agrees to pay final bill on water plant
Florence City Council members voted unanimously Monday evening to make the final payment to J&N Elliott Construction for the company's work on the new water plant.
Payment had been withheld pending repairs to the clear well deck and a warranty extension to cover the corrected areas of construction.
Danny Morris of SKEDD was present to find out from the council when the final payment would be made.
"The state certainly understands your reluctance to make the payment," said Morris. "This project has been in the works for so long the city certainly deserves to be satisfied with the product it has gotten."
Morris said the city could be penalized for the delinquent payment in accordance with state policy. State officials take a dim view of late payments no matter what the reason, according to Morris.
"While we certainly understand your position, it (the late payment) may prevent you from getting grant money for five years," said Morris.
Council also tabled a decision on signing any agreement with Kansas Department of Transportation until a decision is made about what landscaping and reclamation process the state intends to implement at the roundabout.
"We need to find out just what they plan to do about reseeding the areas they will be using," said councilman Randy Mills. "I know they plan to do landscaping in the middle of the roundabout, but what about the other areas around it that are within their construction limits?
"Will they replant those areas after they are done? They've given us no indication of what their construction limits are. I don't want the city of Florence suddenly faced with the cost of reseeding those adjacent areas," he added.
Lehman will contact city attorney Marilyn Wilder for specific information on those areas and report back to council members.
In other business the council:
— announced it will convene a meeting of the standards board at 5:30 p.m. before the next council meeting on March 7.
— reviewed a financial report by city treasurer Mary Jane Grimmett.
— approved Larry Weber's appointment to the fire department. Council also approved the fire department's request for help from community service workers and expenditures for supplies and equipment.
— heard from Sarah Cope that Florence Planning Commission is interested in moving ahead with zoning for the city. After discussion council asked that commission members tentatively create a zoning map and get together with council members to discuss related ordinances.
— heard from acting police chief Erik King the police car soon will need to have its engine replaced. Council approved acceptance of a bid from Webster Auto Service in Marion for $4,419.50 for the work.
— heard a report on the county economic development position proposed by Marion County Commission.
— voted unanimously not to renew its contract with Rick Burcky for the city's web site. Council instructed Mayor John Lehman to contact Burcky for a more complete description of services and more information about what the web service includes. Council will review the information at its March 7 meeting and revisit its decision at that time.
— tabled discussion of a cell phone plan, purchase of a used chlorinator unit, a decision on a driveway on Fred Rhodes' property, repair of a Grasshopper mower, a decision on city crews mowing the dike, and a final review of the animal and housing authority ordinances.
— went into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel. No action was taken on return to open meeting.
— agreed to send city clerk Darla Gore to clerks' spring conference March 8-11 in Wichita.
— approved the use of the ambulance building for a meeting place for Florence Chamber of Commerce at noon on the first Thursday of the month providing the ambulance crew does not have something scheduled at that time.
