City council hears update for July celebration
Brian McDowell of the Peabody Fourth Fest Society addressed the Peabody City Council Monday night about the upcoming celebration.
To ease some technicalities on McDowell's ability to purchase fireworks for the annual event, the city agreed to make him a city employee for Fourth of July. There will be no liability to city for the day-long employee designation and no wages will be paid.
McDowell also informed the council that the alumni association would like to hold a street dance for underage alumni this year. Both the regular alumni celebration and the street dance will be held July 3.
The council voted to block Walnut Street from First to Second and station a police officer at the door of the American Legion to make sure alcohol is not brought outside to the street dance. The street will be blocked from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
As a notice to the council about future July Fourth celebrations, McDowell noted the set pieces the committee builds currently are stored in the park "roundhouse." As the celebration has grown and more set pieces have been added, space available for storage has gotten tighter.
McDowell thinks the Fourth Fest Society will need to come to the council in the near future with plans for a separate storage facility in that area of the park.
The council met with Police Chief Jeff Pohlman, who updated members on officers' activities during the last month. The council approved schooling for part-time officer Kenneth Dziewulski.
Pohlman told the council that Jim Philpott started working May 1 as a full-time officer.
Pohlman reported there is a problem with parking at the Peabody Medical Clinic on West Fourth. Clinic patients often are unable to park in front of the clinic because the spaces are taken by employees and visitors to Legacy Park.
After discussion, the council agreed to install signs in front of the clinic indicating "Clinic Parking Only."
Pohlman also informed the council that the police department is renewing its efforts to remove inoperable vehicles from the community. Pohlman said the department would make an effort to publicize the warning on the community channel, in the water bill newsletter, and in the newspaper.
Mayor Randy Dallke made appointments for all city positions from municipal judge to the council's standing committees. The only changes from last year's appointments was confirmation of Debra Buser as Health and Safety Officer and the appointment of Gene Schmill as president of the council.
City Clerk Cindy Harms presented members with a spread sheet to assist in preparation for determining next year's budget. The spread sheet included the 2003 budget history and proposals for the 2004 fiscal year. The council will begin addressing budget concerns at the May 27 meeting.
The council also:
— conducted a 15-minute executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel and took no action upon returning to open session.
— agreed to review the original nuisance property complaint for 411 N. Maple. It was noted that the certified letter had been sent to the owners and the yard had been mowed, but no cleanup had been done.
— agreed to contact Inland Paving for bid confirmation and to request that representatives attend a future meeting to review a five-year plan for street maintenance.
— heard that technical assistants had been in the city office to examine the billing software. If the problems cannot be fixed, the city will look into acquiring new software.
— discussed with engineer Al Reiss the position of the sewer lines along U.S.-50 and Prairie Lawn Street. More information will be presented at a future meeting.
— approved the purchase of rock to put in the bed of the alley at Fourth and Sycamore to try and prevent the severe washing that takes place during heavy rains.
— discussed the second story window blinds in the City Building, the ivy vine climbing the north side of the building, and the garden area along the south sidewalk.
— tabled discussions on employee compensatory time, purchase of the Graco paint sprayer, long term goals, and water tower paint and repair proposals.
The next meeting will be Tuesday, May 27, because of the Monday Memorial Day holiday.
