City council questioned by citizen
Florence City Council members and Mayor Jeanie Meirowsky were questioned on several topics Monday afternoon by Doug Eddy at the regularly scheduled council meeting.
Eddy asked why a person who only received 15 votes in the primary election was selected to fill a council vacancy only a few weeks later. Meirowsky explained that in order to ensure the council having a quorum to conduct the city's business, an appointment needed to be made.
She selected Tim Parmley, even though he lost the primary election, because he had chosen to run, indicating a desire to serve the community. "I guess we could have chosen someone just out there in the public," she said. "But we knew Tim wanted to do it."
Next Eddy asked why the "boil water" advisory had not been lifted since the water no longer appeared to be dirty.
The mayor deferred to Stuart Funk, city superintendent, who stated that although the water had cleared up considerably, it had not yet met state standards for two consecutive weeks. Until that standard is met, the city is required to maintain the advisory.
Eddy also asked why city attorney Bob Brookens did not attend council meetings.
"He is willing to do that," said Meirowsky. "But it would cost us about $150 each meeting to have him here. He is good about coming if we need something specific and he is good about helping us keep our legal costs down."
Questions about how the council planned to save money to meet the cuts from the state were posed next. Meirowsky explained that the fiscal year begins July 1 so the city is operating on a budget that was already in place before the governor and legislature began talking about cuts to city government.
"When we find out what the cuts will be and how much we will actually be getting, we will know what we have to work with when the budget is put together in July for next year," she said. "Then we can make plans."
Eddy's final question to the council concerned the inability of people in the community to get along and work for the common good. "I heard several times at the candidate's forum that everyone should start getting along," he said. "I wonder when this is going to happen. I don't see it happening. Does the council have any plans to get everyone to pull together?"
Councilmen agreed that something should be done, but none had a solution. The mayor said, "I think in a town like this great things can be done as long as you don't care who gets the credit for it." She said she thought this was one of the biggest problems facing Florence.
Meirowsky thanked Eddy for addressing the council and bringing his questions to them rather than listening to rumors and stories.
Trayce Warner also was on hand to discuss the Spring Fling planned for April 6. She requested permission for the committee to use the park for serving food and for the entertainment.
The committee also asked to bring picnic tables from Grandview Park, asked to block 4th Street from the alley to Main, and asked for extra trash containers. The council approved the requests.
Council members went into a 15-minute executive session to discuss the acquisition of property. Fire Chief Reilly Reid was included in the session.
Upon returning to open meeting, Reid told the council that the Florence Fire Department had been unsuccessful in its bid for a truck from the Newton Fire Deptartment. Reid proposed the purchase of a truck from a fire department in Maryland which had been a second choice. The cost of the truck is $29,500. Shipping costs and extra equipment would bring the total to $33,380.
Reid will bring finalized selection of an institution to finance the truck to the next meeting. In the meantime, the council approved paying the shipping to get the truck to Florence.
A decision on the gas franchise tax was tabled until the next meeting when Randy Dallke would be on hand to represent Atmos Energy. Several citizens spoke against the implementation of the tax as did all of the council members.
Larry Timm noted that the current council is a "lame duck" council and should not be the group to make a decision on the franchise tax. "This group is likely to look different in two weeks," he said. "We need to defer to them."
Reid told members he thought it was the fairest tax the community could have because the money would stay in Florence and fund community projects.
The council tabled the decision until the next meeting.
The council also:
— approved a one-time water bill write-off for Herman Schambron in the amount of $82.73 and for Harvey Wells in the amount of $32.50 due to water leaks on the property of each.
— heard from Estelle McCarty about deteriorating conditions at the edge of Grandview Street and around a manhole cover. City Superintendent Stuart Funk was instructed to see that the problem is taken care of.
— agreed to look at the alley between 10th and 11th streets where the trash truck has created large ruts.
— heard from Funk that on March 26 charges will be made for citizens dumping more that one cubic yard of demolition and construction waste. More than a yard needs to be weighed for special billing. Arrangements to dispose of such waste should be made at the city building.
— heard from Officer Parmley that the city was having a problem with four-wheelers. After a brief discussion, Parmley was told to wait until after the election to see if the council changed and to bring the topic up at that time.
The next regularly scheduled meeting is April 7.
