City, school district combine efforts
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
Peabody-Burns Superintendent Rex Watson was present Monday evening at the city council meeting to review a cooperative agreement between the city and school and to seek a new site for the FFA farm.
Watson noted the current agreement covers a number of issues including payments of park expenses during football season, paving issues at the elementary school, and other items. The agreement was signed in 1993 and will expire May 12, 2008.
City administrator Jeff Benbrook was instructed to review the agreement and its various revisions, and meet with Watson to hammer out an updated version to present to council and the school board.
Watson also said the agricultural and FFA students are interested in developing some programs that will require building a structure at the current FFA farm at Ninth and Prairie Lawn streets. Because of city ordinances and flood plain restrictions the school is interested in a long term lease or purchase of some acres out of town.
He said the district would consider property at the industrial park north of U.S.-50 or near the new sewer ponds. Watson thought the district would prefer an area of three to 10 acres. His first choice was the area near the sewer ponds because it is patrolled and has an established access road.
After discussion Mayor Ed Slocombe instructed Benbrook to research the current lease agreements for both properties and draw up a proposal to work with the school on the project.
Another topic affecting young people in Peabody came up later when public works director Darren Pickens announced he had received complaints about a piece of playground equipment called the "Rocket" at city park. Council members also had received complaints about the equipment.
After lengthy discussion about liability issues and negligence the council voted 5-0 to have Pickens and city workers remove not only the Rocket, but a number of other pieces of equipment deemed unsafe a number of years ago by the city's insurance underwriter.
Employees will get to the project as time and weather allow during the winter months.
Following an executive session with Pickens it was announced the city would offer the vacant maintenance position to Ronnie Harms effective Dec. 1 if he agrees to accept the city's offer. Harms has been employed by the city in the past.
In other business, the council:
— heard that effective Dec. 5, the policy for payment of fines and penalties in municipal court will be changed and the city will accept only cash or certified bank check.
— heard that police chief Bruce Burke will implement a special curfew on Halloween in 2008 based on criminal damage inflicted this year. Burke said the people doing the damage were not necessarily young teen-agers. They were older young people who were out of school. As a result the curfew will likely include those who are 19 and 20.
— heard from Jim Rippe in public comment session that road conditions following the "Old Trail" past the city park and out of town are in poor condition. Rippe asked the city to put that stretch on its list of street repairs for the coming year. Council took no action.
— reviewed five nuisance properties and extended the cleanup time for two, agreed to re-issue notification on one, while voting to have the city abate the other two.
In a related issue public works superintendent Darren Pickens informed the council that when he and his crew enter a property to clean it up as the abatement procedure, he plans to have police chief Burke or another police officer accompany them. After discussion council members approved the use of police officers for the abatement process.
— approved a credit in the amount of $86.14 for sewer charges related to a water leak at 311 Sycamore when Brian and Tammy Whiteside occupied the residence there.
— agreed there was no such relief for Verna Gervais who owns a house occupied by her handicapped brother and sister. A water pipe broke in the basement of the house and the leak went undetected for several weeks.
The house uses a septic tank rather than the city sewer system, so council was not able to forgive a portion of the water bill.
Council members agreed to freeze any interest or late fees while Gervais contacts relief agencies and the insurance company to see if there might be funding assistance available to cover the cost of water.
A 30-day extension for setting up a payment plan was granted.
— heard from Benbrook that Kansas Department of Health and Environment still has not issued the final letter of "no further action" to close out the cleanup project on the former sewer plant.
— agreed to place a new street light in the alley behind Cameo Rose antiques.
— agreed that health and safety officer Tammy Whiteside should send a letter to business owners about weeds, overgrown trees, and trash and debris in the alleys behind the businesses.
— heard from Pickens the park has been winterized and the gates will remain closed until spring. The bathrooms also have been locked. The park is open to walk-in traffic.
Pickens also informed the council another sewer break has occurred between Maple and Elm a block south of the last repairs that were made in October. The city will seek bids on repairs.
— heard the city will be publishing ordinances to increase the water, sewer, and trash rates as provided for in the budget.
— learned from Benbrook there will be no increase in health insurance premiums for the coming year.
— approved an audit agreement with Knudson and Monroe for the 2007 audit at a cost of $6,475.
— learned the Dec. 31 meeting will begin at 5 p.m. instead of 7 p.m.
— learned Benbrook had issued letters for bids to repair the former steam plant building that was recently damaged when an uninsured driver backed into it.
— approved a gift to each city employee of a Christmas ham. Part-time employees as well as full-time employees will receive the gift. There will be no Christmas party.
— learned an insurance claim had been filed for medical expenses incurred when a citizen fell on a sidewalk on west Second Street.
