Clear well repairs still in limbo in Florence
A faxed message about repairs to the roof of the clear well at the water plant was not enough to satisfy Florence City Council members Monday night.
The message, from Straub Eaton engineer Stewart Porter, suggested a method of repair, but offered no performance warranty and no clear indication of who would be paying for the repairs.
The council agreed to wait on the proposed repair work until a written agreement is signed by both the engineer and the contractor regarding warranty and financial responsibility.
A discussion of personnel issues took place in open session, added to the agenda by Mayor John Lehman. Lehman prefaced the topic with the remark that there was no point in requesting an executive session since "confidentiality is regularly breached anyway."
At issue was a notice of probation for city superintendent Stuart Funk.
Following the recent completion of a 90-day probation period, Funk met with Mayor Lehman and Councilman Ed Robinson and was notified in writing that the probation would be extended an additional 30 days. Funk was asked to sign the notice acknowledging that he understood the letter and had been given a chance to ask questions.
Funk refused to sign because he felt he should be given a chance to question the entire council, not just one member.
The council voted to authorize Lehman to do what he feels is necessary to have a meeting with an employee and handle the situation as needed.
Atmos Energy representative Randy Dallke sought permission from the council to relocate a rectifier owned by the gas company from its current location on U.S.-77 to the Freedom Park area at Sixth and Marion streets. KDOT construction on U.S.-77 is scheduled to begin in 2005 and the rectifier will have to be moved.
The rectifier carries an electric current to prevent corrosion on gas pipes and is buried underground.
Dallke said the change would be a plus for the city because it would include replacing several miles of gas lines. He also assured the council that it could be moved again if the status of Freedom Park changed.
The council gave Atmos unanimous approval to move the rectifier into the city.
Mayor John Lehman said the city was in receipt of a letter from KDHE informing them that the new discharge license for the city will mean the waste water operator must be the state.
KDHE will give the council until May of this year to name a "waste water operator in training." The council will have until October 2005 for that person to become certified.
The council asked Lehman to report back with more information about waste water operator training, schools, and certification.
In other business, the council:
— tabled indefinitely a proposal by Infinitec Corp. for new billing software. The council felt the cost could not be justified at this time.
— agreed to seek bids for mowing the cemetery.
— heard from former Florence resident Teenie Williams about the original purpose of the information board at Hillside Cemetery.
She also mentioned a memorial tree project completed almost two decades ago that was supposed to be recorded on the information board. The council agreed to look for records of the project and get the information posted.
— passed a resolution to announce the city's enrollment in the state PRIDE program.
— approved the use of Veteran's Park for the Spring Fling April 4.
— agreed to send city clerk Darla Gore to a budget training meeting in Andover April 27.
— approved warrants totaling $14,234.36.
— heard from Scott Zogelman that the ambulance department had received an anonymous donation of a new television and VCR for training videos.
— received preliminary information about the city's insurance which is up for renewal April 1.
— heard from independent web site consultant Karen Linblade that she could create a web site for the city. The cost would be $2,500 plus an annual fee of $144 for Linblade to host the site.
