Council approves mayoral appointments
At the May 28 city council meeting, Mayor Kevin Ensminger presented the annual mayoral appointments for the council's approval. They were unanimously approved.
The appointments are as follows: Municipal Judge, Bryson Mills; City Clerk, Cindy Harms; City Treasurer/Utility Clerk, Stephanie Ax; Chief of Police, Jeff Pohlman; City Attorney, Mark Wilkerson; Main Street Director, Joanna Brazil; Fire Chief, Ronnie Harms; Water/Wastewater Operator, Darren Pickens; Street Superintendent, Ronnie Harms; Animal Control Officer, Virginia Skinner and her employees d/b/a Peabody Veterinarian Clinic; Zoning Administrator, Cindy Harms; Freedom of Information Officer, Cindy Harms; Water Committee, Randy Dallke and Tammie Yoder; Park and Swimming Pool Committee, Yoder and Tom Schmidt; Building Committee, Gene Schmill and Dallke, Finance and Ordinance Committee, Jon Gard and Schmidt, Health Board Committee, all council; Economic Development Committee, Kevin Ensminger.
A resolution authorizing the sale and conveyance of land by the City of Peabody to Peabody Community Living Center was approved 5-0 on a motion by Yoder. The sale and conveyance is contingent on the closing of the sale of Peabody Community Living Center.
After discussion the council decided that the cost of new sewer service would be based on the percentage of use by a property owner as determined by the amount of property owned, proportionate to the amount of property serviced by the new line.
The city will pay the cost of the line and assess the appropriate amount to the property owners. Each property owner will be responsible for his own debt retirement and for operation and maintenance fees. The city council will have the authority to make changes as needed.
The council held two hearings on inoperable vehicles with owners Barry Brannan and Virgil Obermeyer. Each owner was given an additional 60 days to remove the vehicles from his property.
It was noted that the swimming pool is open for the summer season. The council was informed that the staff has implemented a new policy that prohibits talking to the life guards while they are on duty. A quote on the cost of the new shelter house will be presented to the council at the next meeting. Councilman Schmidt will contact Kiwanis about painting the remaining playground equipment at the park.
The light poles at the park will be repaired with the cost to be split between the city, the Peabody-Burns Recreation Commission, and USD #398. Three bids were received for the work. The project was awarded to Cunningham Sandblasting at a cost of $4,252.
Bids also were received for cleaning the exterior of the water tower. Water Tower Paint and Repair will clean the water sphere and pedestal for $4,761.
Middle Creek Mining was awarded the Walnut Street patch repair project at a cost of $5,001.
A list of owners of the bridge on south Walnut Street was reviewed and it was agreed that the city would send a letter to them, requesting that repairs be made to the bridge.
The council entered four executive sessions during the course of the meeting. Two were to discuss personnel and the others were for attorney-client privilege and acquisition of property. No action was taken following any of the sessions.
Budget items to be discussed at the June 10 meeting are general government, special park, special highway, special law and fire, and special utilities.
