Florence chamber sponsors forum
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
At the regular council meeting Monday night, Florence City Council members were invited to attend a Chamber of Commerce- sponsored forum at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Florentine Center.
"We would like to have all the candidates there," said chamber member Trayce Warner. "Even though Greg (Winn) is running unopposed, it would be great if the community could hear what he has to say.
"We hope the whole community will turn out."
Warner is running against Gary Nesser for the council seat being vacated by Ed Robinson. Incumbent Dan Ludwig is opposed by Dorothy Cleverley for his spot on the council. Greg Winn is running without opposition for the mayoral position being vacated by Sue Klassen.
City superintendent Phil Baldwin reported to the council that cleanup had begun at the pool.
He also reported about $500 worth of damage to the men's restroom at Grandview Park.
"The door has never shut exactly right," he said. "It wasn't too tough for them to break in. They made a mess and tore up the towel dispenser, but it could have been worse.
"We will get a hasp and padlock and install them on the door."
He also noted that city employee Danny Kyle had cleaned out the equipment shed at the ball park.
"There is just a ton of equipment in there that no one is using," he noted. "It's been sitting in there for several years. Some kids ought to be getting some good out it instead of just leaving it sit there."
Baldwin said he would contact the Marion-Florence Recreation Commission to see about getting the equipment back in use.
In other business, the council:
— heard the city was charged $416.31 to host the primary election necessary to trim the list of council candidates in each city ward.
— approved warrants of $15,658.63
— agreed to hold a special work meeting immediately following the council meeting for the purpose of reviewing applicants for the job of police chief.
— heard a request from Christian church members Rodney Morgan and Ron Savage to consider selling to the church the east 40 feet of the church parking lot. A survey showed that when the church was built in 1962, no transfer was ever made to the church and all of the parking lot is considered city right-of-way. Council agreed to look into the request and get back with Morgan and Savage.
— reviewed the city's insurance package for the coming year. City clerk Darla Gore was asked by Mayor Klassen to schedule a review with insurance agent Bill Hendricks before the April 1 deadline for accepting the policy.
— approved the use of Grandview Park for the 10th annual T-Roy Rod Run from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 14.
— heard a request from the fire department to build a larger lean-to storage unit than proposed at the last meeting. Fire chief Tim Parmley was instructed to return to the next meeting with cost estimates and more exact measurements for the planned structure.
— heard that Klassen will meet with Rick Turner this week to review the exact footage he wishes to purchase from the former Florence High School football field which adjoins his residential property.
— heard a report from acting police chief Conroy Miller that Florence Police Department has been trimmed to two officers. Miller gave a rundown of law enforcement activity which included arrests for possession of marijuana, battery, and possession of drug paraphernalia as well as handling student problems at Oasis and assisting county officers.
— reviewed a letter from former resident Teeney Williams requesting recognition for people who donated trees to the cemetery. Hillcrest Cemetery volunteer Linda Britton, agreed to add their names to the list of donors posted at the new gazebo in the cemetery.
— approved the purchase of a pallet of patching equipment for the street department.
— heard a report on a project called the "U.S.-50 Garage Sale" which promotes garage sales in communities along U.S.-50 from Washington, D.C., to the West Coast. Council members agreed the information would be more effective in the hands of the PRIDE committee of the chamber of commerce.
