Florence City Council considers pay period change
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
Florence City Council attacked a light agenda Monday night with Mayor Sue Klassen absent and council president Dan Ludwig in charge of the meeting.
Councilman Bryan Harper addressed the city's practice of issuing two paychecks per month to employees.
"It seems it would make more sense for us to pay every two weeks," Harper said. "That way employees could count on getting their checks the same day of the week each time. Plus it would be easier on the office staff.
"The money is the same, its just a way of helping out our employees," he added.
Councilman Randy Mills asked if the change would require an ordinance change.
Following discussion the issue was tabled until the next meeting to research the ordinance and review necessary wording. Council discussion indicated support for the policy change.
In other business the council:
— approved warrants totaling $12,560.21.
— tabled discussion of an Americans with Disabilities Act update which would require changes to handicap ramps. ADA officer Del Leeds will present the full regulation and suggested accommodations at the next meeting.
— approved city clerk Darla Gore's attendance Oct. 8 to 10 at the League of Kansas Municipalities clerk's conference in Topeka.
— discussed a request for reduction of a water bill. A leak in a piece of equipment in an active downtown business created a usage increase of several hundred dollars. The city's ordinance does not specify whether the policy of a one-time reduction of water charges applies to businesses or just to residents. After discussion council approved the reduction of charges and agreed to re-word the ordinance to include businesses as well as household accounts.
— heard from Florence Fire Chief Tim Parmley that two new fire fighters have been approved by Florence Fire Department, bringing the crew number to 15. Parmley also announced that all the new county radios have come in and have been distributed.
— heard from acting city superintendent Erik King that city workers have started putting down millings on city streets. King recommended ordering three tons of coarse sand to fill cracks before sealing them.
— heard from Gore that she had contacted the city of Peabody about their nuisance property policy. She reported Peabody has a health and safety officer who takes complaints and notifies the council of blight areas, but does not have a community standard's board. Council agreed to discuss options following the city council meeting when members reconvene as Florence Standard's Board.
— heard from Harper that painting of several curbs in the community needs to be finished. The city will order additional yellow paint and get the work done before cold weather sets in.
— heard from Gore that CG Computers will provide two computers for the city office at a cost of $2020. Council agreed to forego the purchase of a $400 extended warranty on the computers.
— approved the efforts of John Dauber who repaired the street mounted cast iron "STOP" sign that formerly was bolted to the middle of Main Street on the north side of the Fifth Street intersection. Dauber rescued the sign some months ago after it was damaged. He will present it to Harvey House Museum.
— heard from Linda Britton the project to list the names and location of those buried at Hillcrest Cemetery is almost complete. The directory is mounted on the wall of the new gazebo at the cemetery.
Special meeting Sept. 11
Florence City Council made up its "first Monday of the month" meeting Sept. ll. The meeting was postponed from Labor Day.
Council revoked its previous plan to suspend bulk water sales. Following discussion, members agreed to sell bulk water to the public at the following charge: $25 to open the hydrant during business hours, $50 to open it after business hours and on weekends, plus $10 per thousand gallons, the entire amount to be prepaid.
With councilman Randy Mills dissenting, the motion passed three to one.
It was noted the city received a warning letter from Kansas Department of Health and Environment for improper debris in the city burn pit.
Florence Chamber of Commerce member Sara Neal challenged the council to address the issue of downtown development. She asked if council members had a plan to change zoning and require downtown building owners to properly replace broken windows, clean up debris in the alleys, and perhaps prohibit the practice of using the buildings as "warehouses."
Following discussion of Neal's points, council agreed to meet Sept. 18 for a standard's board meeting and begin the process of addressing her concerns.
Fire chief Tim Parmley addressed vandalism of a fire hydrant. The council instructed police to address the issue with the person responsible and press charges if necessary.
Mayor Sue Klassen and each of the councilmen publicly thanked the Labor Day committee and chairman Trayce Warner for one of the finest Labor Day celebrations in years.
