Florence city council looks at new ordinances, penalties
On the suggestion Monday night of acting police chief Eric King, Florence City Council agreed to consider creation of several new ordinances addressing nuisance properties and untagged and inoperable vehicles.
King also suggested council members review existing fines and increase some to make the penalty more substantial.
King said the city would have to create its own ordinances as there is no existing state or federal regulation to cover such problems in a municipality.
After discussion, King was asked to research how other communities handle the problems and fines, and bring suggestions back to a future council meeting.
Councilman Ed Robinson reported on the status of Cottonwood River following last week's cleanup of a log jam at Fifth Street bridge. Robinson said county crews are finishing the work and burning what is left of logs that were moved to the river banks. The Cottonwood was cleared of refuse from U.S.-50 south to the railroad bridge and currently is flowing freely.
Mayor John Lehman shared with council members two letters from city attorney Marilyn Wilder addressing problems with the proposed roundabout at U.S.-50/77 and the ongoing problems with the new water plant.
One letter requested assurance from Kansas Department of Transportation that lighting and landscaping of the roundabout will not be the city's responsibility.
The other addressed unsatisfactory performance of the water plant equipment and was sent to city engineers Schwab Eaton, Elliott Construction, and U.S. Filter.
Lehman noted no response had been received by Wilder's firm.
Council members voted unanimously to accept the city audit report. Councilman Randy Mills said there were a couple of discrepancies noted in the audit, "but nothing the council was not already aware of." He said the audit turned up nothing illegal, but there are some problems the council will need to address.
Mills noted that a copy of the audit is available to the public at the city building.
In other business the council:
— approved warrants in the amount of $7,319.48.
— heard emergency crews participated Saturday in an extrication class. City council also approved paying Trayce Warner to gather background information for ambulance billing. Warner's wages will come from ambulance department funds.
— voted to require CPR and first aid certification as a condition of employment for all full and part-time city employees.
— approved the re-instatement of Joe Box to Florence Fire Department and approved department's purchase of a $22 hydrant bag and a $150 halogen tool. Council also voted to renew the city's mutual aid agreement with area communities.
— went into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel. Darla Gore, Eric King, and Ken Hoffman were included in the executive session. No action was taken on return to open meeting.
— saw city clerk Darla Gore sworn in as police records information officer by Mayor Lehman.
— agreed to discuss at a future meeting an ordinance that requires cemetery plots to be sold in multiples of two. Requests for single plots may create the need for an ordinance change.
— approved advertisements in the Peabody Gazette-Bulletin and Marion County Record to remind people of trash pickup changes due to holidays or cleanup week schedules.
— heard trash truck repairs are running behind schedule and new tires will be needed for the truck. City superintendent Ken Hoffman will present bids at the next meeting.
