Florence city council tables action on resignation
Council members to meet Monday to determine new rates for solid waste disposal
The resignation of Florence police officer Duane McCarty was reviewed Monday afternoon by the Florence City Council at its regular meeting.
On a motion by Councilman Larry Timm and a second by Councilman Dan Ludwig, acceptance of the resignation was tabled until the next meeting because of the absence of Police Chief Creighton Smith. Smith was attending a school related to his job.
"Before we accept this, I would like to hear from Creighton," said Timm. The motion to table the acceptance was approved 4-0.
Reilly Reed, Florence fire chief, presented the council with costs and availability of a new engine for the fire department's two-and-a-half-ton fire truck. He told council members that the engine would cost his department $1,500.
Reid said the money was available in the department's rural fund which is an account comprised of payments from area townships to cover the cost of fire protection.
The council approved Reid's request 4-0.
Dan Ludwig asked permission to bring Santa Claus to town Dec. 7 on a fire truck. Reid agreed that the department would transport Santa to the holiday ceremony at Veterans' Park.
Patti Williams, head of the ambulance department, presented several uniform and gear requests from ambulance crew members. The items included extraction gear for the rescue truck and jump suits for the entire crew.
After a considerable amount of discussion, the council voted to table the expenditure of the additional gear and uniforms until after the first of the year.
The council encouraged Williams to look for some used extraction gear that would be serviceable, but less costly and return to a future meeting to discuss the purchase.
The council did approve the purchase of a winter-weight coat for crew member Tony Leeds.
Williams was given permission to order the insulated overhead doors for the ambulance building, an expense of $3,790. Earlier in the year the council had encouraged Williams to wait on ordering the doors until closer to the end of the year to see what other expenses might arise.
"The doors should come out of this year's budget since the funds are still available," said Barbara O'Dell. "We don't know what next year will bring."
Ann Brenzikofer pointed out some potential problems the city might incur with the new plan for
county-wide solid waste disposal.
She told council members they needed to spend some time reviewing the county policy.
After discussion, Mayor Jeanie Meirowsky suggested the council meet Monday for a working meeting to determine the rates that will be charged by the city.
In other business the council heard that Christmas decorations would be put up downtown on Nov. 29, gave permission to the Chamber of Commerce to use Veterans' Park for the community Christmas tree and for the arrival of Santa Claus, and approved an expenditure of $10 to send Stuart Funk to a community forestry workshop in McPherson.
