Florence City Council will work with PRIDE, chamber
Florence City Council approved a proposal by Florence Chamber of Commerce and Florence PRIDE April 17 to share the cost of additional postage to have the city mail water bills in envelopes as long as PRIDE and chamber could add a community newsletter. Currently the city water bills are printed on a postcard. After considerable discussion council agreed to a two-month trial period beginning June 1.
In other business the council:
— heard from acting police chief Erik King that he has been serving notice on residents with unsightly properties and lots.
— heard from councilman Ed Robinson that an individual interested in working on a grant to fix up the water tower would be willing to meet with council at 10 a.m.
— approved the purchase of a number of signs for the city at a cost of $800.
— refused a request from city superintendent Jeff Wagner to send Mark Bishop to Beloit for a two-day wastewater workshop. Later in the evening council rescinded the decision and approved Bishop's attendance after finding out the workshop is specific to the type of wastewater plant maintained by the city.
— also heard from Wagner that work has begun at the baseball field, trimming has been done at city springs and along roadside edges, he is trying to coordinate a demonstration of mowers for council members, and a fire hydrant will be installed on Grandview Street.
— heard from King that officers worked 15 drug- and alcohol-related cases in the past month and he will be purchasing bullet-proof vests for some officers with grant money.
— approved a plan by firefighters to build a couple of outdoor showers for the use of the barbecue cook-off participants.
— approved the use of Grandview Park July 15 for the annual T-Roy Rod Run.
— announced that council approved at a special meeting April 10, the installation of a camera by the Dumpster at the former city building to discourage dumping construction and demolition material, appliances, and lawn mowers. Poly-carts will be used at the parks to discourage dumping large objects.
— discussed the city's policy on water bill late fees when the 15th of the month falls on a weekend. No change was made.
— heard a Vietnam Veterans' from El Dorado will be in Florence Saturday on a poker run, the Easter egg hunt sponsored by chamber of commerce went well, the Spring Fling benefit auction will be Saturday at the school gymnasium, and emergency services groups will be offering defensive driving classes and CPR certification training in June.
— entered an executive session for the purpose of discussing attorney-client privilege.
