Florence council makes slow progress on easements
A project to run sewer and water lines to Jim Steele's liquor store remains on hold as the City of Florence continues negotiations with property owners over easements.
Several property owners are reluctant to sign the easements which would allow the city to run sewer and water lines to the store.
Councilman Randy Mills noted that some progress had been made with the owners of Johnson's General Store. Their easements had been signed and sent on to city attorney Bob Brookens.
After discussion, councilman Rick Turner moved that the council allow Jeff Inlow to begin work on the project as soon as word is received from Brookens that the other easements have been signed.
"I see no reason to wait for another (council) meeting to approve the work getting started," Turner said. "The minute we know the easements are signed and everything is in order, I think he (Inlow) could begin."
The motion carried on a unanimous vote.
The council approved a $112,525.00 expenditure from Community Development Block Grant funds for the new water filtration project. The funds will be used to pay administrative and equipment bills.
Mills requested that the council refuse any payments to the project engineer until a discharge problem at the plant is corrected. The new system is currently expelling between 4,000 and 5,000 gallons of untreated water a day onto the ground around the plant.
"This is obviously an engineering flaw," said Mills. "I don't want to pay for the work that has been done until this is taken care of. I want the council on record on this."
Turner made a motion to refuse payment until the discharge problem is solved and it carried 4-0.
In the absence of Sarah Cope, economic development director for the city, councilman Mills reported that progress on the new housing development is moving forward. He asked that the council go on record with its intention to purchase the land for the development from Reilly Reed, as agreed to in an earlier arrangement. The council voted 4-0 in favor of the land purchase.
In other business, the council:
— heard preliminary criteria for directional signs on the two highways intercepting Florence. The council tabled a decision on the matter until more information could be obtained.
— heard that new Police Chief Merlin Stout will be taking the KLETC exam for re-certification in November.
— approved a purchase by the police chief for two measuring wheels to be used at accident scenes, two reflective vests, car wash tokens, and ticket books for issuing traffic tickets.
— tabled until the next meeting a decision on hiring a company to clean the water tower.
— heard that the county had cleared out the log jam on the Cottonwood River.
— approved a cereal malt beverage and amusement license for the remainder of 2003 for The Junction Saloon.
— allocated funds for four "Fire Fighter One" textbooks requested by the fire department for a training series that will be given to Florence fire fighters.
— agreed to have city workers repaint the "Walk your bike" signs on downtown sidewalks.
— heard that a small group of volunteers will continue to work at clean up projects on weekends when weather permits. Alleys will be the focus of the group's efforts.
— entered into an executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel. No action was taken on return to open meeting.
