Florence council plans open house
To celebrate the completion of the new Florence city building, the council voted Monday evening to host an open house Feb. 3. The public will be invited to visit the facility and enjoy refreshments with staff and council members.
The council also approved the purchase of a conference table and six chairs for the council area of the new building. Funds to cover the cost of the fixtures come from the funds received for the building. Those funds must be used on the structure itself or furnishings and fixtures.
James Parmley was unanimously approved as a part-time Florence police officer. Parmley will receive $8 an hour while he completes his 90-day probationary period.
Councilman Larry Timm asked the council to revisit the question of Christmas bonuses for city employees. After discussion, Timm made a motion to offer each of the six full time employees a $25 gift certificate and the two part-time employees a $15 gift certificate. The motion was approved 4-0.
City Superintendent Stuart Funk presented the council with information concerning the transfer station accepting construction and demolition material. Such material is accepted by the transfer station, but it is not to be mixed in with trash or yard waste.
The concern of the city staff is re-educating people who rent dumpsters for the purpose of disposing of construction and demolition material. Transfer station employees have the authority to send a truckload of trash back to the city if it is mixed with garbage or yard waste.
There also is an extra charge on the construction material and Funk said the city would have to come up with a means to assign a share of the cost to each person using the service.
No action was taken.
The council also:
— approved an electrical and plumbing license for Inlow Plumbing.
— approved a burn permit for Mauro Medina to burn a ditch at Doyle and 3rd streets in Florence. Approval was contingent upon Medina getting permission from the fire chief.
— approved a second telephone line to the police department to enable Police Chief Creighton Smith to have access to Internet service.
— agreed to advertise for applicants for pool manager and life guards.
— agreed to advertise for applicants to fill a portion of the job of city treasurer currently held by Dianne Burnett. Burnett will be moving out of the city limits. The city is required to hire a resident of Florence to reconcile the bills and statements at the end of each month. Barnett will continue to perform the rest of her duties for the city.
Following an executive session to discuss personnel, the council adjourned.
