Gore resigns as Florence City Clerk
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
Florence City Council members, already anticipating a new mayor, a new police chief, and one or two new councilmen accepted Monday night the resignation of city clerk Darla Gore. Gore's last day will be Friday.
In answer to questions about her future, Gore said last week that she will be going to work for PLANTations, a new gift and flower shop in Marion.
"I am following my heart," she said. "This is something I have wanted to do for years and when the opportunity came up I decided to go for it."
Gore was hired in July 2003, to replace longtime Florence city clerk Ann Brenzikofer who was scheduled to retire that fall.
The council accepted Gore's resignation with regret on a 3-1 vote with councilman Bryan Harper opposed.
Sarah Cope and Randy Savage of the city-appointed planning and zoning committee presented the final changes to the proposed zoning regulations.
The changes, involving several minor wording issues, were the recommendation of city attorney Marilyn Ware.
Council members asked to have additional time to review the final draft and look it over at a work meeting scheduled for 8 p.m. Wednesday.
"And I would like to include any new council members when we review this," said councilman Randy Mills. "Discussion of this or the decision on the ownership of the (Christian) church parking lot should include the new mayor and members."
Any discussion of the zoning changes will no longer include public input although the public is not barred from attending the work session.
In other business, the council:
— renewed the city's insurance policy for $13,691.
— approved a resolution to renew for another year the PRIDE program for the city.
— heard a motion by Harper to accept the only sealed bid received on the former city ambulance. The motion died for lack of a second and the bid was not accepted. No action was taken on the sealed offer for the city's Chevrolet work truck.
— agreed to have a key to the bulk water system made for fire chief Tim Parmley so the department would have more than one key in the event of a fire.
— discussed a work day planned April 13 for junior high students of USD 408. City superintendent Phil Baldwin was asked to have several projects lined up for the students. It was suggested they could clean up limbs and litter at the cemetery, paint fire hydrants, and pick up limbs from the alleys if tree trimming could be done before they arrive.
— heard from Baldwin the city has a shortage of Dumpsters available for rent. Council discussed charges for use of the Dumpsters and the questionable aesthetics of placing more in residential areas, but came to no decision.
— heard the city needs better communication with volunteers cutting trees at the sewer ponds. Baldwin requested a determination by the council about who regulates that activity. He noted that city employees are replacing about 250 feet of fence that was torn up when the timber was removed. The city received $230 for the wood. Mayor Klassen suggested Baldwin contact the people who harvest the timber and work out a resolution to the problem.
— tabled until a future meeting decisions on employee health insurance, the purchase of new court software, filling potholes in front of the school between 7th and 8th streets, a request to change the ordinance prohibiting the issue of burn permits for Sundays, and the request for a letter supporting a grant application for countywide recycling.
— stated that Dewey Stevens will again get the contract to mow the cemetery unless his rates increase, in which case the contract will need to go out for bid.
— heard a request from Harper to change the ordinance restricting burn permits to Monday through Saturday. Harper would like residents to be able to get a permit for Sunday as well. Council told him to re-write the ordinance and bring it back for consideration.
— read a request from former residents Pete and Teeny Williams that a list of donors to Hillcrest Cemetery projects be included with lists kept by the city and the Harvey House.
— heard the tornado siren is not operable, but will be checked by city employees this week.
— heard the ladder at the sewer ponds will be re-built by Bruce Fetrow.
