Horse manure causes a stink at city council
About 15 people attended Peabody City Council meeting Monday night to express support for Tina Partridge and the students who participate in her horseback riding club.
The group was protesting terminology in the new city permit which called for "immediate" removal of horse excrement by riders and a ban on riders using Walnut Street.
As it turned out the city's intent in using the word "immediate" was merely to let riders know they were expected to clean up after their horses as soon as their ride is finished.
"The idea was that it not remain on the streets indefinitely," said city administrator Jeff Benbrook. "If we said it needed to 'be removed after riding' does that show any urgency? Or does that mean that sometime in the next day or so the rider should go back and scoop up the droppings?
"We just want it done as soon as possible after the ride."
Councilman Edmund Slocombe told the group he admired their desire to become proficient riders and agreed the activity is a wholesome one.
"But you also have to realize that not everyone shares your enthusiasm for horses," he said. "To some people in town looking at a pile of horse poop in front of their house doesn't mean some kids are having wholesome fun. It just means there is horse poop in front of their house and they don't like it!"
The permit for riding also was changed to allow supervised riding on Walnut Street during the month preceding a parade as long as the applicant informs the city office that is the intent.
Both councilmen and horse riding supporters agreed Walnut is a dangerous street on which to ride, but it is the street with the most traffic for acclimating the horses to vehicle activity and noise before a parade.
City council members also heard from Dale Clark of Knudson and Monroe, city auditors.
Clark presented his audit findings, telling council the city is in good shape financially. He noted good assistance from city office staff and offered the assistance of his firm on budget items as the council gets prepared to undertake budget meetings next month.
In other business the council:
— heard that while several animal clinics have inquired about the city's need for services, no formal response has been received.
— agreed to have health and safety officer Deb Buser contact out-of-town real estate agents with listings in Peabody about mowing the properties they have listed.
— heard the first CDBG monitoring agreement will be Thursday.
— heard a report on the sewer project including a response from Smokey Hill Construction agreeing to replace the first 1,500 feet of sewer pipe installed without bedding material.
— heard that all the paperwork for permission to bore under the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad has been signed and final permission should be granted this week.
— agreed to request a police report be filed on behalf of Brice Foth for an accident related to the ice storm that pulled electrical service from his home. Foth has been unable to file a claim with his insurance due to the lack of an official report.
— tabled a plan to proceed with a press box for the baseball diamond at the park. John Richstatter will find out for council if labor from El Dorado Correction Facility can be arranged for laying stone for the project. Both the council and Peabody-Burns Recreation Commission will need to allow for the project in next year's budgets.
— approved a request from Tammy Yoder to move her recreation vehicle to the mobile home park on Peabody Street for 30 days. Council will also study the ordinance during that time and consider accommodating travel trailers and recreation vehicles.
— heard from city treasurer Stephanie Ax that changes will be made regarding accounting for swim team funds, that several homeowners have complained about usage hikes in their utility bills, and that she would bring a recommendation to council regarding letterhead stationery and envelopes.
— agreed to order mosquito control pellets. They will arrive in seven to 10 days and will be offered free to residents on a first-come, first-served basis.
