New mayor, council take over city government
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
A significant membership shift took place Monday night as a new mayor, council president, and three new council members took their places at the helm of Peabody city government.
Former mayor Tom Schmidt and councilmen Gene Schmill and Alan Yock performed their final duties by opening the meeting and approving the minutes, appropriations, and agenda.
The first order of new business was swearing-in new mayor Ed Slocombe and newly elected councilmen Mitch Cunningham and Larry Larsen.
Slocombe's advance to the mayoral chair left his council seat vacant. He appointed Delbert Mellott as the final addition to the governing body and the appointment was unanimously approved by council.
Steve Rose was elected president of the council.
The new group was immediately immersed in another chapter of "the never-ending sewer project" which has dragged on for more than a year beyond its scheduled completion date of January 2006.
The removal of mercury from the mechanical workings of the former sewer plant has been the cause of the delays. Demolition of the former sewer plant was halted months ago.
Al Reiss, engineer for the new sewer project, was present in his capacity as liaison between the city and its demolition contractor, Middlecreek Corp.
Completion of the project has been delayed by Kansas Department of Health and Environment regulations regarding the disposal of the mercury.
The city has withheld final payment of $8,500 to Middlecreek and $1,259 to the engineer until their jobs are complete.
Middlecreek is asking the city to relinquish all but $1 of the amount it is owed since there doesn't seem to be an ending date.
"We will have mobilization costs," said Middlecreek owner Frank Oursler. "More than $390,000 in bond capacity is tied up, which we could use when bidding other jobs, and we feel the city should pay interest on our $8,500."
Mobilization costs are the costs incurred when a contractor pulls all of his equipment and personnel from one job to go to another. The cost doubles when he must return at a later date to complete a project.
"This is no one's fault," said Reiss. "And it may take another six months. Mercury is elusive. It is hard to track."
The city currently is awaiting the results of a second round of KDHE tests on ground around the former sewer plant. Two truckloads of contaminated dirt and concrete were taken in January to a Louisiana hazardous waste landfill at a cost of more than $60,000. Follow-up testing revealed the mercury content was still too high in the remaining soil and debris.
Meanwhile demolition work on the former plant is at a standstill, with Oursler still responsible for its completion and the city withholding the final payment until obligation is met.
Following lengthy discussion to bring new council members up to speed, Reiss acknowledged that part of his job is to arbitrate disputes between parties. He agreed to work with the city and Middlecreek, find a solution, and return to a future meeting.
In other business, the council:
— reviewed information from KDHE indicating the city will be required to adopt a new "stage two disinfectant by-product rule" for drinking water. Public works director Darren Pickens and city administrator Jeff Benbrook will attend a seminar to learn more about the regulation.
— approved a counteroffer to a request for replacement of shrubs and trees to the backyard of the residence at 400 N. Olive. Council voted to pay $105 to the homeowner.
— discussed mowing ordinances, the street sweeping schedule, and enforcement of gutter cleaning regulations. No action was taken.
— heard the city is still waiting on Westar Energy to install a light at the new city shop.
— heard the last payment has been made on the mosquito sprayer.
— agreed to allow Peabody police officers to barricade Walnut Street between First and Second streets from 6 to 11 p.m. May 26 for a street dance sponsored by the HUB.
— approved a proclamation, signed by Mayor Slocombe, making April Fair Housing Month in Peabody.
— heard a monthly report from Peabody Main Street director Kristen Hooper. Approval was given to use the city logo on a new business directory and to distribute the directory in the city water bill. Hooper reviewed financial issues and upcoming Main Street events.
— denied a request for a $65 donation to the Peabody-Burns high school yearbook, but approved a $150 donation to support of a "Safe Kids Camp" being sponsored for all elementary students by Peabody emergency services departments.
— learned members will need to attend three to five budget workshops between now and July to prepare the budget for 2008.
— learned about the new compliance officer position and heard.
— heard that phase two of the park beautification project will be presented at the next meeting. Also discussed at that time will be selection of shrubs and plants for the Peabody sign at Ninth and Walnut streets.
