New position will go on city payroll
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
Following a report Monday evening by Peabody Police Chief Jeff Pohlman regarding the job description and salary for a new compliance officer, Peabody City Council members agreed to create the position and fund it. The job will include activities previously handled by the city's health and safety officer and the animal control officer. Added into the job description will be some issues of city code enforcement regarding mowing and nuisance property issues and identifying untagged and inoperable vehicles.
The position will pay $10,000 a year and the person filling it will be held to fewer than 1,000 hours per year of duty. As soon as the job description is finalized the city will advertise the position and begin taking applications.
Council members also approved establishing a professional relationship with Professional Engineering Consultants, a Wichita civil engineering firm. Council had made inquiries of surrounding cities for recommendations for engineering firms and PEC was named repeatedly.
"We should establish a relationship with a business like this so that when we have consulting issues we have somewhere to turn," said Peabody Mayor Tom Schmidt. "If we need their expertise we want to be able to go to them and get good advice for the city."
The council instructed city administrator Jeff Benbrook to inquire about putting the firm on retainer or hiring them on an "as needed" basis. Benbrook will report back at the next meeting.
In a related issue, council members are still awaiting resolution to sewer plant project deficiencies and the results of laboratory testing to see if the mercury problem has been abated. Benbrook said the mercury remediation work took the balance of the contingency fund available to the city at the end of the sewer project. If a favorable lab report is received, the demolition of the former site can be finished.
In other business, the council:
— tabled until next month a decision to seek funding with Consolidated Financial Services to clean and maintain the water tower. A discrepancy in the yearly contract amount left council members unsure of the final cost of the project. Benbrook will seek more information and report back to council.
— agreed after discussion to put together a contract for a future snow removal agreement based on bids received. The contract would be specific to the number of hours, employees, and pieces of equipment needed for snow removal.
— reviewed a new reporting procedure by Peabody Police Chief Pohlman that presents a monthly assessment of costs and revenue, criminal activity, training and education, and other issues related to local law enforcement. Pohlman was complimented on the thoroughness of the report and the ease of reviewing it.
— approved the purchase of a pressure washer. The city budgeted for the purchase for 2007.
— heard there was a water leak at Third and Division that will require surface and curb repair beyond the abilities of city employees. Council approved hiring David Hett to do the work when the weather clears up.
— approved allowing Pickens to create a plan to purchase oil, anti-freeze, and lubricant in bulk from Universal Oil in Wichita as a cost-saving measure.
— approved the purchase of eight-foot pallet racks for the new city shop building. The racks will allow city employees to make better use of storage areas.
— discussed future replacement of sewer pipes and curb and guttering, but made no decisions.
— heard from Peabody Main Street director Kristen Hooper, that Peabody economic development is ready to publish a new business directory. Hooper also was given permission to sell Main Street items from the city web site.
— approved a change order for the new city shop building adding a window on the north side, windows to overhead doors, and metal panels to two interior walls.
— went into executive session for the purpose of job performance review for Stephanie Ax. On return to open session the council approved a $1 per hour raise for Ax beginning with the next pay period.
