Park, pool budgets take early hit
Peabody City Council Monday night learned first hand how quickly a department budget can be eroded when it heard from city administrator Jeff Benbrook about needed swimming pool repairs and equipment replacement.
Benbrook told council members a hole at the shallow end of the pool needs to be patched. To facilitate repair work, the pool will need to be drained and allowed to dry. Repair costs will be $800. The process would take about a day.
After discussion, it was decided that with only a few weeks left in the pool season, repairs could be postponed until the pool is closed in the fall.
Another expenditure for park and pool committee will be replacing lifeguard stands. One stand has deteriorated so badly it had to be removed. Benbrook reported the second also is in bad shape, but should last until the end of this season.
Cost of two new lifeguard stands is $2,500. Benbrook will check into the possibility of purchasing used stands from a community in the area building a new pool. The stands will not be purchased before the pool closes this year.
The council reviewed a list of park equipment that will need to be removed for safety reasons. Additional information was provided regarding replacement equipment and its cost. No decision was made to purchase additional equipment pending budget approval for the coming year.
Council members instructed Benbrook to have city treasurer Stephanie Ax prepare a newsletter article informing residents that if they remove a brick sidewalk from their property it is their responsibility to reinstall or replace it.
Individual homeowners who have removed sidewalks will be contacted for a date of compliance.
A similar order will be published requiring purchase of building permits.
In other business the council:
— welcomed members of Peabody Girl Scouts and approved their request for permission to paint address numbers on downtown curbs. Individual businesses will pay for the numbers to be painted. Council authorized numbers for the city building and city shop.
— approved for publication of a draft copy of the city budget.
— approved an Aug. 30 deadline for removal of debris from 110 N. Maple.
— heard from Al Reiss about a funding project from Kansas Department of Transportation for community enhancement projects. Reiss encouraged use of this new program to fund community projects. No decision was made.
— discussed nuisance properties and added several to the current list. Letters will go out to property owners.
— reviewed water system maintenance schedules in preparation for contract talks with Hillsboro about rate increases.
— approved proposed pay raises for Peabody police officers. The pay increase will go into effect next pay period.
— heard a request by council member Jon Gard to provide assistance with limbs and branches downed by recent storms. Council members agreed that city assistance could be provided to residents who are unable to take care of debris themselves. Requests will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
— approved a letter to county commissioners requesting county roads leading south and west out of Peabody be placed on a repair schedule.
— heard that Inland Paving will begin work before the end of July.
