Peabody City Council hears some good financial news
Peabody City Council received some good news Monday evening when representatives of the city's health insurance plan, Preferred Health, presented information for 2006.
The rate increase was held to a scant 2.69 percent, considerably less than council had budgeted for the expected increase.
Mayor Tom Schmidt reminded council they had expected a climb of almost three times that amount.
"This will work," said Schmidt. "We can comfortably keep the same coverage for our employees and the city gets a break."
Employees will meet individually with city administrator Jeff Benbrook to determine specific plan needs within the group policy.
Council released some properties on the nuisance property list based on the recommendation of health and safety officer Deb Buser.
Properties at 205 Pine and 402 Elm streets were released as the owners had abated the nuisance. Buser reported progress has been made at 803 N. Olive and 513 E. 2nd streets, but more work needs to be done. Both property owners were given an additional 30 days. Buser will be in touch with each about specific problems.
Edie and Russell Jost received a 60-day extension on behalf of the estate of Stan Brundage and a property at 111 South Vine Street. The house has been torn down and the property will be offered for sale by the estate as soon as the debris is removed.
Schmidt expressed the city's appreciation for the work Buser has done during the year to facilitate cleanup of nuisance properties.
"She has helped us implement the regulations in our ordinance," he said. "We can see the system works and we can be pro-active about nuisance properties."
In other business the council:
— reviewed a real estate purchase agreement between the city and Fred Berns, owner of the former sewer plant property. Benbrook has not received a response to the offer.
— reviewed a final "punch list" of requests by property owners affected by construction of the new sewer. Wilson Ranch submitted a late claim for damage to a soy bean crop and farm ground in the amount of $352. Council approved payment.
— heard there has been no word from Integrated Solutions, Inc. about cleanup suggestions for the former sewer plant. Council voted to inform Kansas Department of Health and Environment of the contamination and begin the cleanup process.
— heard from Benbrook the quality of city water is better than EPA and KDHE requirements, but the city needs to maintain that level for four quarters before it can cease notifying consumers of elevated levels of disinfectant byproducts.
— discussed with Shawna Winter and Greg Jones of Peabody-Burns Recreation Commission the miscommunication between rec board and city that led to a $2,833.60 expenditure for red shale to cover the baseball diamond at city park. The two groups agreed to split the cost of the red shale. Benbrook noted that a new purchase order policy has been implemented by the city to avoid mix-ups such as this in the future.
— agreed to honor its commitment to share with the rec commission the cost of a press box in the baseball area of city park. The rec commission intends to begin construction before Jan. 1. City money will be available from next year's budget.
— approved a cereal malt beverage license for Peabody Lanes. Deadline for the application process for a CMB is Dec. 31. According to Benbrook all current applications have been renewed except Peabody Market.
— heard Marion County is again working on its resurfacing project south of town. When those roads are finished, the county will begin work on Maple and Central streets. Progress will heavily depend on weather conditions.
— heard Westar Energy will begin work setting new poles and lights after the first of the year. Benbrook also was informed by Westar that tree branch trimming by their employees will be confined to branches that interfere with electrical lines, not branches that create illumination problems.
— heard a request from Randy Dallke that he be paid rent on a large sign advertising businesses in downtown Peabody. Dallke recently purchased the property from Cory Lawson who had allowed Peabody Main Street to install the sign. Council declined to involve itself in the situation, urging instead that Dallke take the issue up with the Main Street Association.
— agreed to consolidate city phone accounts under a new Alltel plan that would save the city about $200 a month.
— heard from Benbrook the city can sign up for a statewide payment system offered through the Kansas state web site to allow credit card payments of traffic fines and utilities. The system is not yet active. Council will review the process after Jan. 1.
