Peabody City Council learns of fire chief s resignation
Selection protocol will be reviewed by council
Peabody City Council members Monday night were advised that Peabody Fire Chief Ronnie Harms has tendered his resignation effective on or about April 18, citing his desire to spend more time with his young family.
Firefighters were not certain of the protocol for replacing Harms and withheld a decision until they had a chance to review the process with council members.
Council instructed city administrator Jeff Benbrook to research the subject and advise the department of any city regulations governing selection of a fire chief.
The fire department also sought input from council concerning paying firefighters to "sit" at a property following a house fire to counter the possibility of a fire re-igniting.
Councilmen discussed the problems they might encounter if they begin paying a volunteer force. No action was taken, but council will revisit the topic after reviewing a proposed payment plan.
Khawar Hameed, an engineer with Reiss and Goodness and Tom Conrad, inspector for the Peabody sewer project, reviewed with council the points of disagreement over the completion of the project.
Hameed and Conrad agreed to relay the city's concerns to the engineer and contractor and return to the next council meeting with resolution about the access road, drainage ditches, lack of change order for the project fence length, flow meter, isolation valves on cell two, and an incorrectly installed level indicator on cell three.
The city instructed city superintendent Darren Pickens to arrange to make an on-site inspection with Hameed and Conrad to review the list of problems.
In other business the council:
— reviewed a water leak on the property of Marty Stevenson at 407 Plum Street and waived water charges of $86.54 and sewer charges of $98.05.
— approved 2006 Consumer Confidence Report on the water distribution system. The CCR will be distributed to Peabody citizens next month.
— took no action on a request by Cynthia Gibbs for a refund of the city pet fee due to the death of the pet.
— approved for Benbrook training at a day-long budget workshop June 7 at a cost of $50.
— heard from Benbrook about the likelihood of drug testing requirements for city employees by Kansas Municipal Insurance Trust which carries the city's workmen's compensation policy. Problems might include where the testing will be done and a policy on what determines who will be tested. Council will address this issue at a future meeting.
— heard Kansas Department of Health and Environment has finished its review of the cleanup process for the former sewer plant and actual work can begin.
— approved a request for CDBG funds in the amount of $129,677 be transferred to the city.
— approved ordinance 01-2006 establishing the legal boundaries of the city. Benbrook informed council the ordinance needs to be reviewed and approved each December. Any changes to the legal description must be changed by ordinance at that time.
— approved a proclamation to declare April "Fair Housing Month." The proclamation was signed by Mayor Tom Schmidt.
— reviewed nuisance properties at 411 Maple and 510 East Second streets. The Hilliard property on Second Street was released by unanimous approval. Dave Blythe, owner of the Maple Street property, reported he has installed a new water line, but not hooked it up and has the foundation nearly restored. He intends to have restoration on the property done by summer's end. He will appear before council once again on May 30 to offer a progress report.
— heard from Pickens a fence will be installed on the southeast side of city park by city crews. Cost of materials for the project is $1,425.66. In a related matter, council approved an agreement with Stone Creek Nursery of Hesston for landscaping and tree replacement in the park.
— discussed the street lighting project and tabled a decision pending confirmation of prices.
— discussed demolition of the Butler house at 203 Sycamore Street. The city owns the structure and has learned a party is interested in building on the lot if it is part of the free-lots program. No action was taken. Also discussed, but not acted on was a possible regulation about nuisance properties which could be deemed uninhabitable, but which have people residing in them. Council was reluctant to make policy on the "livability" of certain homes in the community and tabled the topic.
— approved hiring Brian McDowell for the Fourth of July. McDowell is in charge of the fireworks show. As a city employee for the day he and the celebration fall under the umbrella of the city's insurance.
