Peabody city meeting postponed due to lack of quorum
Due to illness and a scheduled vacation, the Peabody city council was unable to muster up a quorum for its Oct. 14 meeting. City ordinance states that the council will attempt to convene on consecutive nights until a quorum is present.
Not until Wednesday evening was a quorum present. The meeting was convened with councilman Tammie Yoder still ill and absent.
The council discussed a "cost benefit analysis" compiled by the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing which will allow Middlecreek Mining Corporation to be exempt from certain taxes related to its expansion, improvement, and equipping of certain facilities for manufacturing and storage purposes. The CBA report showed that the benefits of granting tax exemption to Middlecreek Mining will outweigh the costs for a 10-year period. The council approved the ordinance 4-0.
The public hearing on the nuisance structures at 804 and 806 North Olive was opened as scheduled. Because of the change in the council's meeting date, property owner Archie Riggs was unable to attend. It was noted that some work had been done on the structures.
The council voted to continue Riggs' hearing until the Oct. 28 meeting, at which time it will require Riggs to present a plan of his intentions for the structures. Riggs' presence at the meeting Nov. 11 also will be required so the council can get an update and a proposed completion date.
Also continued until Oct. 28, was a decision on the property at 702 N. Locust. That property is involved in a bankruptcy proceeding.
The council entered a 45-minute executive session on the acquisition of property. No action was taken when they returned to open meeting.
The leak at the swimming pool was discussed and the council approved a plan to replace the main seal. Recommendations for other seals will be presented at the next meeting.
The council agreed to advertise the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria police car for sale for a minimum price of $1,500. A decision to sell the car will be made at the Nov. 25 meeting.
Tina Partridge informed the city that she is not interested in the option for shared cost for moving the water service at a rental she owns at 511 Poplar.
Tom Schmidt reported that Mackey and Sons were in last week to replace bulbs in the downtown Christmas lights. The city purchased 1,000 new bulbs and 900 were used. An electrical short in one of the sets will be taken care of by Harms Electric.
Schmidt also told the council that he was informed that there is not enough evidence to prosecute the individuals who vandalized the Christmas lights last summer.
Brock Baker asked Mayor Kevin Ensminger and City Attorney Audie Strotkamp to speak to the council on his behalf regarding the purchase of land south of town for the new sewer project. He is planning on building a house on some property he owns adjacent to the potential sewer site and asked that the sewer lagoons not be placed next to his property. No action was taken.
