Peabody council signs EMT class agreement
Peabody City Council approved an agreement with JoAnn Knak to teach emergency medical technician classes.
The council requested clarification of issues related to insurance coverage and cost, cost of the instructor, and reimbursement from Marion County.
Classes will begin in Peabody within a few weeks.
A street resurfacing project will begin today with Inland Corporation as the contractor.
The five-year program will provide overlay for five city streets.
Residents who removed city sidewalks will be asked to replace the sidewalks.
A sidewalk repair/replacement project will begin soon, Benbrook reported.
"Some folks have removed the brick sidewalks and generally used them in their backyard as a patio," Benbrook said, "and forgot to replace them."
The city will notify customers of the ordinance in the monthly newsletter that accompanies utility bills.
"We'll give them about 30 days to let it soak in," Benbrook said. "We'll compose a list of potential violators, send a letter, and give them 20 days to take the necessary action."
Violators can replace the sidewalk or notify the city if unable to replace it in the time allotted.
Jeff Benbrook, city administrator, presented information to the council on behalf of Peabody resident Julie Evans.
Benbrook said trucks were parking illegally in a designated parking area on First Street, near Santa Fe Park. The area does not allow refrigerated trucks, cattle trailers, or trailers that are connected to the cab.
Evans complained refrigerated trucks were parked overnight and the compressors caused loud noises.
The information was passed on to the police department and will be monitored for possible violation and citations.
Don Bloomer replied to a nuisance complaint of rental property he owns at 708 Poplar. He was working with his legal counsel in an attempt to require his tenants to cleanup the property or be evicted.
Bloomer will provide a status report to the council within 30 days.
Following a 15-minute executive session to discuss personnel issues, the council decided to begin city employee evaluations during the Sept. 13 meeting. Two employees will be scheduled at each meeting until completed.
In other business:
— Benbrook updated the council on absenteeism of city employees — one employee was absent six days, another absent three days.
— Debra Buser, health and safety officer, gave an update on nuisance properties.
— Jeff Pohlman, chief of police, provided a status report of inoperable vehicles. A previous program resulted in 100 vehicles being identified with all but two vehicles disposed.
Pohlman had identified 32 vehicles with completion of enforcing the ordinance anticipated by the end of November.
— A year-to-date budget analysis was provided by Benbrook.
— Operational concerns were addressed regarding a piece of city equipment requiring repair but the city has been unable to locate the necessary part. Benbrook explained that was the reason road rights-of-way have not been mowed.
— Council reviewed certification of special assessments for private properties that were mowed by the city. Unpaid assessments will be placed on the county tax roll.
— A 15-minute executive session to discuss police-related personnel issues was held. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— Pending documents were reviewed by the council regarding intercity agreements with the City of Hillsboro regarding drinking water.
— Appropriations of $16,018 were approved for payment.
— An interagency agreement between the city and Peabody-Burns Unified School District 398 was reviewed. The city donated property to the school district containing an emergency water well. When the land was donated, the water rights were not intended to be given to the district.
The council will meet at 7 p.m. Aug. 23 in the council room.
