Pohlman resigns, Burke appointed interim chief
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
Peabody City Council accepted the resignation Monday night of Peabody Police Chief Jeff Pohlman. Pohlman had sent the city council a letter of resignation dated March 9 with his resignation effective March 23.
Council members went into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel. City clerk Jeff Benbrook remained in the executive session. Upon return to open meeting, councilman Tim Peterson moved to accept Pohlman's resignation. The motion was seconded by councilman Gene Schmill and approved 5-0.
A second executive session followed, also for the purpose of discussing personnel. Benbrook and Sergeant Bruce Burke remained in the meeting.
When council returned to open session councilman Alan Yock moved to appoint Sergeant Burke interim police chief effective March 13. Following a second by Peterson, the motion carried 5-0.
Councilman Ed Slocombe made a motion to terminate the employment agreement with Chief Pohlman, effective March 12. Councilman Rose seconded the motion which passed 4-1, with Schmill opposed.
During public comment session, council members heard from a citizen concerned about the appearance of a metal structure being installed behind the residence at 204 N. Maple.
Benbrook informed council members that no building permit had been issued to the property owner. After discussion, Benbrook was instructed to issue a letter to the owner, have the city building inspector examine the structure, and measure for set-backs. If it is determined the building is in violation, it will have to be removed at the owner's expense.
In other business the council:
— approved a more stringent policy on cash advances to employees who attend training and workshops. The new policy requires a reconciliation of receipts and remaining cash before the employee can return to work. Schmill moved to approve the new policy as written and presented. Peterson seconded the motion and it carried, 4-1 with Slocombe opposed.
— learned the cost of removing two containers of rock, soil, and debris from the former sewer plant and having them hauled to a hazardous landfill in Louisiana is $60,000. More will need to be removed and taken to the same landfill.
— heard a Wichita company is interested in bidding on future street projects including slurry seals, asphalt application, paving, and crack seals. Council instructed Benbrook to contact the company for references.
— learned the park and pool committee met with pool manager Sarahanne Unruh to review equipment requests, purchase of concessions, and scheduling for swim team, swimming lessons, and Marion students.
— heard from Pickens that a crack has appeared in the surface of the newly-repaired swimming pool. The work is accompanied by a five-year guarantee and the company will be here at the end of the month to look at the crack. Pool renovation cost the city $55,000 in 2006.
— approved sending Benbrook to a budget workshop and Harold Brooks to two days of training in excavation and confined space entry in May. Council also will send Pickens and Curtis Gray to the Rural Water Conference in Wichita March 27-29. The two were authorized to attend the necessary workshops and classes to meet additional education requirements for certification.
— tabled until a future meeting any decision on water tower repair and maintenance, discussion on additional swimming pool lighting, relocating pipe at the South Olive lift station, additional training for part-time police officer Jeremy Wilkerson, staffing in the police department, hiring an outside collection agency, and the purchase of a new utility billing program.
— heard that USD 398 has paid its half of the maintenance agreement for the football field.
— heard the school district is of the opinion the city should pay the paving bill for the grade school parking lot because the district considers it a through-street since Pine is a one-way street to the east entrance of the parking lot and drivers have no option of taking another route.
The city considers the area a parking lot and thinks the $1,000 charge for paving the area should be picked up by the school district. After discussion, council approved offering the district a 50-50 split to facilitate payment to Inland Paving, contingent on a written agreement about the financial responsibility of future paving jobs.
— instructed Benbrook to review applications for city compliance officer and return to a future meeting with a recommendation.
— heard from Pickens that flushing is the only solution to water problems on dead end lines unless the city wants to "loop" the ends of water lines which will cost approximately $10,000 per block and $50,000 for each bore under the street.
"If people will contact us when they are having problems we will make every effort to get the lines flushed that day," said Pickens. "We don't know about taste and odor issues unless they tell us."
— discussed a request from a citizen for striping on the south end of Maple near Peabody Farm Service. A conversation with Kansas Department of Transportation indicated their striping division recommended the city not take on the project because of liability issues. Council instructed Sergeant Burke to investigate Standard Traffic Ordinance regulations and report back.
