Property owner questions sewer location
Keith Timmermeyer addressed the Peabody City Council Monday night concerning the proposed sewer lagoon and its proximity to his business, GMLS Industries, situated northeast of Peabody on U.S.-50.
Timmermeyer expressed his disappointment in the council's apparent lack of concern for property owners adjacent to the proposed lagoon. He added that he didn't feel the proposed sewer location would have a positive effect on any business interested in locating in the area designated as Peabody's industrial park.
GMLS is on the verge of expanding and adding a new building for addition production, Timmermeyer said. The business, which has been an employer in Peabody for several decades, is growing according to Timmermeyer and the planned expansion will take place.
However, he noted that GMLS has a plant at Carthage, Mo. He told the council he would move the current Peabody facility and the proposed expansion to Missouri if the lagoon was placed next to his property.
Council members explained that the current sewer system is out of compliance according to the state and the city has no option but to build a new one.
Since most of the area surrounding Peabody is in the flood plain, the city had little choice but to locate the lagoon in an area not affected by flooding. While Timmer-meyer's property is not the only acceptable area, it is the one determined to be the most suitable.
Mayor Kevin Ensminger noted that the council relied on the findings of city engineer Al Reiss to determine the best locale for the lagoon.
Timmermeyer asked that the council talk to its engineer and at least consider locating the lagoon elsewhere.
After discussion, councilman Randy Dallke agreed to take the matter to Reiss and see about looking at some other options if it could be done without compromising the time frame determined by the state for getting the project started.
Timmermeyer was told that the city would keep him abreast of its findings.
In other business:
The property at 702 North Locust was discussed as a nuisance. Attorney Dan Baldwin was present to represent the interests of John and Barbara White, who hold a second mortgage on the property. Baldwin told the council that it is in bankruptcy and currently is between trustees.
His clients do not have access to the property, but do have an interest in not having it condemned by the city. Baldwin asked for and was granted a 30-day extension to give him time to address the trustee issue and find out the intentions of the first mortgage holder.
The council agreed to send city clerk Cindy Harms to municipal clerk and municipal court clerk classes, purchase a 2003 Crown Victoria for the police department on a 3-year lease program through the Peabody State Bank, and to schedule a work day at the city park in September.
The city had been contacted by a citizen about spraying for mosquitoes since the discovery of the West Nile virus in Kansas. The council decided not to spray for mosquitoes again this year, but to include a sprayer in its budget proposal for next year.
Jon Gard noted that Scott Weber had finished a "tree dam" on the north side of his property to prevent erosion and keep the soil from running off onto 9th Street. Gard wanted the city to provide a load of dirt. The council tabled a decision on the matter until members could look at the project.
It was noted that city attorney Marc Wilkerson had left the law firm he was with and was starting one of his own. Action on the matter was tabled until the mayor could look into other options.
Evaluation forms for the CDGB administrator of the sewer project were turned in by council members and forwarded to Reiss and Goodness for selection.
The council approved paying one-half of the cost of sending Peabody fire chief Ronnie Harms to an 80-hour arson investigation class. The fire district will pay the remaining tuition fee.
Harms and assistant fire chief Kelly Cook also requested the city pay one-half of the cost for each to attend the annual meeting of the Kansas Association of Fire Chiefs in Topeka in October. Again, the Marion County Fourth Fire District would pay the balance.
A decision to approve the expense was tabled until the next meeting after councilman Dallke indicated that there might be other firemen interested in attending the meeting.
