Ronnie Harms retires as fire chief; pool opening in limbo
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
Former Peabody fire chief Ronnie Harms was honored May 30 by Peabody Mayor Tom Schmidt and Peabody City Council for his years of service to the community as fire chief and as a volunteer firefighter.
Schmidt presented an etched glass plaque to Harms as well as a "key to the city" as a token of the community's appreciation for his years of service. Several firemen were on hand for the presentation.
Harms retired from service to the fire department in April. Bret O'Dell was elected new fire chief by department members.
Council members reviewed a list of problems with the new sewer plant. Engineer Al Reiss was present, but declined to address any of the problems, saying he would prefer to comment in writing.
The city approved a change order for an extension to project completion by Middlecreek Corporation, caused by the mercury detected in the former sewer plant. Middlecreek is unable to finish removing the concrete in the clarifier until notified by KDHE that it is safe to dispose of the materials.
In other business the council:
— reviewed an application for a liquor store at 111 West 9th Street. The application was submitted by Beth Sprague. The council made no formal comment on the application, but authorized city clerk Jeff Benbrook to certify it as presented and send it to the state.
— reviewed the nuisance properties at 909 N. Vine and agreed the nuisance had been abated. Council noted the case is closed. Also reviewed the property at 411 N. Maple and a letter from owner David Blythe explaining he is working in Florida for several months. Council instructed Benbrook to contact Blythe by letter and get a written commitment about his progress.
— was introduced to Kristen Hooper, new Peabody Main Street director.
— heard from public works superintendent Darren Pickens the pool repairs did not hold and other steps need to be taken if the pool is to open this summer. City employees will install a sump pump in the area where the water is seeping into the ground and pump it back into the pool. According to testing done by Pickens the chlorine content is not compromised at the area where it would be recycled into the pool.
City employees estimated the cost of the project would be about $500. If the solution does not work, council will need to look at closing the pool for the summer. The leak in the seams allows $200 to $300 of water a day to escape from the pool.
— approved the purchase of a gas detector and payment for power sweeping the streets and gutters for July Fourth. Council will also purchase at sweeper attachment for the skid steer to be used to keep the streets cleaned after the initial effort. Purchase of a pressure washer and contract for sanitary sewer cleaning service were put on the list of items to be budgeted on the 2007 list of expenses.
— approved a 50-cent per hour pay increase for Curtis Gray following his certification as a class 1 water operator.
— discussed an increase in what the city pays the Kansas Water Office for drinking water. The proposed increase will be incremental beginning in 2007 and increasing until 2020. No action was taken.
— heard the police department experienced the loss of seven years of data when the department's hard drive was corrupted. Some may be retrieved, but the cost in labor to re-enter the information will be high. The computer problems have been resolved, however.
— heard that Frank Woodruff has completed the painting of the city building. Woodruff is working to secure donations to repair the second story windows.
— was invited to attend the first block beautification party barbecue in the 600 block of North Sycamore.
— learned of a special preliminary budget meeting at 6:30 p.m. June 19 in the city building.
