Sewer project moves forward
Rosemary Saunders of Reiss and Goodness, city engineers, was present Monday evening at Peabody City Council meeting to let members know the Office of General Council approved plans for Peabody's new sewer. With this hurdle cleared the project can move to bid-letting.
Saunders suggested a couple of time frames and council members voted unanimously on a motion by Gene Schmill to advertise bid-letting this week, hold a pre-bid conference at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 15, and schedule a special city council meeting at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 22 for the purpose of opening the bids on the project.
Another proposal on the city's back burner is repair of the city shop on East Second Street. Council voted 4-1, with Jon Gard dissenting, to reapply for a Heritage Trust grant for repair and renovation of the building in the historic downtown district.
Peabody will pay an additional $950 to update the application.
Council members also heard from Joanna Brazil and Bill Strait of Bucher, Willis and Ratliff that the city will apply for a Transportation Enhancement Grant from the state. Improvements covered by this grant include period lighting and accessories, a walking trail from downtown to city park, and historic markers.
A rough draft of the grant will be presented at next council meeting, followed by a community meeting during the week of Nov. 8.
In other business, the council:
— heard from Cecilia Kennedy of Burns Community Pantry about the need for financial assistance for the program which serves more than 200 families in five communities. Kennedy said more than 30 families are from Peabody. The council expressed interest in the program, but was unable to make a contribution because municipalities are not allowed to use tax funds for projects outside the county. BCP serves communities in three counties.
Council members encouraged Kennedy to contact the local association of churches for assistance.
— heard the pool has been patched, will be refilled, and covered for winter. City superintendent Jeff Benbrook announced pool manager Deanna Baker had not turned in a sales tax number for paying sales tax on concessions, but noted Baker had a verbal confirmation that a number had been issued.
— Benbrook also announced that Deb Buser and Joanna Brazil will keep the city office open when he and city treasurer Stephanie Ax attend clerk school in November.
— agreed to work on an "on call" policy for city employees and have it ready to implement by January 2005.
— agreed to allow city employees a uniform allowance of $300 per year to be spent as each employee sees fit within guidelines established by the city.
— heard that Marion County Sheriff Lee Becker will auction two Peabody properties Nov. 5. The properties, at 302 N. Elm and 607 N. Locust, have both been cleaned up by the city at some expense. Mayor Dallke asked council members to be ready to determine at next meeting the city's commitment to purchase the properties.
— appointed Randy Dallke, Shreves Avery, and Arlen Gfeller to a citizen's committee to create guidelines for the city's "Free Lots" program.
— heard that Stutzman Refuse refused to allow commercial accounts to participate in clean-up weekend. A discussion of regulations will take place before spring clean-up and a determination will be made about commercial customers.
— heard the city has purchased millings for the city park track to fill in low spots and make it more user friendly.
— was instructed to be ready to discuss sidewalk replacement and building permit issues at next meeting.
— went into executive session to discuss personnel. No action was taken on return to open meeting.
