The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Christy Kienast, The Quill
In absencde of Mayor Ken Brown, Brian Lovell served as Mayor Pro-tem Monday March 10th at the La Harpe City Council meeting at the La Harpe City Hall.
City engineer Eric Moe was present to update the council on the status of the storm sewer project.
Preliminary designs are done for the 53 acre area. The committee for the $1.1 million dollar project is looking for funding options. It was reported there is $35,000 maximum available in engineering search grant funds.
Shannon Duncan from W.I.R.C. was also present to update the council on the water main project.
It was found that La Harpe can use city employees to do some of the work on the water main project.
The next step is to search for funding and finalize the project design. Duncan told the city crews to keep really good records of the water main breaks, take pictures, etc.
La Harpe has spent over $8500 since August repairing main breaks.
She said, the upcoming CDAP grant application is due on June 2, 2014.
Duncan also told the council about a possible park grant.
The downside for La Harpe is only one site can be picked. With the city being the owner of the city park and the park around the reservoir, that could be a difficult decision.
The playground equipment in the city park is upwards of 50 years old, the bandstand needs work, the basketball area also needs work.
At the reservoir, the shelter houses need work, and playground equipment needs updated.
The city would get reimbursed 50% of what is spent, and the most money you could get reimbursed would be $750,000.
Community involvement is needed and fundraising is a great idea, Dunan said.
An architect and/or engineer to donate their time and put designs together would be a great help as well.
Hancock County Economic Development Board Executive Director Dustin Berg has been in town several times lately, the last time being last week for breakfast and on Monday, March 10th, visiting businesses around town.
City employee Wayne Humphrey said he picked up a load of blacktop patching and plans to start laying it as soon as possible.
Water department employees asked the council for permission to rope off the back part of the road at the reservoir because it is falling completely apart. The council agreed something needed to be done. Also repair work is needed on the uptown water plant. The painting scheduled to be done will be postponed until next year.
Marcos and Minnie Cardenas Toto met the council tonight. New to town, the couple will be taking care of the city cemetery. They have already been out picking up branches and limbs. The couple has their own landscaping business, having done the Governor's Mansion in Chattanooga, Tennessee and other nice homes in that area.
The council noted that they cannot do anything with the backhoe until the beginning of the fiscal year in May.
The raising of water rates was discussed once again and the percentage of increase. It has been 10 years since rates were raised. Discussed with the city attorney Kurt Dittmer is planned.
A motion was passed to charge $25 whenever city officers serve papers such as eviction notices etc.
The city now has a proper impound lot behind city hall in the chain link fenced area.
Estimates were received for in-car video cameras for the city police cars.
A motion was passed to buy the rearview mirror mounted cameras for both the city police truck and the Impala including installation at an estimated cost of $4600.
There was a reminder that the storm siren will be sounded on the first Tuesday of eac h month. City wide clean-up is scheduled for Friday, May 9th. There are Little League meetings set up for March 19th at 7:00 p.m. and March 23 at 6:00 p.m. both at City Hall.
The next city council meeting will be Monday, March 24th at 7:00 p.m.