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La Harpe City Council Approves Recycling

Work On Water Issues

The LaHarpe city council approved an ordinance for a new five-year garbage and recycling pickup contract with Jackson Disposal.

Residents will pay $15.60 per month for the next five years. The new contract includes all of the features and services the city and residents receive now, including two citywide cleanup days, curbside recycling pickup, and extra dumpsters for Summerfest and the LaHarpe Classic Car Show.

Greg and Sherry Ragain received approval to use the city park to hold a car cruise-in on Sept. 26, from 4 to 8 p.m. The council also approved letting cars back into the parking spots on the north side of the park to allow two rows of cars to park there. Other cars will park around the park as needed.

Water Superintendent Tim Graves is inviting a person to present facts to the council at an upcoming meeting about a government program designed to promote using solar power. The program includes tax breaks and promises utility savings to cities.

Graves said he has written and sent in a Plan of Correction for treating elevated levels of haloacetic acids in the water. The last city test level was .062, with the maximum acceptable level set at .060. The council approved spending $185 to have Graves test the water in September before the official sample for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in October to see if the corrective action is working.

Street Superintendent Wayne Humphrey asked to spend an additional $500 for street repairs this week. Oil and chip repairs have been made on most of the worst sections of streets. The extra money is to finish the project for the year.

The city's dump truck needs new brakes. A search is on to find parts due to the truck's age.

The next city supervisor's meeting is Sept. 3.

Marcia Stiller reported that two sink holes are being looked at. One is at the end of 5th Street near the railroad tracks. The second one is at the corner of Sixth Street and Archer Ave.

Stiller is calling to see if Oct. 16 is available for the fall citywide cleanup.

Council member Darrell Kraft said there may be an Eagle Scout candidate interested in installing a new electrical service at the reservoir's campground. He is also looking at prices for building a dock at the reservoir.

The council is pursuing additional bids for fixing the garage bay on the first floor of city hall and using it as the council's meeting room.

Council member Kenneth Foster passed out copies of an ordinance dealing with the demolition of abandoned buildings. He asked to have it discussed at the Sept. 14 meeting.

Aldermen present: Amy Palmer, Dave Mershon, Marcia Stiller, Kenneth Foster, Josiah Neff, Darrell Kraft, Treasurer- Marcia Neff, City Clerk-Lucretia McPeak, and Mayor-Ryan Kienast.

Also present were: Tim Graves, Dan Gillett, Delbert Kreps, Gary Stiller, Doug Endres, Greg Ragain, and Sherry Ragain.