The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Council Approves New 3rd Ward Alderwoman
By: Mike Rodeffer, The Quill
Monday, June 25th, the La Harpe City Council met at 7 p.m.
The night started with a public meeting to discuss the La Harpe Water Improvements which the council is now planning for.
Megan Crook, representative from the engineering firm of IMEG, explained the project will include a new water plant building, 40' x 60', to be constructed near the water tower.
Also 2 new deep wells will be drilled and rehabilitation of the existing water tower.
Also about 60 blocks of new water main lines will be put in to replace older undersized cast iron lines and the existing water plant building will be demolished after the new plant is up and running, Crook added there will only be one plant to maintain and operate after the project is completed.
Crook anticipates her engineering firm to begin advertising for bids this fall and possibly starting work this winter on some of the project.
Crook added that final plans will be submitted to IEPA and IDOT by the end of June.
La Harpe resident Dean Spangler asked if there was any grant coverage for the project. Crook stated $500,000 has already been approved for the water main project and she anticipates grants from rural development later.
The total project is expected to cost approximately seven (7) million dollars.
Tim Graves added the new building itself should be very low maintenance.
The public meeting adjourned at 7:08 p.m. and the regular council meeting was called to order at 7:09 p.m.
Mayor Kat Hasten-Reed nominated Kelly Harkey as a 3rd Ward Alderwoman to replace Ryan Olson who had resigned earlier in the month.
Harkey was unanimously approved by the council and will be sworn in at the regular meeting on July 9th.
The council approved closing off Archer Avenue behind the school from 8-9:30 a.m. on July 4th for Kid's Block Races.
The council also discussed mowing overgrown properties and a couple vacant and abandoned properties.
The council also discussed a request to have a property at 600 South G Street de-annexed. No action was taken at this time.
In other business the council approved:
Meeting adjourned at 8:57 p.m.
Those in attendance were: Mayor Kat Hasten-Reed; Aldermen Randy Shumaker, Greg Wisslead, Brian Covert, Jerry Burford, Dave Clover; Treasurer Maggie Link; Clerk Lucretia McPeak; Attorney Chris Scholz; Employees, Police Chief Larry Finch, Tim Graves, Trevor Finch, Marli Burt, Ben Schweizer; IMEG Rep. Megan Crook; ESDA Rep. Max Owsley, and Dean Spanger, Kelly Harkey, Chad Burt, Richard Wood, Dan Gillett, and Michael Rodeffer.