The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

La Harpe City Treasurer Maggie Link Resigns

by: Michael Rodeffer- The Quill

At the June 10th regular meeting, Treasurer Maggie Link verbally gave her resignation to the council effective September 1st. Link stated "I will be done September 1st. I will give you guys the summer and properly train someone."

Link, earlier in the meeting, had said as of July 1st she would no longer be available on Thursday to be at the city hall office. (because of increased hours at her main job)

Link was appointed to the treasurer's position in March of 2018. Link was elected as La Harpe City Treasurer in the April 2019 election.

The council discussed the city manager/bookkeeper position. There was considerable debating on adding a new position and whether it should be full-time or part-time and just exactly what duties would be expected. The matter was eventually table for now. Clerk Lucretia McPeak again offered to have the city hall phone wired into her house so she could check messages each day.

IMEG Rep Megan Crook brought the council up to date on the water project. Crook said the Contract 1 for water plant was progressing good. Crook said the pipes and lines were all in and they were getting ready to pour the floor.

Crook said the well was at a depth of 500-600 feet and would probably have to be 1200-1300 feet.

Crook reported 80% of the water main lines were in the ground with 3 crews working most days.

During public comment Robert Strang asked about his options for hooking onto the sewer. Strang was informed he would have to pay for his building to be hooked up to the sewer system. The closest main sewer line is at 6th street or Monmouth Road and Strang didn't want to pay to go that far to reach it.

Also under public comment, Bart Thompson stated his opinion on hiring a city manager/bookkeeper to be at city hall during the day. Thompson said in the past, with a bigger population, the city had never had that position and didn't think it was necessary. Thompson said he was under the impression that no other positions were going to be eliminated so having that position on top of the other positions you already have was not necessary and would like to see the money better spent somewhere else.

In other city business the council approved:

• paying Central Stone $196.89 from motor fuel tax
• minutes for May
• accept and pay treasurer's report
• 3 change orders for water project in amount of $11,454.41
• pay estimate #1 (Contract 1) to Trotters for $164,569.05
• pay estimate #1 (Contract 3) to Laverdiere for $57,870.00 (Subject to RO approval)
• pay estimate #1 (Contract 4) to Laverdiere $538,757.47 (Subject to RO approval)
• IMEG invoice #18001387-7 for $40,724.49
• amount of $1,635.00 to Scholz, Loos, Palmer, Siebers and Duesterhaus LLP statement
• an annual cost-of-living employee raise of 3% effective July 1st.
• replacing two outer ballistic vests for police department at a cost of approximately $230.00 each.
• removing a tree at Archer and B Street and a dead tree at the city park.
• having Laverdiere bore under the highway at Main and East at a cost of $3000.00. (This pipe was found to be 2" cast and needs replaced)

Council adjourned at 8:43 p.m.

In attendance were La Harpe Mayor Kat Hasten-Reed, council members Kelly Harkey, Randy Shumaker, Greg Wisslead, Brian Covert, Dave Clover, and Jerry Burford, City Clerk Lucretia McPeak, city employees: David Little, Larry Finch and Tim and Monalisa Graves; IMEG Representative Megan Crook; guests: Bart Thompson, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Strang, Dan Gillett, and Michael Rodeffer/The Quill. Treasurer Maggie Link arrived at 7:40 p.m.