The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

City Council Approves Purchase of $50k CD

by Mike Rodeffer, The Quill

The council approved the purchase of a $50,000 CD from Fortress Bank for 12 months at 1.8% interest.

The council approved a $500 payment to Gary Housewright for the use of the Johnson ground which Housewright leases. Contractors had used the ground to store some materials and had some machinery on this ground, this money would compensate Housewright for the use and inconvenience on the ground.

The council also approved an easement agreement between Housewright and the city so contractors or city employees can have access to the area in and around the water tower until the water treatment project is done.

Housewright also was interested in changing his lease from a yearly lease to a monthly lease. The council approved a motion to amend Housewright's base contract from a yearly to a monthly lease. The new lease will become effective April 1, 2020 and details will need to be executed by Kurt Dittmer.

Clerk Lucretia McPeak asked for a motion to appropriate funds from motor fuel tax for a $280.88 bill from Hancock County and $71.96 bill from Central Stone. Motion was made and approved.

IMEG representative Megan Crook updated the council on the city water project. Crook stated the water plant building had been insulated and progress was going well on the inside work. Crook also informed the council the 2 new drilled wells both had good quantity and are waiting on testing as to the quality of the water. Crook said the lift station structure was in place and they were just waiting on some pumps and valves to finish up. Crook said all water mains are in and informed the council there is just under one million dollars left in the loan after the payments are made this night.

Clover asked Crook about some fire hydrants not facing the same way as the older ones. Crook said the hydrants can be turned to satisfy the city.

In other business the council unanimously approved:

• August minutes, treasurer's report and paying of bills
• Contract 1 pay applications #4 for Trotter Construction for $183,053.16 (for work done on water plant building which includes finishing the block walls, trusses, roofing, and electrical, etc.)
• Contract 3 pay application #4 for Laverdiere Construction for $186,181.20 (for test pumping wells, drilling of wells, etc.)
• Contract 4 pay application #4 for Laveriere Construction for $141,123.60 (work on water mains and lift station)
• Contract 5 pay application #1 for Maguire Iron for $97,042.50 (welding and putting up brackets and railings on water tower)
• Attorney Chris Scholz invoice #955047 for $435 for water project
• IMEG invoice #18001387.00-10 for $37,436.96 for engineering fees
• updating the personnel policy to allow all full time city employees to use comp time by the end of the calendar year
• approved the purchase of tires and repairs for the police department's Impala up to $1500.

Present were council members Kelly Harkey, Randy Shumaker, Brian Covert, Dave Clover, Jerry Burford, Mayor Kat Hasten-Reed, Clerk Lucretia McPeak, treasurer Monalisa Graves, Attorney Chris Scholz, IMEG Representative Megan Crook, employees Trevor Finch, David Little, Larry Finch, Tim Graves, Dan Carpenter, Dan Gillett and Michael Rodeffer. Greg Wisslead was absent.

The council went into executive session at 8:20 p.m. and returned to regular session at 8:50 p.m. No action was taken.

Council adjourned at 9:15.