The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By Michael Rodeffer, The Quill
Kathy Shupe, La Harpe city auditor went over the audit report with the city council at the April 12th La Harpe City Council meeting. The council unanimously approved Shupe's audit report.
The council also unanimously approved renewing the liquor license for THE BAR, R&M Market, and Casey's. The council had given the businesses a break last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year the council set the prices back to the regular prices according to the city ordinance.
Deer population control was brought up by Dave Clover. Clover said a state biologist had called him and advised that the city would need to come up with a set of rules and hunting in certain areas of town only during deer season, preferably bow season. The biologist recommended selling permits for one week at a time.
The council was considering the cemetery, reservoir, and Park District for possible hunting locations. Mayor Kat Hasten-Reed and Kelly Harkey did not think it was appropriate for hunting at the cemetery as several people walk and drive thru to visit loved ones graves. Greg Wisslead commented you would get complaints if a deer would die in someones yard. After more discussion, Clover made a motion to pursue deer hunting at the cemetery, reservoir, and Park District pending the Park District's approval and the La Harpe Township's approval for the section of the cemetery which is not in the city. The vote failed by a 4-2 vote. Brian Covert and Randy Shumaker voted for the motion and Clover, Harkey, Deanna Stambaugh, and Greg Wisslead voted against the motion.
Dave Clover informed the council he had been in contact with 2 companies about an ALL-CALL system. This could alert towns people of boil orders, town meetings, weather warnings etc. Clover said both companies did basically the same services. A company called Regroup also was approved and licensed by the government to put out Fema or government warnings also. Plus Regroup was about 1/3 the cost of the other company. Regroup charges $2,500 the first year and $2,075 a year after that but only wanted a 1 year contract at a time. The council agreed to set up a joint committee meeting for 6 p.m. on May 10th, to listen to a presentation by the Regroup company by video meeting.
Clerk Lucretia McPeak informed the council that Attorney Kurt Dittmer would be at the next meeting, April 26th, to discuss farm and hunting leases. McPeak also informed the council that May 7th would be City-wide clean-up day.
City attorney Chris Scholz informed the council that he had talked to Mr. Steve Comstock, owner of previous Flower Shop located on corner of Main and North Center street. Scholz said Mr. Comstock was making plans to repair the east wall which had some loose bricks falling on the sidewalk. Scholz said he hoped to remain in contact with Mr. Comstock.
In other business the council unanimously approved:
At the end of the meeting, Brian Covert informed the council that this would be his last meeting and that he had given the Mayor his letter of Resignation. Covert's resignation will leave a seat open in Ward 1.
Present at the meeting were Mayor Kat Hasten-Reed, Kathy Shupe, City attorney Chris Scholz, Treasurer Monalisa Graves, Clerk Lucretia McPeak, board members Kelly Harkey, Deanna Stambaugh, Dave Clover, Brian Covert, Greg Wisslead, Randy Shumaker. Also ESDA Representative Max Owsley, City Police officer Marlie Burt, city employees David Little and Trevor Finch; Dan Gillett and Michael Rodeffer.
City Police Chief Larry Finch arrived at 7:25 p.m.
Meeting adjoined at 8:27 p.m.