The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By: Michael Rodeffer, The Quill
After coming out of a 40 minute executive session, the La Harpe City Council unanimously approved rehiring Scott Rossen as a full time police officer and assistant police chief at their regular council meeting on April 10th. Rossen will have a 90 day probation period and an annual salary of $43,250.00. Rossen had been a full time police officer in La Harpe and had resigned January 25th, 2023.
Jim and Jeanette Ford addressed the council about one of the trees which had been approved to be taken down by the city and later put on hold. Jim Ford informed the council he had never asked the city to take it down. Ford stated he had asked permission to close the street while a contractor, he hired, took the tree down and also wanted permission to have the debris hauled to the burn pile. Ford noted one third of the tree was splitting away from the main trunk and was dangerous. By general consensus the mayor and the council gave the okay for Mr. Ford to have the tree removed and the street closed while the work is done.
Kurt Dittmer, attorney for the Johnson Trust which the city oversees informed the council that the former Senior Citizen House has had only minimal interest since it has been on the market for approximately 8 months.
Dittmer stated he wanted to let the council know that he has had a $15,000 bid for the house. Council discussed the issue and also by general consensus decided to leave it on the market in hopes of a more fair price.
City Clerk Lucretia McPeak informed the council that the Lloyd Breiner VA bronze plaque had been damaged at the La Harpe Cemetery.
McPeak stated Mitchell Beals had told her the plaque would be replaced free of charge but installation would cost $475 to $525.
McPeak also noted May 12th would be City Spring Clean-Up Day.
McPeak told the council that at the joint committee meeting to discuss the budget appropriations everything was settled and she would be typing it up for approval.
Water Superintendent Tim Graves noted he had 314 surveys back with 290 completed and 24 marked unknown. Graves said he would have to visit those houses to get answers for the survey.
Graves also told council there were some sappling trees growing on the city owned property by the Masonic Lodge and had been asked by the resident if the city could cut them out. The mayor asked if the city employees could remove them and Graves said they could do it.
Interim Police Chief Lynn Hoyt informed the council he had sent one of the hand held radios to the repair shop to see why it wouldn’t stay charged. Hoyt noted if it would need a battery, the battery cost is $100 each. Hoyt also noted he had ordered two ear pieces s for the radios.
Meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.
Present at the meeting were: Mayor Kat Hasten-Reed, Kelly Harkey, Deanna Stambaugh, Randy Shumaker, Jim Lenix, Greg Wisslead, Dave Clover; city clerk Lucretia McPeak, city treasurer Monalisa Graves, water superintendent Tim Graves, street employees Trevor Finch and David Little, interim police chief Lynn Hoyt, Scott Rossen, attorney Kurt Dittmer and guests, Jim and Jeanette Ford, Amanda Donaldson, Larry Finch, Megan Smith, Brian Covert, Dan Gillett and Quill Reporter Michael Rodeffer.