The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Michael Rodeffer – The Quill
La Harpe Water Superintendent Tim Graves informed the La Harpe City council that both high service pumps and their larger bases have now been completed. Graves said FLO-Tech will be here Thursday to wire up and run it to check it out.
Graves informed the council that Tyler from Lavadiere had quoted him $3,000 to fix the broken tile in the storm drain at the Christian Church corner. Council unanimously approved $3,000 for the repair.
Mayor Kat Hasten-Reed informed the council that herself, Tim Graves, City Attorney Chris Scholz and the IEPA had a conference call to discuss the sludge to be removed at the lagoon at the reservoir. Hasten-Reed stated IEPA still insist the sludge need to be removed. She also stated the sludge is covered up with six foot of debris.
Hasten-Reed noted IMEG engineer Jack Kusek was adamant that they had a permit and approval from IEPA to fill in the lagoon with the debris. Hasten-Reed said Kusek told her he would get all their paperwork together and send it to the IEPA by February 14th.
Tim Graves stated the IEPA has a violation against the City of La Harpe for the unclean fill dumped into the lagoon. If Kusek can come up with paperwork and a permit it could help to resolve the issue.
In other reports, street employee David Little informed the council the back hoe has several issues which needs to be fixed. Little stated that he needed to call Lubies from Quincy to have a repair man come and check it out.
Water employee Dan Carpenter noted that the lift station was still blowing fuses and he had called AMP to fix it. Carpenter also said well #2 was still not in operation as it needed a drive for the VFD.
Council also heard from council member Deanna Stambaugh that a customer had accidentally or unknowingly left an outdoor water faucet on and wondered if council would lower the water bill. It was stated the bill was about $225.
After much discussion the council voted 4-0 with Stambaugh abstaining, to not lower the bill. Council did not want to set a precedence to forgive a bill every time someone had excessive water usage.
Mayor Hasten-Reed informed the council the city had received memorial money from the Larry Smith family. They asked that money be used for the city park or reservoir.
In other action the council unanimously approved:
In attendance was Mayor Kat Hasten-Reed, Clerk Lucretia McPeak, Treasurer Monalisa Graves, Council Members, Kelly Harkey, Deanna Stambaugh, Randy Shumaker, Greg Wisslead, and Dave Clover, Police Chief Lynn Hoyt, part-time police officer Larry Finch, Employees, Tim Graves, David Little, Trevor Finch, Dan Carpenter, and Guests, Todd Stevens, Dan Gillett and Quill Reporter Michael Rodeffer.