Contributing writer
Most Durham businesses and citizens pay the city trash pickup fees, but Main Street Cafe’ owner Wendell Wedel pays Waste Connections directly. It costs him more that way and he does not like the discrepancy of charges.
Durham City Council members, at their Jan. 8 meeting, indicated they were not sure why the cafe’ has been billed separately but were willing to assist Wedel in fixing the problem.
“I think Wendell has been pretty good about things like recycling cardboard, so I think we should help him if we can,” council member Gary Unruh said.
The council will confer with the trash company to find out if Wedel’s bill can go through the city office, like other businesses in town.
Mayor Mike Sorenson, also the city water supervisor, told council members the air compressor at the well quit working. He found a smaller one on sale and decided to try it.
After a brief discussion, council members agreed to lower water pressure to reduce stress on the compressor and possibly extend the life of the old compressor.
Sorenson said the city received a letter advertising storm sirens.
Council member Ed Flaming pointed out that most incorporated cities had a warning siren and he thought Durham should get one.
Other council members said they thought most people got their weather information from other sources.
“I wouldn’t want to have a siren unless we have a trained storm spotter out there,” Unruh said. “If we don’t have that, people would depend on it, and it would not be dependable.”
Sorenson invited Flaming to research the issue and bring a proposal to a future meeting.
In other business:
- Two prospects for the city clerk position both declined. Joyce Medley’s retirement is effective at the end of February. Council members discussed the requirement of the clerk living in the city limits.
- Clerk Medley distributed filing information to the mayor and council members in preparation for spring elections. Council member Tom Harmon announced he would not file for re-election.
- Flaming asked about a stop sign on the left side of the street at the south K-15 highway and railroad track intersection. The sign, erected by the state, needs repair.