City Council amends fireworks permit
The Goessel City Council met May 15 in the conference room at the Goessel Civic Center.
Anita Goertzen, city clerk presented a fireworks permit to the council. Several changes were made to the permit concerning the time during which fireworks will be permitted only on July 4.
The council accepted and approved, 5-0, the amended fireworks permit allowing Goessel residents to shoot fireworks from 10 a.m. to midnight on July 4.
Applications will need to be turned in to the city office by July 1 to be reviewed by the police department and the fire department. Goertzen will fax a copy of the permit to the attorney for his opinion on the permit.
The council also discussed the current state of the lagoons. When the lagoons were put in, they were designed for 600 people and the population of Goessel is now 565. One solution would be to put in another pond. The city is on a list for a low interest revolving loan for the sewer system similar to the loan the city received for the water tower. Chris Cox of Schwab Eaton suggested having a survey done on just the wastewater. Mayor Peggy Jay instructed Arlen Goertzen, public works director, to get a proposal from the engineer.
Reports on the water tower update were made. The new tower is hooked up and has been in use since May 11 and has increased the water pressure by eight to 10 pounds. The telemetry system is not installed yet, but reports are that everything seems to be working well. The old tower was slated to be demolished on Monday.
A light on the top of the tower is not required due to the height of the tower. It would cost an additional $500-600 to have one installed. The council felt it was unnecessary.
In other business:
— Wiens reported that the fire department has purchased a generator, and it will be hooked up to the water tower to come on automatically if the power is off for any length of time.
— Public works director Goertzen questioned building permit requirements for moving a garage from one property in town to another. After reviewing the code, the council decided that just a building permit and fees should be charged.
— Goertzen also reported that asphalt millings have been spread out on the parking lot south of the civic center, and the parking barriers have been arranged to allow for organized parking.
— Goertzen informed the council about the requirement on the sewer discharge permit to test for ammonia content. Goertzen received a letter form KDHE questioning why the city hasn't been testing for ammonia. Goertzen called engineer Cox, and Cox will get a report to KDHE. Goertzen has contacted the lab to begin testing for ammonia on the next sample that is sent in.
