City Council receives list of overdue utility bills
The Goessel City Council met last Thursday at the Goessel Civic Center conference room.
The council was given a list of overdue utility bills by Anita Goertzen. Some of the bills were from people who have moved without paying their final bill and others from current residents who have past due bills.
Goertzen asked for authorization to file the overdue bills from people who have left in small claims court. The council agreed by consensus and stated that the utility ordinance should be enforced and anyone not paying by the 20th of the month should be disconnected.
Discussion was held on the current utility deposit amount and possibly changing the ordinance to include a connection fee and a utility deposit.
Council decided to wait until the ordinance needs to be revised for rates or other reasons.
Council discussed the removal of the house at 101 N. Buller and the house demolition at 202 W. Main that the city is in the process of purchasing. Goertzen checked with KDHE and David Brazil, Marion County Public Health Sanitarian, about burning the house off site.
Both informed Goertzen that it was illegal, so Goertzen suggested getting roll-off containers from Stutzman Refuse and having them dispose of it.
Demolition won't begin on the 202 W. Main house until March.
The council instructed Anita Goertzen to write the Swansons a letter giving them 10 days to remove their remaining items from the 202 W. Main property.
The Lions Club sent a letter to the council requesting a donation to their project for lights on the walkway around the Bethesda Home duplex area. After discussion, the council instructed Goertzen to send a letter to the Lions Club stating that the city appreciates all the work the Lions Club does for the community, but because the council is stewards of the taxpayers' money and Bethesda Home involves private property, the council felt it would not be appropriate to give a donation. If there would be some other way to help support the project, other than through a monetary donation, the council would be willing to help out.
