Goessel council approves hiring backup operator
Goessel City Council met July 18 in the civic center conference room. The city has received a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency which will cover the cost of the initial training and certification testing expenses for a backup operator for the water system.
The backup operator will be paid for work performed and when on call. The backup operator also will work during sick leave or vacation leave of the regular operator. The council approved 4-1 hiring a public water supply system backup operator.
Mayor Peggy Jay informed the council that after receiving the paperwork and the terms of the lease from Government Capital Corporation, she decided to finance the playground equipment through the bank at an interest rate of approximately 4.6 percent. The interest rate through Government Capital Corporation was approximately 11 percent.
Council member Larry Schmidt informed the other council members about several phone calls he has received from residents concerning constructing a water park in Goessel. The council agreed by consensus to put together a task force of youth and parents to draft a proposal for financing, location, and type of water park. Council members Schmidt and Racquel Thiesen will put together the task force.
The consensus of the council was that they will ride in the Threshing Days Parade to be held at 10 a.m. Aug. 6.
The council heard that resident Orie Voth still needs to have the plastic line used as a drainage pipe for sump pumps from the three houses along the west edge of the park checked out. The pipe seems to be plugged and Voth would like the city to fix it. Council member James Wiens will check with public works director Joe Base about the problem.
John Voth informed the council of his willingness to work with the city to negotiate a price and payment terms for some of his lots in Voth Addition. No action was taken.
City clerk Anita Goertzen will be working at the post office from Aug 5 through Aug. 12. The city office will be open from 12 to 1:30 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday of that week.
In other business council:
— Approved proceeding with an agreement with Ron and Patsy Dirksen and to waive all costs associated with the sewer tap and meter installation.
— Discussed the need for additional police patrolling in the evenings.
— Went into executive session for 15 minutes for preliminary discussion relation to the acquisition of real property.
— Discussed the city's sponsoring a flea market in the park using booth fees for the park improvement project.
— Discussed purchasing a touch-read wand and several meter heads to replace the meters that are continually under water.
— Agreed by consensus to put the wooden playground equipment, the teeter totters, and small wooden swing set up for sealed bids.
