Goessel council discusses variety of matters
The Goessel City Council met Oct. 16 at the Goessel Civic Center conference room.
Dave Schrag is negotiating with the Wheat Heritage Engine Club for the sale of the east half of the Schrag Addition. Schrag attended the meeting on behalf of a request from the club to vacate the east end of Kansas Avenue and all of Ainsworth Drive.
Discussion was held on the pros and cons of vacating the streets and the expense involved. The ground would have to be replatted and an ordinance passed. Since the streets are only platted and not put in yet, the council decided to just leave the streets on the plat in case the owner of the property would ever want to put the streets in.
Council voted three in favor of leaving the plat the way it is and not vacating any streets at this time with James Wiens abstaining due to conflict of interest.
Public works director Arlen Goertzen reported on the Wastewater Treatment Evaluation study done by Chris Cox of Schwab-Eaton Engineering that was required by the Kansas Dept. Of Health and Environment. Cox was unable to attend the meeting, but he provided copies of the report for each of the council members. Goertzen will attend the November meeting to explain the report and give recommendations at that time.
Goertzen also reported that the water well has been cleaned, and during the televising of the casing, a small hole was discovered in the casing just above the aluminum screen. At this point, he reported that it is not creating a problem but will need to be repaired in the future.
Council member Larry Lindeman requested adding some road materials to the entrance of Main Street off of South Buller Street. Goertzen will try to make it less of a drop-off from the asphalt to the sand street.
City clerk Anita Goertzen reported on the many problems that have occurred with the computer and the printer. Merle Schmidt of Great Plains Computers has installed the 2003 version of Norton AntiVirus that should alleviate several of the problems.
Goertzen requested purchasing a laser printer that has the capability to print the utility billing cards more efficiently. Linda Windler of Thoroughbred Systems suggested purchasing a Lexmark T630VE that would be compatible wit the thoroughbred Utility program. The cost of the printer would be approximately $686.
The council instructed Goertzen to get prices from several different sources for the next meeting.
Goertzen will be attending the Master Municipal Clerks Academy Nov. 6 through 7 in Wichita and is in the process of filling out the application for advancing to Master Municipal Clerk.
In other business:
— Mayor Peggy Jay explained the report that was given to the council on the amount of expenditures it takes for the Goessel booth at the Kansas State Fair. This year $939.63 was spent on the booth. It was suggested that the council continue to have the booth, but give other businesses in town the opportunity to donate toward the cost next year.
— A work session will be held at noon Nov. 15 in the community room for the purpose of evaluating the improvements and purchases in 2003 and planning for 2004. Each person was asked to bring a side dish, and Lindeman will provide the meat.
— The governing body, staff and spouses potluck will be held Jan. 10, 2004, at 6:30 p.m. in the community room. The city will provide the meat, and each couple is asked to bring a side dish.
— The council reviewed the Roadway Easement document that has been filed at the Marion County Courthouse granting the city the 30 feet of land needed for the expansion of Osage Street to the north from Marion Avenue to Centennial Street.
The council voted 4-0 to accept the roadway easement contract with Joyful Noise Child Care center.
Those in attendance at the council meeting were Mayor Peggy Jay; council members, Lindeman, Wiens, Larry Schmidt, Racquel Thiesen; city clerk Goertzen, public works director Goertzen. Council member Duane Duerksen was absent.
