Tampa City Council: Council considers speed limit change on Limestone
Contributing writer
The Tampa City Council will hold a pre-bid meeting at 2 p.m. Nov. 18 for all contractors interested in submitting bids for the demolition of derelict buildings.
Potential bidders will have an opportunity to obtain complete information about the project and have questions answered. The bidding process will then open on Dec. 2.
This procedure was decided in a special meeting with Rose Mary Saunders, grant coordinator, and William Morris, architect, preceding the regular council meeting Monday evening, Oct. 7. The city also agreed to pay $1,799 for work done up to this time.
Bill Hendricks came to the regular meeting to present a proposal for accident insurance on the volunteer firefighters. He explained that the state of Kansas has set up a fireman's relief association to provide benefits for volunteer fire fighters injured on duty or for the families of any who lose their lives.
Annual payments are given to small fire departments, which they can place in savings or use to buy insurance.
The fire department for the city and Blaine and Clark townships has been paying an annual premium of $1,408 for a $45,000 death benefit and a $300 weekly disability benefit.
The least expensive of three plans presented by Hendricks offered those benefits along with other coverage such as an added $10,000 in the death benefit for each dependent child. The annual premium for that plan would be $1,819, or $1,697.73 per year for three years. Two other plans would provide more coverage at higher premiums.
Although the department is reorganizing as a fire district, effective Jan. 1, 2003, the present insurance coverage runs out Oct. 15, so this decision had to be made before the new fire board assumes the governing of the fire district.
Two members of the new fire board, Jim Novak and Tom Leihy, were present, but the townships were not represented. However, Hendricks had discussed the plans with the fire chief, and the fire board had been invited to attend the meeting. Sub-chief Donald Mueller was also present.
After considerable discussion, Leihy moved to accept Plan 1. Tim Svoboda seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Leihy said he had heard comments from citizens about the 20 mph speed limit on the Limestone Road through Tampa. Many feel it is slower than necessary and difficult to observe. Leihy said he had checked with the county engineer and was told the speed limit was in the city's jurisdiction. He asked if the council wanted to consider raising it.
"I think 35 mph would be a reasonable speed," Paul Backhus said.
A different perspective was expressed by Reuben Kerbs.
"I'm not in favor of increasing it too much," he said. "If you're coming onto the road from the side street south of the tracks, you can't see a car coming from the north until it is on the tracks. I don't think we ought to raise the speed limit; I think we ought to stop the violators."
After considering that aspect of the situation, the council decided to leave the speed limit as is.
Mayor Jim Clemmer reported damage to the roof of the senior center, and the council discussed a number of roofers who might do the repairs.
"Tomorrow morning at 9, there should be an adjuster here to look at the post office roof," Clemmer said. He suggested that he could have him check the roof of the hall at the same time.
Clemmer had conferred with the refuse company about furnishing containers for trash. Starting at the first of next year, the county will assess the fee for accepting trash at the transfer station on taxes.
Stutzman's fee for picking up trash is now $6.75 per month. If he furnished and maintained containers, the fee would be $7.00 for a small container or $7.25 for a large one.
The council discussed the possible change briefly but took no definite action.
The "No Alcohol in Dugout" signs that had been ordered for the ball field were too large and would block the view. The mayor had learned they could be returned. He suggested getting 12 inch by 18 inch signs from another source for approximately half the price of the others. The council authorized him to make the exchange.
Leihy suggested getting automatic door closers for the doors at the senior center, since he had noticed they are often left open.
"I think the saving on utility bills would pay for them in the long run," he commented.
Wilbert Backhus moved that the city look into getting the automatic closers. On a second from Svoboda, the motion carried.
Among the bills approved for payment was one for $423 for rewinding the sewer pump. The work is guaranteed for a year, and Wilbert reported that the pump is functioning well so far. There were some bills for machinery repair and other routine expenses.
The November meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in accordance with the normal winter schedule.
