The council agreed to allocate the $275,000 needed to move forward with looking at the remodeling of City Hall, mainly for security improvements and to free up more space.
They also approved $2,500 to Shawnee Professional Services for engineering and surveying services to look into a plan for a replacement apron for the fire station. The apron is made of concrete and would drain excess water. The council will approve doing the work at next month’s meeting. Also accepted was a $95,000 bid for Contract A and a $1,743,000 bid for Contract B for construction of the new water tower.
Discussion and/or action authorizing improvements to the Market Street and Main Street bridges was tabled until the next meeting.
$30,000 of budgeted funds was released for tuck-pointing McCoy Memorial Library. Tuck-pointing is a way of replacing old mortar with mortar that closely matches the color of the bricks and then embedding narrow lines of putty in a contrasting color down the centers of the new mortar joints.
The aldermen approved $10,000 in TIF funds for the establishment of grants for improvements in the facade of the buildings on the downtown square.
They agreed to assess a $25 late-fee at the close of the fifth business day for those residents delinquent on paying their utility bills. The city previously had no late fee charge.
$3,800 in funds was released for the demolition and cleanup of the structure at 702 South Hancock Street and $3,200 for the structure at 609 East O’Henry Street.
A liquor license renewal request from Debra Wells of the Main Street Diner located at 109 West Main Street was approved.
City Wide Halloween Trick-or-Treat Night will be from 6 to 8 PM on October 31st. Residents should turn on their porch lights.
The Kiwanis thanked the council members for their help on the fall festival, which was well-attended.
Work on the Isaac Walton Cabin is going well.
Mayor Dick Deitz read a proclamation designating October 6-12 as Fire Prevention Week.
The board went into executive session for 30 minutes and announced the resignation of Sharon Ingram as city treasurer effective September 30th. A committee was formed to look through all 53 applications to hire and fill three city employee openings that were advertised.
