Other items of discussion and actions taken included:
* The council is close to taking action on the city’s new election ordinance. The completed ordinance will be presented for approval at the October meeting.
* City Clerk Cathy Grover and Maintenance Supervisor Shane Bowman attended a webinar offered by LKM on Sept. 17 concerning concealed and carry firearms.
* After some discussion, the council agreed to table for now an ordinance concerning building with shipping containers, storage pods and wood pallets. Council members will conduct further research before bringing it back at a future meeting.
* Council Member Deb Bader will remain as the city’s voting delegate for the League of Kansas Municipalities.
* The Barton County Health Department will conduct a flu shot clinic at Pawnee Rock City Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 2:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. The City Clerk will post signs at the post office and the Co-op.
* The council voted to finally remove all old school zone signs in the city. It has been several years since Pawnee Rock has had a school within the city limits.
* Maintenance Supervisor Shane Bowman presented one quote from P&S for an emergency generator, for $17,000. The city is still waiting on a quote from Johnson Electric on a rebuilt generator, which could save the city money. An emergency generator is sought to ensure the City Hall and Fire Department and Sirens would remain operational in the event of a power outage. The council accepted Bowman’s report.
PAWNEE ROCK — Pawnee Rock’s city council met Sept. 6, and continued to tighten up efforts to increase observance of ordinances in the community. This time, non-resident land owners were the focus. Pawnee Rock Maintenance Supervisor requested the council consider raising fees for cutting weeds and tall grass from $60 per hour to $100 per hour, but only for non-residents, per City Code 8-404. Council member Chris Mead moved to contact City Attorney Ron Smith to draw up an amendment to the code, raising the fee, with a minimum charge for two hours, and including an administrative fee of $50. The motion was approved unanimously by those in attendance.
October is National Firefighter Appreciation Month,and to show appreciation for the assistance Pawnee Rock’s Volunteer Fire Department receives from departments from neighboring small towns, the city council will hold a Fire Appreciation Dinner towards the end of October. Fire Superintendent Heath Dill agreed to check with volunteers to see what night will work best. Chris Mead presented two quotes for catered meals for the event, one from Lone Wolf, and one from Baked Blessings. Heath and the council agreed by consensus to hire Baked Blessings to cater the event, for a cost of $10-$12 per plate, with a maximum cap of $500 on expenditures. Mead will invite firefighters from Great Bend, Albert, Otis and Stafford, as well as Pawnee and River Townships to the dinner. A specific date will be set as soon as preferences are returned.
During his department report, Dill noted that there were some issues with paint on the newer fire truck. Some leakage was also found around the end caps on the water tank. The council gave him the okay to contact Randy’s Body Shop in Lacrosse to inquire about the paint. Maintenance Supervisor Shane Bowman was asked to check into purchasing costs for a large wrench to tighten the caps with, and if there is a way to have a city employee perform the work inside the tank, rather than having to hire someone else. Another electrical issue on the truck will also be studied, and the council will determine how to proceed.
A new development in the adoption of Ordinance, 279, concerning fireworks, will delay action for another couple of months. The council intends to limit the amount of fireworks following poor clean-up of firework residues throughout the town. Dill stated that the State Fire Marshall is adopting new code in November, so the council agreed by consensus to wait until that time to complete action. The ordinance will be brought back in December as unfinished business.
The next meeting of the Pawnee Rock City Council will be Monday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. at the Pawnee Rock City Hall.
