Goessel council hears plea for state fair volunteers

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN CYNTHIA GOERZEN
More volunteers are needed to staff Goessel’s booth for the Kansas State Fair next month, Arlen Goertzen, public works director, told the Goessel City Council at their Aug. 17 meeting.



Anyone interested can call Goertzen to schedule a time. Goessel businesses that provide someone to staff the booth can have a picture of their business as part of the display.



“Our community has had a booth at the fair for as long as I can remember,” he said. He said not many towns Goessel’s size do.



The council also discussed vandalism that had occurred at the new bridge near the city building and library. Goertzen reported that the light bulbs from the bridge lighting had been stolen a few days after they had been installed. Other bulbs had been broken.



A substantial amount of trash has been noticed in the creek on both sides of Main Street. Goertzen said he looked into prices of trash cans that could be placed by the new bridge.



Someone has put debris into the library drop box. A council member had seen kids throwing rocks at the Main Street phone booth.



Goertzen said he had been working on installing water lines along Athletic Drive to the new baseball diamonds and the school’s practice field. He said the weeds at the new baseball diamonds have been sprayed.



Goertzen discussed the cost of seeding new grass. He said it would cost $2,600 to $3,200, plus $2,000 for labor, and $300 to $400 for fertilizer.



He said the city is required to erect a sign stating that the baseball fields have been partially funded by a grant from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.



The council authorized City Clerk Anita Goertzen to attend a grant-writing workshop. She said she plans to write a matching grant for seeding the baseball diamonds. The grant would supply half the amount, with the city committed to the other half.



She also plans to write a non-matching grant for bleachers and restrooms at the ball diamonds. The estimated amount needed for bleachers, restrooms, and grass would be $65,000.



Arlen Goertzen had also researched street sign prices. The price for 82 signs (41 locations) would probably be $1,419.42. He said the price would be slightly higher since signs for the new streets had not been included in the estimate.



The signs would be blue with four-inch white reflective letters. Goertzen said the signs in use are still the original ones. They have been repainted several times, but that is not an easy task. The paint is wearing off again, and something needs to be done.



The council approved the purchase of new street signs.



In other business:



— The council authorized the clerk to attend the Kansas Association of Court Management conference in Salina, Sept. 21-22. Therefore, the date of the September council meeting has been changed to Tuesday, Sept. 19.



— Policeman Rollin Schmidt reported about police activity during the month. He said, “I don’t know of any problems during Threshing Days.”



— The council passed a resolution appointing Anita Goertzen as the freedom of information officer.



— The council approved the financial statements of $20,158.56.



— In a special meeting on July 28, the council approved a contract with Utility Maintenance Contractors for $3,546 per year. The contract would provide for the regular cleaning of one-third of the city’s sewer lines per year and 10 percent of the length in free televising of the lines. Debris would be vacuumed out.



— At the special meeting, the council also voted to assess a sewer maintenance fee of $1.50 per working meter per month.



— Goertzen said he would like to start a schedule of rehabilitating manholes, which would cost about $1,000 per manhole.

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