Re-elected council members sworn in at Goessel

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN CYNTHIA GOERZEN
Goessel City Clerk Anita Goertzen administered the oath of office at the April 17 city council meeting for the three incumbent council members who were re-elected: Raquel Thiesen, Duane Duerksen, and Jim Wiens.

The other council members are Larry Schmidt, Larry Lindeman and Mayor Peggy Jay.

The council reappointed Anita Goertzen as city/court clerk, Jody Unruh as treasurer, Joe Base as acting police chief, Bryson Mills as judge, and J. Robert Brookens as attorney.

The council discussed permits for July 4 fireworks. Although the policy has not been finalized, council members agreed that only Goessel residents may apply for a permit. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older. The city will not be responsible for accidents.

Restrictions for permissible times and locations were discussed, also restrictions on specific fireworks. Residents will need to clean up any debris. Details will be discussed further. Reed reminded the council that fireworks are illegal in rural areas of the county.

The council spent a considerable time discussing harvest safety issues, particularly loaded trucks from west of Goessel that use Main Street to access K-15 for a short distance before they turn into the Co-op’s grain storage facility.

Jay also noted the long line of trucks that forms on the highway waiting to enter the facility.

Lindeman observed, “That’s a hazard, having them on the highway.”

Wiens agreed. “It would be a safety issue to get those (loaded) trucks off the highway.”

Anita Goertzen said the Kansas Department of Transportation will not allow “trucks entering” signs in the area of the grain-storage facility.

The council discussed directing grain trucks onto Osage Street en route to the grain facility. Public works director Arlen Goertzen said Osage Street is only 30 feet wide, so Wiens suggested making Osage a one-way street going north just during harvest time from K-215 north to the Co-op’s facility.

After the grain has been unloaded, the empty grain trucks would then enter K-15 at a safer speed.

The council discussed constructing a street that would be located north of the former Barnstormer Restaurant property. It would run between the day care center and the Craft addition.

Arlen Goertzen said he would check with Westar and Moundridge Telephone Co. about street construction in that area. He said a manhole is also located there. A street in that location would help promote safety for grain trucks.

The council voted to purchase an Excel Hustler mower from Excel Industries in Hesston. Wiens said the mower has good components and predicted it would last 15 to 20 years.

Goertzen expressed appreciation for the larger deck. He had tried a mower with a 72-inch deck.

“The nice thing is: it gets a lot of grass mowed in a hurry,” he said.

Goertzen said the city’s current mower is smaller, and it takes a day to mow around the ball park with it.

In other business:

The council discussed mosquito control.

“There are already some out there,” Goertzen said. “I don’t have any extra (chemical) to put in the (mosquito) sprayer.”

Duerksen asked about treating the creek. Goertzen said a case of chemical for treating standing water would cost $77.

Policeman Eric Reed reported that a dog-bite case had been referred to the city’s attorney. He questioned the council about bigger dogs: “Are they going to be contained? Are they going to break a chain?” He expressed concern over a Rotweiler in town.

Goertzen said the water tower has been painted.

“I think the paint turned out really well,” he said.

Council members passed on questions about the lettering on the tower. Goertzen said the letters were painted according to the engineer’s specifications.

Goertzen thought the water tower would be ready for use in early May.

Goertzen said 7,000 feet of sewer pipe in the west part of town had been cleaned, and 700 feet had been televised.

Anita Goertzen requested a CD writer/burner for the city’s computer to make back-ups to store off-site. She also requested a memory up-grade for the city’s computer since the computer is slow.

The council pased a motion by Wiens to allow up to $175 for a CD burner and memory upgrade for the city clerk’s computer.

Goertzen said Gayle Voth is again working with her to plan the Main Street Event in conjunction with Threshing Days. Cactus Jack will provide entertainment.

The council authorized Goertzen to spend up to $150 to advertise the city-wide garage sale.

Arlen Goertzen said the house at 202 W. Main St. will be torn down.

The council approved the financial statements of $52,907.79, which includes a $33,475 payment for the water tower.

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