Goessel receives historic photographs of city from resident

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN CYNTHIA GOERZEN
Goessel City Clerk Anita Goertzen showed the council donated photos of the community’s past at the July 18 meeting of the city council.

The photos, including an aerial view of Goessel from the 1950s and images from the 1906 tornado, had been donated to the city by Elaine Schroeder.

Goertzen pointed out that next year will mark 100 years since the devastating tornado.

Goertzen also showed the council framed official city papers that had been donated by Ben Bergen. Goertzen noted that although the city has existed for quite a long time, it was not incorporated until much later.

The frame from Bergen includes the Order of Incorporation to become a city, dated March 10, 1952. The first ordinance, passed in June 1954, is featured, as are ballots for the first election and a photo of the first council.

Goertzen expressed appreciation to Schroeder and Bergen for the donations and said she hopes to use them in a display.

The council’s discussion turned to park equipment. The council recognized the Goessel Women’s Christian Association for its donation of play equipment some years ago and noted that Wes and Donna Duerksen had erected the equipment.

Since safety standards have changed and new park equipment has been ordered, the council discussed what to do with the existing play equipment, including the possibility of advertising it.

The teeter totters were discussed as well. The council plans to install the jungle gym at the city building.

Councilor Racquel Thiesen said since park usage is up this year, it would be nice to have updated equipment at the park.

Councilor Larry Schmidt suggested checking into installing a water park. He said Hutchinson has such a park.

“A lot of people think we’re talking about a pool,” he said. “We’re not. There is no standing water with this.”

He said the water only comes on when someone steps onto the splash pad and activates the system.

Other area towns are making plans for water parks. Goertzen said they cost from $15,000 to $100,000.

The council discussed possible locations for a water park.

“There is a lot of interest out there,” Schmidt said, “but I don’t know how you would generate the funds for this.”

He said he did not think a water park would generate any money for the city because there probably would be no admission fee. But he said the town would get money in a round-about way, if people move into town.

Thiesen added, “It’s called economic development.”

Schmidt said if the community wants families to move in, the community needs something for children to do.

Thiesen suggested involving children on a task force for a water park. She had heard of another Kansas town that had successfully used children in planning a project.

She suggested that if kids are involved in planning, vandalism might be lower because they would not want to vandalize something they helped establish.

Schmidt said, “I honestly don’t think we’d have any trouble getting people on the task force.”

Schmidt and Thiesen both said they would consider working on such a task force.

The council made no decision about a water park.

Councilor Larry Lindeman suggested a flea market in the park in fall.

Mayor Peggy Jay agreed, suggesting that it could be a fund-raiser for the park. Sept. 24 was discussed as the date for a flea market.

Schmidt said he bought a skateboard jump for the skate park, and someone else brought more skateboard jumps.

Council members expressed pleasure that the skate park is being used.

On another matter, the public is once again reminded to watch for pedestrians in the crosswalks.

Councilor Jim Wiens added that safety is also important in regard to fire trucks. Sometimes drivers do not slow down for firefighters at the site of a fire.

In other business, the council:

— noted that more ditches had been cleaned.

— discussed work in the bus lane in front of the high school.

— discussed the burn site. It was noted that work has begun on the fence.

— heard that Goertzen will fill in for the postmaster, who will be on vacation. Consequently, Goertzen’s city clerk hours will change during that time. She will work some evenings at the city building.

— heard from Schmidt that he had cleaned up vandalism damage that occurred recently at the park.

— discussed building plots with John Voth. He expressed willingness to negotiate with the city if the city decides to purchase his lots.

— affirmed Wiens’s request that Goertzen research housing starts during the last 15 years. He wondered how long it took to fill the Krause development.

“We need to plan for the short-term and the long-term,” he said.

Thiesen agreed: “Those are all good questions.”

— heard from Wiens about the need for better water-meter-reading equipment. The city’s old equipment is inefficient. He described the time-consuming process, which involves pumping water out of meters before they can be read. He said new equipment could read meters with the meter lids shut.

— heard from Wiens that Public Works Director Joe Base had fixed a number of sewer-line leaks in the past few days.

— heard Wiens say the city needs a backup operator. That person will need training. During the discussion, it was suggested that a backup operator would need to be on call when Base is on vacation.

— noted a drainage problem at residences near the park. Base and Wiens will spend more time on the issue.

— heard Wiens say Base had noticed a generator might not be working properly at the lift station.

— decided to ride in convertibles in the Threshing Days parade. They will toss candy to the crowd.

More from article archives
One great escape!
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN DON RATZLAFF Cracking but never crumbling, the Hillsboro Trojans overcame...
Read More