ORIGINALLY WRITTEN MICHELLE AVIS
At the Aug. 15 city council meeting, the City of Florence was recognized as the first municipality in Kansas to have a city-owned certified tree farm.
Currently, Kansas has 115 privately owned tree farms that meet certification requirements. To be certified, a tree farm must be a minimum of 10 acres, have a manager, have a plan for sustainable forestry and be available for recreational use.
A certificate and signs were presented to the council in recognition of meeting those requirements.
Representing the Labor Day Committee, Trayce Warner presented the council with maps of where streets are to be blocked off for the events. The parade will proceed from Eighth Street down Main Street, turning west onto Third Street.
Parts of Main Street will be blocked at various times over Labor Day weekend for events like the car show and the melodrama.
In other business, the council:
— heard that the Florence Fire Department will be holding a fund-raiser hog roast Oct. 15. The council also authorized fire department to spend $360 for treats firefighters will hand out to children at the hog roast.
— will take measures to enforce non-smoking laws that apply to municipal property.
— will follow up on a complaint about a large number of animals at a residence.
— will look into replacing batteries in the fire department’s Humvee.
— approved providing temporary trash service to a rural home until regular service can continue after highway construction is complete.
— decided not to provide trash service to another home near Burns until it was determined that other customers would sign up for the service to defray additional mileage expense.
— heard that additional rule boards will be purchased for the city pool using money from Joyce Hett’s memorial fund.
— decided to hold a special meeting Aug. 16 to discuss storm drains and to look into repairing or replacing the city’s copying machine.
— heard that a check valve at the sewer pond is in need of repair.
— tabled discussion of a potential land purchase.
— announced that a “Scruffy’s Law” petition has been placed at the city building. Signatures will be collected to petition for animal cruelty to be made a felony.
— heard that the City of Walton has expressed interest in learning the system used by the Florence police department. Acting police chief Erik King was asked to present information to the Walton City Council.
— heard that extensive repairs have been made to one police car under warranty.
— heard that police officers will participate in “Click It or Ticket” activities from Aug. 26 to Sept. 4.
— approved purchase of two breath alcohol testers for the police department.
— requested that streets be cleaned in preparation for hiring City of Peabody employees for half a day to paint lines for parking spaces.
— tabled discussion of water tower repairs until all companies contacted can give estimates.
