ORIGINALLY WRITTEN MICHELLE AVIS
At the Feb. 5 Florence City Council meeting, American Disabilities Act compliance officer Del Leeds issued a press statement “to inform the council and general public that there has been an anonymous informal inquiry into some Section 503 issues (blind reader issues) involving the city Web site.” Leeds suggested the issue be addressed before a formal complaint was filed. He intends to meet with the mayor, Web master and city clerk to organize a plan to make the Web site more compliant.
The council agreed to work on the issue as long as it didn’t become too costly.
Ambulance director Judy Creamer addressed the council about controversy over the fire department’s fund-raiser pancake feed. Many citizens complained that the fire department had received donations from Peabody Market owner Rick Turner rather than buying locally.
The controversy had apparently kept some people from supporting the local fire department, leading to a smaller than average attendance at the event.
Fire Chief Tim Parmley said the firefighters had voted to accept the donation of perishable items and purchase nonperishables from Wilbur’s Market in Florence.
He conjectured that this meant the department should not hold fund-raisers in the future, but said money needed to be raised to help replace outdated and potentially unsafe equipment.
The council suggested Parmley meet with representatives of Doyle and Fairplay townships to discuss raising the department budget, which hasn’t been reviewed since 1985.
In other business, the council:
— will send a copy of an existing ordinance prohibiting truck traffic on 8th Street to the state so a “No Trucks” sign can be placed on the 8th Street exit of the roundabout.
— heard from Acting Police Chief Erik King that the department was participating in a child safety seat program.
— will sponsor a team to the Bowl for Kids’ Sake tournament on Sunday March 4.
— thanked Joe Heath, Joel Hayes, Jeff Inlow, Leonard Ellis, Ron Savage and Reiley Reed for helping with snow removal, apologizing for any omissions.
— decided to request sealed bids for a replacement city pick-up truck within a certain age range.
— asked for a listing of possible grants for which the city was eligible.
