The Goessel City Council heard from Karen Dalke, public works director, at its Dec. 15 meeting that the town of Dexter had given its Christmas decorations to Goessel?at no cost to Goessel.
Dalke said Dexter purchased new decorations this year and gave their old ones away. The decorations had been used for six years. Dalke expressed appreciation to the town of Dexter: ?I thought that was really nice.? She has erected the decorations.
Turning its attention to city streets, the council once again discussed the state’s offer to pay the city of Goessel $100,000 to take over ownership of K-215, the one-fourth mile of state highway that leads from Kansas Highway 15 to Main Street.
Councilor Larry Schmidt said, ?The money might seem good at first,? but it might not be adequate when maintenance is considered.
Council members noted that if the city takes over ownership of that stretch of highway, the city would become responsible for all maintenance, including resurfacing and snow removal.
The matter has been discussed at numerous meetings. The council found no interest in accepting the $100,000, considering that the money would be inadequate for upkeep. At this meeting, the council decided to say ?no? to the state.
The council also discussed the north portion of State Street. Randy Craw?ford, representing the Marion County Road and Bridge Department, was on hand to discuss the matter with the council. The county owns half of the street.
City Clerk Jennifer Whitehead said the capital improvement funds are only for Main Street; that money does not cover other streets. She said the ?special highway fund? is used for regular street maintenance costs, such as fuel, rock and sand. A portion of that fund could help with State Street.
Councilor Dean Snelling suggested that work on State Street could be spread out over several years. Schmidt suggested obtaining cost estimates before making decisions about State Street.
Councilor Larry Linde?man said, ?You have to start somewhere.?
Dalke said she had received comments from people who wish the city would pave the street by the bank and car wash since cars can get dusty again right after they have been washed.
Dalke said she had graded the streets and had put down 28 tons of rock on them.
Recycling issues
The council heard a report from Schmidt that said someone had dumped nine or 10 bags of cat litter into the recycling bin. The community is reminded that cat litter is not allowed in the recycling bins.
Also, someone put pieces of a fiberglass shower door into the recycling bins. That is not allowed either, and Schmidt had to retrieve those pieces.
Someone had also dumped a bag of old food into the recycling bin. Food is not allowed.
Schmidt said a new sign has been installed at the recycling bins, and he has gone to check every evening since it was put up. He said the sign has helped, and he has been getting phone calls asking what is allowed in the recycling bins.
?I don?t want to go back to having it open only one evening a week,? Schmidt said. He would rather have the recycling remain open to the public at any time.
Mayor Dave Schrag thanked Schmidt for his work, adding that if residents don?t comply with recycling regulations, the city will lose recycling privileges.
Water rates
Dalke and Whitehead provided information on a water and wastewater class they had attended at Moundridge.
Cities were informed that the state will not grant loans for water projects if a city?s water rates are not high enough. The state is not willing to help if cities are not willing to charge enough for water usage.
Whitehead informed the council that Goessel?s water rates are below the state average, noting that the city?s water fund receipts did not cover expenses this year.
She had prepared charts with varying small increases in water rates for the council to consider. However, the council voted not to raise water rates.
Other business
In other business:
? heard Dalke report that trash rates will automatically increase by 30 cents, according to the contract with Waste Connections.
? heard that it will take 20 years to pay off the city?s commitment at the Harvest Meadow development.
? discussed a possible test well near the northwest corner of the baseball diamonds. Schrag had done some checking and found the cost would be $19 a foot, which would include a casing.
? heard that Sue Wadkins would like to start EMT classes in Goessel.
? discussed ?brownouts? at the city building. It had been suggested that the transformer might not be big enough.
? noted that Westar is switching to LED street lights. Whitehead said it might take six or seven years to complete the project.
? discussed a water leak under a mobile home. The water had run out onto the street.
? heard that the Chisholm Trail Church had installed a new sewer line. Dalke worked with Kaufman Trenching on that project.
? heard that the sewer machine has been repaired.
? heard that a new battery had been purchased for the city truck.
? heard that a new water meter has been installed by the high school.
? heard that a new meter pit had been installed at the day care.
? heard that public works has received numerous requests for locates.
? heard that the debris at the burn site had been burned.
? discussed the matter of skunks and opossums in town, specifically at the box car.
? discussed the vacant, deteriorating house at 106 South Buller.
? met in executive session for employee evaluations and wage reviews.
