Council sets dates for Goessel garage-sale day and for summer and fall clean-up efforts

The Goessel City Council, during its Feb. 17 meeting, set June 13 as the date for this year?s city-wide garage sale.

City Clerk Anita Goertzen reminded the council the garage sale is usually the second Saturday of June.

The council also decided the city-wide clean-up day will be the following weekend, Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20.

Goertzen will make arrangements to have roll-off trash bins available for city residents. The council also plans to schedule another clean-up date for Oct. 9 and 10.

On another matter, Councilor James Wiens informed the council he had looked into the possibility of another well for the city. He has been looking for suitable locations and is in the process of negotiating a 50-by-50-foot area west of town that is close to the other wells. The city will construct a driveway to the plot of ground.

The council agreed to start the paperwork for obtaining a lease for the well property. The city would make a one-time payment of $1,000.

Goertzen will contact the city attorney about writing a lease agreement for the ground.

The council discussed paying for the installation of a new well, perhaps using money from water, general and capital improvement funds.

Councilor Duane Duerksen said, ?It would be nice to save up for it.?

In other business, the council:

n approved the purchase of the North Newton patrol car for a cost of $5,500. The city plans to advertise the current Goessel police car for at least $3,000.

n discussed the city?s siren. Wiens reminded the council about tornado season and cautioned, ?If we lose electricity, the siren doesn?t work. We have to drive up and down the streets with fire trucks (to warn residents).?

Wiens suggested moving the siren to the fire station, which has a stand-by generator.

n voted to obtain a 35-gallon fuel tank as a back-up tank for the city?s generator, to be used in case of a major disaster.

n also discussed the possibility of purchasing a new siren. Wiens had researched sirens and said a ?tone? siren would alert all of Goessel and a little beyond. The basic cost would be $19,291, with the possibility of additional options for $1,700.

A siren with voice capability would cost $29,000. Both would have a battery back-up in case of loss of electricity.

Public works director Karen Dickerson asked about the possibility of obtaining a grant for a new siren.

n heard Mayor Peggy Jay briefly mention a disaster-plan meeting held some time ago, and the need to communicate with the churches, schools and Bethesda Home.

n heard from Councilor Larry Schmidt that vandals had kicked in a door at the city park. Dickerson has already fixed the door.

n heard that Dickerson removed some trees in the southeast corner of the city park, thereby opening up the area for better air flow. She said she hopes the change will help to reduce the mosquito population in that area.

n discussed dilapidated buildings. Dickerson reminded the council that buildings are required to have windows and doors that can be closed and latched. She described one house that has a leaning chimney.

n discussed obtaining the services of a building inspector who can be available during day-time working hours.

n heard that Dickerson is in the process of gathering bids for cleaning up the concrete at the lagoons and burnsite. Some residents have been dumping concrete at those locations, but the the practice is not allowed. Because of that, Dicker?son plans to erect a gate and a ?No Trespassing? sign.

n set the trash pick-up monthly fee at $9.35 per household for a 65-gallon trash cart and $10.05 for households with a 95-gallon cart. These charges will increase by 25 cents Jan. 1 of every year. Residents may make arrangements with the city office ahead of time and pay a $2 fee for an extra 30-gallon trash bag.

n heard that Dickerson is obtaining bids for repairing the Goessel sign by Kansas Highway 15. She said the letters are cracking and peeling. She also discussed the possibility of erecting a short wall around the sign, along with shrubs and other plantings.

n heard that Dickerson has replaced more water meters.

n authorized Goertzen to attend the City Clerks of Municipal Finance Officers Association conference March 10-13 in Wichita.

n authorized Court Clerk Paula Flaming to attend the Kansas Association of Court Management Spring Conference April 3 in Manhattan. Flaming?s fee will be paid by the state.

n made plans for a work session at 7 p.m. Feb. 26.

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