Only Goessel city residents may obtain permits. Permits will not be issued to anyone under age 18. No permit will be issued if the requested location is deemed hazardous.
Permit holders will be allowed to discharge fireworks one day only, from 10 a.m. to midnight on Wednesday, July 4.
Certain types of fireworks are banned, including bottle rockets, Roman candles and other self-propelled tube-type devices that shoot into the air.
All fireworks will be banned if the weather requires a ban.
On another matter, City Clerk Anita Goertzen told the council that the McGuire family had mowed the small Mennonite Brethren cemetery across from the city building twice already.
?It looks really nice,? she said.
The council approved a request from Justin Schrag, representing the Goessel task force, to apply for a grant to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks by the Aug. 1 deadline. The money would be used for recreation-related improvements.
?We come up with 20 percent,? Schrag said, ?and they match 80 (percent).?
He said some community organizations have offered to donate money. The city was asked for an ?in-kind? donation for use of the backhoe, which would count toward the community?s 20 percent.
Mayor Peggy Jay said the first phase of the project would include a walking trail around the baseball diamonds, also restrooms and a water fountain between the ball diamonds.
Joe Base, police chief/public works employee, suggested the task force consider installing a bridge over the ditch at the baseball diamonds and athletic park. He also said it would likely cost $35 a foot to install water lines in that area.
A second phase two might include the city park with a walking path, water play space formal park entrance, a bridge, and sitting areas.
?I see a lot of positives,? Schrag said.
Base asked about parking at the park if the plan follows through. He cautioned about utilities in that area.
A public meeting is planned to discuss a grant, but the date and time have not been announced.
In other business, the council:
n set Monday, June 25, as the date to interview three candidates for the public works position.
n discussed the city park. When Goertzen reported that Jesse Goertzen is painting the tennis court, Councilor Larry Schmidt said, ?It looks good.? Schmidt said children need a sand box at the park. He also said he has been unlocking the shelter house restrooms during the day. They are being used, and so far they have not been vandalized. The council also discussed trash carts and their placement.
n approved the $75 fee to change the pictures in the movie theater advertisement about Goessel.
n heard that a boxcar in town has been attracting skunks, opossums and stray cats. The council also noted that an unoccupied house has had open windows for months.
n heard about complaints about the recent city-wide clean-up day. Residents had received a letter from Stutzman Refuse informing them that construction and demolition materials could not be included that day because of regulations at the county transfer station.
?In the past, you could put anything at the curb?this year you couldn?t,? Councilor Larry Lindeman said. ?Not everyone has a pick-up and a trailer,? and those people have no way to get such waste to the county facility.
n discussed drainage issues within the city.
n approved financial statements, includes a $1,565 payment to Custom Micro Works for the software agreement for technical support and court software.
