The June 22 meeting was actually a continuation of the June 15 meeting that was cut short because of bad weather that caused an electrical outage.
The council had begun a discussion of A and B roads with residents. But the council was unable to conduct city business in the dark and postponed the meeting one week.
The council continued its street discussion June 22. Residents voiced concerns about traffic on A and B roads, which are privately owned. Delivery trucks seem to be a major concern, with UPS, FedEx, Culligan, and Schwan?s mentioned most frequently.
The council and residents expressed concern for the children who live and play in that neighborhood.
?There?s a ton of kids back there,? resident Deb McCaulley said. ?Twelve children in four houses.
?All the yards are in the front,? she said, ?and there are no sidewalks, so children use the street to play and ride bikes.?
McCaulley would like to close off the portion of B Road that belongs to her and erect a fence to increase the size of her yard. She said she would especially like to prohibit truck traffic.
?They?re not paying for the rocks,? she said.
She doesn?t seem to mind paying for maintenance of the street if no one else uses it. But it was pointed out that prohibiting all delivery trucks would mean that those trucks could not get to her house either.
Mayor Peggy Jay said, ?I can see where she has a concern about the kids.? She suggested that the city erect a ?Children At Play? sign.
Resident Ben Davis said he didn?t think truck traffic is a problem, but that some B Road residents drive too fast on that street. He is not in favor of blocking off the street and said it would decrease property values. He agreed with Jay?s suggestion to erect a ?Children At Play? sign.
Resident Claude Frey expressed his preference for leaving B Road open but does not ?want people flying down it.?
Resident Louann Soukup said she also prefers to leave B Road open. She lives on A Road and would have no way to exit her property when trucks block A Road. She said that by law, trucks can block the road for 20 minutes.
She added that there has been more traffic on A and B roads since the city building was erected. She wondered if children could be kept off the street.
The council voted to order two ?Children At Play? signs. It also decided to have A and B roads surveyed to determine the right-of-way on A Road and the utility easements on B Road.
In other business, the council:
n learned the July recycle date will be Saturday, July 25.
n listened to City Clerk Anita Goertzen read an e-mail from county employee Rollin Schmidt that reported statistics from the recycling program he has started in the county. The recent recycle day in Goessel produced 2,850 pounds, which filled the recycling trailer and the other vehicles involved that day.
?We would say Goessel is a success so far?let?s keep it up,? he wrote.
According to Schmidt, the household hazardous waste pick-up had been a success, too, with perhaps a record number of people participating.
Goertzen said, ?The town ought to be really clean.?
Jay said anyone in the community is welcome to participate, not just city residents.
n heard Jay read a letter of resignation from Councilor Rick Freeman, who wrote that he wishes the city and the council the best. The council will need to appoint a replacement to finish Freeman?s term.
n was updated by public works director Karen Dickerson on refurbishing the Goessel sign by the highway.
n reviewed the police report from Police Chief Joe Base. The police department issued multiple equipment warnings. Officers investigated three dogs-at-large reports, one bike complaint, one suspicious vehicle report, one suspicious person call, two theft cases, and multiple juvenile cases. They finger-printed a subject for an employment application, assisted the Marion County Sheriff’s Office with an injury accident, assisted with a non-injury accident, assisted a state trooper on a car stop, and unlocked two car doors. They received hand-cuffing training and boat search and rescue training.
n discussed the steep ditches by the elementary school. Dickerson said they are too steep for the riding lawn mower. Consequently, city employees have to use a push mower.
?I would like to see the school start mowing their ditch,? she said.
The city will contact the school.
n viewed the city overlay maps from the Kansas Rural Water Association. Dickerson expressed appreciation for the maps. She said it is much easier to find utility lines with the help of these new maps.
n listened to Teresa Huffman, Marion County economic development director. She mentioned a $4,000 grant for a cultural arts and learning center. She is concerned about communities losing their culture and history and would like to work with the museum board to plan new programs that would also involve youth of the community.
n heard Dickerson report that Mayer Specialties had cleaned a section of sewer line. Tree roots by the park are causing problems.
The council discussed the need for improvements. Dicker?son had asked Mayer about installing an additional line to the sewer, and Mayer had agreed that would be a good idea.
Councilor Jim Wiens said the sewer line has a 90-degree corner at the lift station. He said the 8-inch clay tile line is old.
n authorized Dickerson to investigate water leaks. Wiens said at least two valves are bad. Dickerson added, ?It?s going to be a major deal to figure it out.?
n discussed possible community service projects for 10-15 supervised people from the judicial system from 9 a.m. to noon July 11. Councilor Larry Schmidt said the park needs more pea gravel, and Wiens suggested the volunteers could smooth it out.
n listened to Goertzen?s suggestion to send the city newsletter to community members outside the city one time and offer that they could receive it by e-mail after that.
n listened to Jay read a letter from KRWA, giving its opinion that the city does not need a new well. But Wiens disagreed with the findings and explained the problems with water pressure. Goertzen mentioned issues with water loss. The council discussed putting a meter at the fire station. It also discussed flushing the fire hydrants at the Harvest Meadows development and the water that is lost because of that.
n entered into a lengthy executive session to discuss personnel issues but had nothing to report to the public in open session regarding those issues.
