Goessel Council sets summer garage sale date

The Goessel city council met the evening of Jan. 14 and discussed the summer city-wide garage sale and determined that Saturday, June 15, will be the date. That will be followed the next Saturday, June 22, by a curbside trash pick-up day. City clerk Jennifer Whitehead had checked with Waste Connections, and June 22 is the only day they can make that work.

In addition, the city is hoping to make arrangements for shred bins to be available for two weeks like the past few years. Tentative plans are for June 10-14 and June 17-21.

Turning their attention to another matter, mayor Dave Schrag read from a letter he had received from the City Clerks and Municipal Finance Officers Association of Kansas. The letter informed Schrag that Whitehead has completed 120 hours of training and is now a certified municipal clerk. Schrag commended Whitehead, “Congratulations, Jennifer!” Council members also commended Whitehead. In addition to her city clerk position, Whitehead is also the court clerk.

In other business, the council:

* met a week earlier than usual because of the change in the election schedule. Whitehead explained that newly elected officials take office the second Monday of January. Therefore, every January meeting is held on the second Monday instead of the usual third Monday.

* heard that Whitehead planned to attend a county meeting to discuss the current floodplain and remapping the Upper Cottonwood Floodplain region. Whitehead explained that Marion County falls within that region.

* discussed a new Goessel sign to be installed near K-15. The council discussed size and design ideas, lighting, and cost estimates. No decisions about a sign were made at this meeting.

* discussed the treasurer’s position.

* discussed the sewer project. The city is taking bids through February 5. The plan is to vote on a bid at the next meeting. Whitehead commented, “Everything looks to be on target for the project.”

* heard from public works director Karen Dalke that the road grader needs two new tires, as does the Ranger pick-up.

* heard that the generator at the Harvest Meadows lift station has been repaired.

* heard that Dalke has been working on streets.

* discussed a school zone designation because of speed concerns before and after school. Whitehead said she had checked with the state and found that it would cost $10,000 to $20,000 to have a study done by an engineer. The city will consider other options. It was noted that a driver had recently been seen driving through a crosswalk when a child was in the crosswalk; it was a potentially dangerous situation.

* heard that the school had asked for permission to burn the remnants of the school garden like they have done other years. The city will check with the fire department and arrange a time that works for them.

* talked about vehicle insurance and decided to keep the coverage the same as it has been in recent years.

* discussed repair that is needed on Main Street.

* changed next month’s meeting to Tuesday, February 19, instead of Monday that week because of President’s Day.

* passed reserve fund resolutions for capital improvement, street projections, equipment reserve fund, reserve park fund, sewer reserve fund, and water reserve fund. At a previous meeting, the council had set the 2019 mill levy at 68.246, which is the same as the 2018 mill levy. Therefore, the city is budgeting a total of $1,363,833 for 2019.

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