BY TONY FURSE | August 24, 2022

In addition to halving an outstanding water bill and hearing a trailer-park cleanup update, two reports located elsewhere in this issue, La Cygne city leaders verbally agreed on answers to a sewer rehabilitation project contractor’s question at the council’s regular meeting last Wednesday, Aug. 17.

In other action, consent agenda approval included those of an Aug 10 special meeting where, following a 15-minute executive session for non-elected personnel review of applications, Wilson broke a 2-2 tie to hire Jennifer Vogt as a permanent part-time City Hall clerk at $15.50 hourly with a six-month probationary period upon completion of a successful pre-employment physical and drug screening.

Thomas Capp had motioned for the hiring, with Mitzner seconding. David Brenneman and Curtis cast dissenting votes, and Stoker was not present.

Other actions last week included approving the recommendations of both the La Cygne Planning and Zoning Commission and Wilson for Ron Wier to serve as the Commission’s representative to the Board of Zoning Appeals, setting a workshop with the Commission to review current comprehensive plan draft information at 6 p.m. next Tuesday, and approving Invoice No. 1 of $21,623.09 to Midwest Engineering Group, LLC, Sapulpa, Okla., for completion of a technical design memorandum and comprehensive plan on a water treatment plant capability analysis.

In other information, Mitzner noted that one of the settling ponds behind the water treatment plant appears in a “yellow” zone on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s flood insurance rate map database for Linn County.

“The way we built the pond (during the recent project), it shouldn’t be affected,” Mitzner said, “but we need to make sure that is known.”

Wade said such identified agricultural-zoned land within the northeast city limits “should be addressed” as an expanded flood zone as part of the city’s stormwater master plan.

Wade said the next stage in the mapping of proposed special flood hazard areas will be community workshops. On a related item, she noted that the berms at the sewer lagoons were rebuilt after the 2007 flood for a “100-year event.”

In other business before the council:

--Wilson issued a public reminder of the city’s revenue neutral rate and 2023 city budget hearings to begin at 7 p.m. this Wednesday, Aug. 24, at the Community Building.

--During mayor’s comments, Wilson presented a three-dimensional printed swan to Bill Marchand after presenting a copy of his Oak Lawn Cemetery directory to councilmen. (See related photo in this edition.)

--Wilson noted upcoming Chamber of Commerce-sponsored events: Sept. 2-3 citywide garage sales, Oct. 28 Halloween Trunk or Treat on Broadway, tentative Nov. 12 community Thanksgiving dinner, and Dec. 11 Christmas on Broadway from 3-5 p.m.

--Wilson’s mayoral comments included city success in the demolition of unsafe and unfit structures, Capp praised Jim Thompson, owner of Double Eagle Excavating, for a “job well done” in removing condemned structures at 602 N. 5th St. Thompson was in attendance.

--Wilson noted that a waiver agreement is signed and bids open until 4 p.m. Sept. 6 for the removal of a duplex at 109 N. 2nd St. that partially sits atop a city sewer easement. Those sealed bids will be opened at the 7 p.m. Sept. 7 regular meeting.

--In her report, Tina Fenoughty, police chief, noted two citations since the most recent Aug. 3 council meeting, one each for a suspended driver’s license and for vicious dog/running at large/tag.

--Curtis complimented the public works department for the “nice work with the (newly-installed) posts” at the northwest curve of the Pollman Addition drive at Oak Lawn Cemetery.

--Two executive sessions totaling 18 minutes for non-elected personnel individual employee’s performance produced no public follow-up action.