Staff writer
Two representatives of Herington Municipal Hospital, including administrator Mike Ryan, attended the Lincolnville City Council meeting Monday to request permission to use facilities at the city building for a part-time clinic.
The initial request was made at the Jan. 3 meeting. The council responded at that meeting by changing city hall policy to allow the building to be used for city business “and/or city council-approved business beneficial to the community.”
City hall formerly was the Lincolnville Clinic run by St. Luke Hospital in Marion. The building was purchased by the city after the clinic closed.
Council member Joe Vinduska said Monday that he opposed letting the hospital use the facility, but in the end of the discussion, he went along with the other council members who approved of it as a community service.
Hospital officials will draw up a one-year lease contract for review by the city attorney and action by the council at the March meeting. The clinic would be open two half-days a week and would be staffed by physician assistant Nita Bittle.
Mayor Barb Kaiser announced that the application the city had filed for a grant to redo the sewer ponds was rejected. Council members agreed to reapply this year.
Kaiser announced that council member Dennis Burch has resigned his position effective Feb. 28. She said he cited health concerns as his reason for the action.
Kaiser also announced the city has received a belated $14,609 in grant money for the new siren. It was a partial payment on the $20,000 project.
City maintenance worker Troy Peterson said a couple of signs are missing around town. He was ordered to get a new “truck route” sign.
Parks and Recreation Chairman Sherri Pankratz said the Centre Girl Scouts plan to plant new trees in the park. The Girl Scouts will provide three trees, and the city will provide an additional five trees.
Residents have received letters informing them that sewer fees have been increased from $9 to $17 a month. Kaiser said the new fee is in line with what other towns their size collect. She noted that one reason the sewer grant application was rejected was because of the city’s low sewer fee. She said she has received no negative feedback since the change was announced.
Clay Simons’ treasurer’s report indicated a deficit at the end of the year. Kaiser said that was because the siren grant money did not arrive as expected. Now that it has been received, the city is in the black. After the remaining grant money is received, the rollover from the previous year will be almost $10,000.
A sealed bid on the old merry-go-round was opened and approved. Eugene Stika offered $1. It was the only bid received.
Pankratz announced the city is seeking funds to purchase and install new adjustable basketball goal posts for the court in the park. She also would like to purchase playground equipment that would be suitable for older children.