Clark begins project at Durham park
Contributing writer
Jimmy Clark and his father, Lee Clark, were present at the Durham City Council meeting May 8. The younger Clark is working toward becoming an Eagle Scout. He wants to install two park benches and do some painting and grounds maintenance at the park as part of his project.
He showed the council sketches of possible positions for the benches and asked for the council's input. He said he has obtained some donations for the work, but needs $300 to purchase needed materials. "I wondered if the city or the Lions Club could help," he asked. (The Lions Club is the actual owner of the park.) Gary Unruh moved to donate $150 to the project in the hope that the Lions Club will give the other half. Verlin Sommerfeld seconded the motion, which carried.
Clarence Spears came to express some concerns. "Why can't you get rid of all that junk on Abilene?" he asked.
There was some discussion about whether or not there is a city ordinance applicable to that situation and what can be done. Tom Harmon suggested sending a letter to offenders as a first step toward remedying the problem.
"I have one more question," said Spears. "Why do we have to listen to those straight pipes all the time?" That problem was addressed, if not exactly solved.
The city of Tampa had approached Mayor Glennon Crowther about the possibility of sharing the cost of a sprayer for mosquitoes. "I never was much for partnership equipment," Crowther commented.
"But I wouldn't mind paying for a service," said Harmon.
Gary Unruh remarked, "Let's wait and see what happens. If it gets too bad we can look into something."
There was some discussion about whether a license is necessary to operate the sprayer. "If you hire it done by someone insured," Harmon said, "you don't have to worry about liability if you kill a pet or make someone sick."
The mayor reported that Larry Morgan has offered to give two lots in the south part of town to the city. "Do we need any more property to maintain?" he asked. The consensus was that the city does not want the property.
Crowther told the council there will be a training session June 6 at Newton sponsored by the Rural Water Association. The subject will be water management and protocol for raising rates. "I think we'll have to be raising rates. This crisis we just had cost us $2,000. I think I'll try to go to that meeting and Pete [Verlin Sommerfeld] thought he might be able to get away to go too."
Sommerfeld reported that the water system had pumped 300,700 gallons of water in April with 275,400 gallons sold. That is a loss of only 8.41 per cent. The lift pumps ran for 45 hours.
In other business the mayor asked the council what they wanted to pay Davey Hein for helping with work on the water system. "I think he was there seven hours working as hard as anyone," said Sommerfeld. "I think we ought to pay him $70 at least. I could hardly have done it without him." The council concurred.
The council members were installed for their new terms. The mayor appointed Joyce Medley as city clerk, Carla Harmon as treasurer, Chris Costello as city attorney, and the Hillsboro Star-Journal as the official newspaper.
Among bills approved for payment were $898.33 for the insurance premium, $48 for water testing, $1,496.76 for a new pressure regulator for the water system.
