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Durham City Council: Funding approved for various programs

By JANE VAJNAR

Tampa correspondent

(785) 965-2285

Durham City Council agreed to disburse funds for several worthy causes June 6 at the monthly meeting.

Mayor Glennon Crowther reported receiving a letter from Linda Ogden regarding the Communities In Schools program. Crowther asked whether the council wished to give a donation to help fund CIS, as they have in the past. "It's a good program," Tom Harmon commented, and he moved to donate $200 to CIS. On a second from Steve Miller the motion carried.

Mike Moran, counselor at the Hillsboro Elementary School, had written about busing children from Lehigh and Durham twice a week this summer to swim at the new public pool. Verlin Sommerfeld moved and Gary Unruh seconded to give $100 for this purpose. The motion carried.

Another letter had been received from Marion County Relay for Life to be held from 7 p.m. July 21 to 7 a.m. July 22 at Warrior Stadium, Marion. It is uncertain whether or not someone will organize a team from Durham to walk in the event. Unruh moved to donate $50 to be channeled through the Durham team if there is one. On a second from Sommerfeld the motion carried.

The mayor also reported on correspondence from Governor Kathleen Sebelius about a state-wide mentoring program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about leadership training sessions, and from the county commission announcing a budget meeting Monday. These letters conveyed information and did not require action.

Crowther reported that he had mowed lots owned by the city three times this summer.

"I don't mind doing it," he said, "but I would like to be reimbursed for gasoline."

The consensus of the council was that compensation was appropriate, not only for gas, but also for his time and wear on his mower. Harmon moved to pay Crowther $10 for each mowing of the bank building lot and $15 for each mowing of the lot where the former hotel once stood, which takes longer to mow, because of rough ground. This would come to $75 for the work already done. Mike Sorenson seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

In his role as water supervisor, Sommerfeld reported that 403,700 gallons of water were pumped in May with a loss of only 16.5 percent. The lift pumps ran 39.8 hours. He mentioned that a shelf in the pump house is collapsing and should be repaired. A letter reminding a resident of an overdue water bill had been returned. "If it is not paid soon, I'll just have to shut the meter off," he said. Two others had responded to a reminder with payment.

Among the bills approved for payment were $120 to Jim's Plumbing for digging to repair a water leak, $124.49 for plants in the flower pots on Main Street, and $53.05 for a flag for the pole in the park, which is a memorial to Ben Goertz. The latter expense will be reimbursed as a donation from Anna Mae Goertz.

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