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Durham City Council: Winter retires as city council member

by JANE VAJNAR

Reinhold Winter participated in his final meeting April 5 as a city council member. He is stepping down after more than 20 years service on the council. Steve Miller, who is expected to replace him, sat in on the meeting.

Joyce Medley, city clerk, received a letter from the state asking the city to authorize electronic deposit of funds received from the state. Medley felt the system would cause more work for her, because it would not be apparent into which fund the money should go. The council decided not to give the authorization.

"Pete's water report should be better this month," commented Mayor Glennon Crowther, referring to a major leak that had been found and repaired just before the March meeting.

"It is better," said Verlin (Pete) Sommerfeld, "but not as good as I'd like. We still had a 20 percent loss." In March there were 263,380 gallons pumped and 210,000 gallons sold. The pumps at the lift station ran 32.6 hours, an improvement over previous months.

The council decided by consensus to put in more new valves. Sommerfeld reported less Clorox had been needed since the new injector pump was installed. He also informed the council that three customers had requested their meters be disconnected.

"I think I need to go around and check vacant houses which have meter loops to be sure there are no leaks," Sommerfeld said.

"We need another load of rock, I guess," the mayor remarked. "I've used up the pile, and there are still potholes to fill."

Gary Unruh said, "We could still use some in the south end of town too."

The council authorized Crowther to get more rock.

The mayor also suggested the sewer ponds should be burned off, and the council made plans for that.

The mayor reported a communication asking support for an enterprise zone. Medley had drafted a letter of support, subject to the council's approval. Anna Mae Goertz moved to send the letter. On a second from Mike Sorenson, the motion carried.

Crowther also presented the council with a communication concerning the establishment of a neighborhood revitalization program for Marion County. The program would include all unincorporated areas of the county and cities which did not choose to opt out.

Goertz suggested that Durham opt out of the plan. After some discussion, Winter moved to stay out of the program. Gary Unruh seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

The mayor read a communication from Leadership Marion County about a Family Fun Day to be sponsored by this year's participants in the program. The letter suggested donations of food or supplies for the occasion would be welcome. Crowther asked what the council wished to do about it, and Sommerfeld said, "I would say forget it." Other council members concurred.

Among bills approved for payment were $2,664 for insurance, $136.40 for tractor repair, and $47.37 to Kansas Department of Health and Environment for water protection and the clean water fee.

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