Sweet Springs aldermen praise police officer, vote to raise water rates

Sweet Springs Police Chief Richard Downing congratulates Officer Ben Burge, who was honored Monday, Feb. 9, by the city for his actions at a house fire in December. (Geoff Rands/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Changing the water rate, appointing new members to the Park and Recreation Board and the commending a Sweet Springs police officer were among the actions taken by the Sweet Springs Board of Aldermen at its regular meeting Monday, Feb. 9.

The board voted to change the water rate to $8.25 for the first 133 cubic feet of water and .062 cents per cubic foot of water after that. Additionally, $1.50 per month will be charged to any businesses or homes outside city limits that receive water service from the city. The bill, Bill 516, was passed and became Ordinance 510.

The board accepted the resignations of Tony Schleicher and Francis Vaught Jr. from the Park and Recreation Board. Appointed in their places were Sarah Dieckhoff and Tabitha Green.

Mayor Ray Kinney and Police Chief Richard Downing bestowed a commendation on Sweet Springs Police Officer Ben Burge of Arrow Rock for his actions Dec. 29 at a house fire. His grandmother, Mary Burge, also of Arrow Rock, was present and thanked the board for all the kindness they have shown Burge.

The board briefly discussed the collections on the recent "bed tax." City Clerk Ronda Neinhueser reported receiving $580 from the Super 8 and just over $100 from the now-closed People's Choice motel.

Burge gets a kiss from his grandmother, Mary Burge of Arrow Rock. (Geoff Rands/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

She suggested to Kinney that the funds be put into a savings account until the city could determine how much money it would have available to spend.

Two citizens came to the meeting representing the Sweet Springs Fair Board to ask the Board of Aldermen for a liquor license and use of certain streets and areas for the fair's parade and rides.

Jeff Sims reported the board plans to hold the fair this year from Wednesday, July 29, through Saturday, Aug. 1.

The same streets will be used for rides as last year. The Fair Board may change the parade route to start at the high school and go down Marshall Street, to allow those participating access to running water and restrooms.

The board granted the Sweet Springs Fair Board a liquor license for Monday, July 27, through Tuesday, Aug. 2, because the license is a seven-day permit. They also approved use of city streets by the Fair Board.

The board voted to accept a bid for mowing in the cemetery by Richard Pittman of Malta Bend for $1,041.66 per month. The bid was selected from two bids. The other bid was for $1,450 per month.

The board voted to put the city's trash hauling contract up for bid, asking companies to provide quotes for recycling service as well as trash.

The board reported the current results of an informal voting process regarding citizens' desire for recycling service.

Of the 48 respondents, comprising just under three percent of the city's populace, one person agreed to pay $3 monthly for curbside recycling pick up, forty said they would be fine with a 25-cent per month charge for the option to take their recycling to a central location and seven said they were opposed to any such charge.

A quarter of the town's water meters have been tested, said Kinney.

Of those tested, 115 water meters have now been found to be running slow, which costs the city money, reported Alderman Billie Clevenger.

Neinhueser stated most of these meters are only a little slow, and the city has not seen much of an increase in revenue.

Clevenger asked what the board's plans were in regard to the area around the old water tower, specifying a hole as her primary concern, as schoolchildren commonly walk through the area.

"By the time of the next council meeting, I'll have them fill in that hole," stated Kinney.

Downing said he would set up a temporary fence around the hole to prevent children from hurting themselves in the area in the meantime.

Public Works Director Hank Taber is retiring as of May 1, stated Kinney, and asked the board if the city should provide a cell phone for Taber's replacement, as the individual would be on call 24 hours per day. No decision was reached.

The board made note that citizens will soon begin receiving income-related questionnaires from Midwest Assistance Program.

Return of these questionnaires is required for qualification for the United States Department of Agriculture grant the city hopes to use for its lagoon.

Neinhueser stated these questionnaires will go right to MAP, and the city will not see them after citizens fill them out.

A member of the Sweet Springs Fire Department gave the department's report for January.

There were six natural cover fires, one bulldozer was pulled out of a pond and one vehicle fire was extinguished.

The driver of the vehicle had to be transported to a hospital by air transport. He also stated the department has ordered the fan as previously directed by the board. He added the department has received a grant for radios.

This grant will cover the cost of 20 handheld radios operating on lower bandwidth as required by the FCC.

Downing gave the police department's report for the month of January.

There were 394 call-ins, 218 walk-ins, three agency assists, three theft reports, five animal control reports, two civil matters, two warrant arrests, two well-being checks, one "all other," one harassment call, three calls of suspicious subjects, one incident of recovering property, two towed vehicle calls, one DWI, two open door calls and one report of leaving the scene of an accident.

Alderman Vivian Willey was absent.

Contact Geoff Rands at marshallreporter@socket.net