MOUND CITY – A bid was approved earlier this month for asphalt repair and overlay of more than 3,100 lineal feet of pavement in Mound City. Although there is no word yet when the project will begin, the Mound City Council on Tuesday, June 1 approved a bid for nearly $126,500 with Killough Construction of Ottawa.
That includes $15,600 for milling some of the areas and nearly $110,900 for about 6,700 square yards of asphalt varying between 2 to 4 inches thick.
Locations for the work include:
• Two 4-inch-thick patches on Spruce Street in the northwest part of the city,
A 2.5-inch overlay on Elm Street from Fourth to Fifth streets,
A 2.5-inch overlay on Third Street from Main Street to Chestnut,
A 2.5-inch overlay at the intersection of Third and Chestnut streets,
A 3-inch overlay on Second Street from Chestnut to Locust streets,
A 2-inch overlay at an intersection on Second Street,
And a 2-inch overlay on Locust between Third and First streets.
The council also approved an ordinance that sets the municipal court costs at $105 except for those who are found not guilty. In addition, misdemeanor offenses that require a person to be fingerprinted will add a $45 charge. The ordinance includes a $50 fee for failure to appear in court.
The council discussed progress on the problem of dogs roaming the city streets.
Councilman Cody Beckman complained that he had been chased by a threatening dog when he was making a delivery to a residence.
Officer Chip More said the number of complaints was going down since the city increased its fines for dogs running at large. He added, however, there was one resident with a dog that continued to be a repeat offender.
The fine now for a dog caught running loose for a third time is $500. City Attorney Burton Harding said that if the dog’s owners didn’t pay the fine, it could be added to their annual tax statement.
He also suggested the city should consider making the addition of a picture of each dog’s annual registration requirement in addition to proof of vaccination and address of the owner.
The council also for a second time did not approve a request by Scott Mitchell to use the city’s lagoon to dump waste from his septic tank cleaning service. Mitchell told the council earlier this summer that Sugar Valley Lake stopped operating its service that pumps out holding tanks earlier this year and asked if he could use the city’s lagoon in place of Sugar Valley.
However, City Superintendent John Bruns said he was concerned that Mitchell could be pushing the city’s system beyond its limit. In the past Bruns has said that the city’s lagoons were already a concern for officials from the Kansas Department and Health and Environment (KDHE).
He also said he was concerned that Mitchell could be doing commercial collections that would mean dumping grease into the lagoon.
City Clerk Shelby Murray confirmed to the council that Sugar Valley had suspended its pumping service. Sugar Valley and Mound City-based Shadden Septic Tank Cleaning are the only operators approved for dumping in the lagoons.
In other business, the council:
Delayed for a second time accepting a bid on an upgrade of the heating/cooling system in City Hall until they can meet with the two contractors and get clarification of their bids. Bruns said the specifications of the bids were too vague. Mayor Wade Doering said the council meeting room should have a mini-split system to address the failure of the central HVAC system to both heat and cool the room.
Decided that the fall citywide garage sale date would be on Labor Day weekend, however, that was amended following the meeting to be Oct. 13 and 14, the weekend of the Sugar Mound Arts and Crafts Festival.
Learned that Police Chief Paul McKee could be back on the job by the end of August. McKee was placed on the injured list last month. Officer More told the council that the city’s part-time officers had stepped up to help out in McKee’s absence.
Learned the Kansas Wildlife and Parks fish biologist Don George brought state officials to tour the city lake. Bruns said members of the group were impressed with the improvements there and invited city officials to Manhattan to work with them. The city has submitted a grant application for a second round of funding for improvements around the lake.
Learned that repairs to the city’s skid-steer loader were covered by the Bobcat Co. dealer, saving the city as much as $20,000.