Parker changes course on roof replacement, votes to hire second police officer
- Roger Sims, Journal Staff
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
By Roger Sims
PARKER – With the prospects of getting help from the county to replace the metal siding and roof on the Parker Community Building (the former Parker Senior Center) unlikely, the Parker City Council on Thursday, Jan. 8, turned its sights toward repairing the roof on the building that houses City Hall and the maintenance shop.
According to Mayor Jason Webber, some of the rainwater leaking through holes left when installers missed a purlin when fastening the metal roof down has been causing damage to the ceiling over the office of City Clerk Lisa Leach.
Webber said that the leaks experienced in the community building had stopped since the gutters were cleaned out. He suggested that because the siding issue on the community building was more cosmetic, the council needed to first address the city’s other building.
Webber discussed contacting the Centerville- and Mapleton-based companies who submitted the lowest bids on both the former senior center (now called the Parker Community Building) and the City Hall building. One of the companies had bid less than $1,000 to repair the City Hall roof, but that was contingent on the city’s acceptance of the company’s bid for the community building.
However, City Attorney Lindsey Kolisch told the council if the city was going to reframe the project, it needed to reach out to all four companies that submitted bids.
Council approves police force expansion
Following a closed-door session with Police Chief Chris Lee, the council agreed unanimously to cut Lee’s hours from 40 hours a month to 20 hours monthly and hire another part-time officer for 20 hours monthly for $22 to $23 per hour based on experience.
That vote came about a year after the council voted to essentially dismantle the city’s police department because it felt that a staff of four part-time officers cost too much.
Former councilmembers Gary Earley and Kandace Higgins, both no longer on the council, led the charge to fire police chief Cody Kiser and the remainder of the officers resigned. Earley had insisted on hiring a single officer, a return to the historical one-man police department.
But while the historical practice of hiring a marshal, usually a person who had not been through the state’s Law Enforcement Training Center, was once the norm for small towns, the bar has been raised. Over the last few year Parker has relied on part-time help from sheriff’s deputies.
It was obvious from comments made by Webber that Lee likely had a candidate in mind to help him, but the mayor was reminded that the job needed to be posted.
Councilmember Meranda Ellison asked about the status of the city’s codes enforcement officer. The council voted to hire Mark Denman of Sugar Valley Lakes on a part-time basis in November.
Leach said that there had been an issue getting a computer tablet for Denman. However, she said he would begin soon. Because the new police officer will be using the police department’s second cell phone now, the council approved purchasing a cell phone for Denman.
Council to hold workshop
The council also set Thursday, Jan. 29, at 6 p.m. to hold a workshop on city infrastructure. Councilmember Carrie Sewell said she wanted the discussion to include water lines, sewer lines and sidewalks.
Webber said sidewalks had become a hot topic.
Sewell also suggested that Parker residents be surveyed on goals for the community. She suggested posting a request for input on Facebook, however, City Treasurer Kathy Harrison said that social media wasn’t for everyone.
“We’ve already blown up social media with negativity,” Webber said. “We don’t need any more of that.”
Leach said she would look at different ways to get a survey out to residents.
In other business, the council:
• Witnessed Leach swearing in new councilmembers Stacia Minden and Carrie Sewell. Sewell served as city clerk before resigning about a year ago. Returning Councilmember Kari Brandt was also sworn in.
• Heard a proposal from Linn County Journal publisher Roger Sims to make the online news service a legal publication.
• Learned that Evergy had moved a pole that was in the middle of Parker Library’s new parking lot.
• Heard a request from Al Kerr that the city post “No Jake Brakes” signs on roads leading into Parker. Webber said he had received several complaints about semi drivers using engine compression to slow their vehicles.
• Heard the city clerk’s report on dates for city activities over 2026. Those included:
– April 26, citywide cleanup
– May 2, pet clinic
– May 30, citywide garage sale
– Sept. 19, Parker Day
– Oct. 31, Halloween
– Dec. 12, Santa Comes to Parker