PARKER – In a special Parker City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 25, the Parker City Council approved several purchases and donations following a 20 minute executive session for legal advice from City Attorney Burton Harding via phone call.
The council decided to go out for bids to replace the city’s backhoe and tractor. According to a report, both need extensive work. The city has been offered $4,000 for the tractor and $500 for the backhoe.
Councilman Gary Earley suggested that the city might be able to buy a backhoe attachment for the tractor. The tractor is used mainly for mowing around Parker City lake, and the backhoe has been mainly used for utility work.
However, as Councilman Jason Webber pointed out, since the city has contracted its utility work to Chad Page, there has been little need for a backhoe.
The city will be looking at putting the current tractor and backhoe on an auction site.
The council also voted to donate $2,000 to Prairie View High School’s Honor Flight program for the 2023-24 school year. The amount will enable the program to send one veteran and one student helper to Washington, D.C.
Webber also asked about getting help with the road around the city’s lake. He said that the road on the west side of the lake had numerous potholes, and the road on the east side had several places where gravel had been dumped and needed to be graded.
City Clerk Carrie Sewell said she would contact the Linn County road department about possible assistance.
Webber said she would contact Don George with Kansas Wildlife and Parks to see if there were any grants available to repair the road.
The council also:
Approved awarding the city scholarship of $400 to Addison Bloodgood, who is planning to attend Neosho County Community College, and the Heritage Park scholarship of $400 to Aryanna Kirkpatrick, who plans to attend Pittsburg State University. Both women are graduating from Prairie View High School.
Approved donating $75 to Prairie View’s after-prom event for 2024.
Approved applying for Linn County’s sidewalk grant. The $2,500 grant requires matching funds from the city and property owners.
Decided to purchase a new mower from Greeley Implement for about $6,500. The cost to repair the mower it will replace was estimated at $3,500.
Approved selling the city’s surplus 2008 Ford police vehicle to Taylor Chapman for $1,300, the high bid.
Approved hiring two students for summer help at a wage of $12 per hour.
Learned from Police Chief Craig Haley that he wanted to build a secure evidence room in the city garage.
Learned that Haley is still working on updating city codes. He told the council they would need to be reviewed by Harding when complete.