Council Talks Street Maintenance

After the pledge to the flag, Mayor John Demarais opened the August 27th meeting of the Malta City Council with an opportunity for public comment. There being none, the meeting got under way. The only visitor at the meeting was Rhei Tharp, owner of the radio station, KMMR.

All four council members were present.

David Rummel made a motion, seconded by Bill Hicks, to approve the minutes from the previous meeting, motion passed.

Bonnie Wiederrick made a motion to approve the agenda for the evening, which Laura Pankratz seconded. The motion passed.

Wiederrick moved to approve the claims, Pankratz seconded the motion and it, too, passed.

Demarais opened the floor for public comment on the annual street assessment. There were no comments offered. Clerk Lorie Bond said the assessment is $1.15 per lot front footage and this year the City will be assessing a total of $119,457.30.

Next on the agenda was annual street light assessment, the Mayor opened the floor for comments. There were none. Bond said the assessment is $0.007 and the amount comes to $107,577.45.

PWD Jim Truelove addressed the meeting stating they had the sweeper out and but an interruption with the need to tend to some trees in the park today; there is a mess to clean up and the crew will be back and have it in order tomorrow.

Sweeping will be taking place next week, starting at the gate by the football field so the mascot can be painted on the street.

He was pleased that the crawler was back, work was done on the track as well. The crew is also working on maintenance of the equipment. They also have been spending time working on some of the equipment bought at various auctions.

Truelove stated that several residents who had set up “homes” in Trafton Park were now gone. One left his tent and other equipment which will be held for a period of time in case he returns. A second individual that was causing some concern had left today on Amtrack, headed east.

New asphalt has been laid, and it was seal coated.

The new sewer line has been installed, and it was “impressive.”

Truelove said he had received a call today from the construction engineer on the Highway 191 project and they will start paving, beginning at the south end of the project. The work is due to start Sept. 9th.

Bond said that Kerry Hanson had called the office and inquired about painting the volleyball team members on the asphalt and the city gave permission to do such. They will be painting it on Wednesday, Sept. 4th.

Truelove stated he will not be available on September 10th, and that Eric Witmer will be taking his place at the meeting.

Demarais stated that Jim Layton had approached the City about declaring Sunday, September 29th as Veteran of Foreign Wars Day to commemorate the 125th Anniversary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Day. The idea of a proclamation was overwhelmingly received by the council members. A motion was made by Hicks and seconded by Rummel to approve the declaration and motion passed.

The council addressed Resolutions 1361 - annual street maintenance assessment; Wiederrick moved to approve the resolution, it was seconded by Pankratz, motion passed.

Resolution 1362 - the annual street lighting assessment was next; Rummel moved to adopt, Hicks seconded and motion passed.

Rummel moved to adopt Resolution 1363, the underground sprinkler assessment, it was seconded by Wiederrick and passed.

Resolution 1364, the annual garbage assessment, was put up for vote by Hicks, followed by Rummel with a second, and this matter passed.

Landfill Contract Amendment 28 was set for approval by Rummel with a second by Wiederrick. The council approved the action.

A motion and a second to adjourn was passed 4-0.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 10th at 5 p.m.