LAHARPE — LaHarpe City Council members said they must wait before determining how to tackle ongoing upgrades to the city’s electrical system. COUNCIL members endorsed a proposal from LaHarpe PRIDE to help install a zip line at the LaHarpe City Park. THE COUNCIL reversed an earlier decision to acquire about miles of water line north of U.S. 54. The water line is owned by Rural Water District No. 1. PRIOR TO Wednesday’s meeting, Councilman Clayton Carr announced his resignation from the Council.
Wednesday’s discussion focused on a bid from CDL Electric Co., Pittsburg, that would complete the upgrades in one swoop — LaHarpe employees have been upgrading the system themselves in piece-meal fashion for years — at a cost of about $160,000.
While the city has budgeted about $157,000 for the upgrades, it only has about $18,000 cash on hand.
Council members are eager to complete a grant application that would fund 80 percent of the upgrades. The application deadline is in June.
New City Superintendent Shaun Atwood said the electrical upgrades, geared to make the city less susceptible to partial disruptions, outages and brown-outs, are at the top of his priorities list.
How urgent?
“I’d like to have it done yesterday,” he told the Council.
“We just have too many unanswered questions,” responded Councilman David Lee, who was sworn in prior to Wednesday’s meeting, along with fellow newcomer Danny Ware Jr. Former Councilwoman EllaMae Crowell, meanwhile, was sworn in as mayor.
The project would be overseen as part of an Eagle Scout project.
LaHarpe PRIDE would pay for materials.
Council members were enthusiastic, provided the project met safety specifications.
Insurance Agent Loren Korte, who was at the meeting, said there should be few liability concerns provided a structural engineer was on hand to oversee the design and installation.
LaHarpe PRIDE also plans to refurbish a sand volleyball court, by digging out dirt and grass and replacing it with fresh sand, adding lights, and targeting other amenities, such as developing an ice skating surface in the winter and developing a walking trail with exercise stations around the park’s perimeter.
Council members said the city’s manpower was insufficient to maintain the added infrastructure.
The water line has seven customers.
Ray Maloney, who helped install a backflow valve, one of the requirements the city had asked for previously as a stipulation to LaHarpe acquiring the water line, asked council members to be reimbursed for the cost.
No action was taken.
As Mayor, Crowell will nominate potential replacements, subject to a vote from the remaining four council members.
LaHarpe considers electrical upgrades
