Iola is willing to work with Allen County to add street lights along South State Street.
Council members voted, 8-0, to instruct staff to work with the county to put the lights between Iola’s city limits and the Elm Creek bridge.
Bassett paid to install lights south of the bridge years ago. Having that area lighted, but nothing between the bridge and the city creates “an awkward dark spot,” Councilman Jon Wells said.
County commissioners last week said they would ask for the city’s cooperation to erect seven poles north of the bridge. The county will pay for materials, estimated at about $6,500, if the city handles the labor, projected at about $3,000.
Council members tabled discussion on adding streetlights on North Kentucky Street, between Strickler Road and Allen County Regional Hospital.
That’s because the street almost certainly will need to be refurbished or replaced, because of increased traffic.
Today, the road is too narrow, Assistant City Administrator Corey Schinstock said. If the city were to install new lights, they’d have to be erected wide enough to accommodate any street improvements.
But that, in turn, leads to right-of-way issues with adjoining property owners, he said.
Mayor Joel Wicoff encouraged council members to keep the Kentucky Street lighting issue on the front burner.
“It’s pretty dark, especially in the winter,” Wicoff said. “If we get a snowstorm, you can’t see the road. We all know North Kentucky is going to need to be rebuilt. It’s just not going to last. We should consider putting the lights in, and we do only it one time. We need to get a right-of-way wide enough. It seems economically intelligent.”
COUNCIL members voted, 7-1, to hire Poor Boy Tree Service, Inc., Fair Play, Mo., to handle the city’s annual tree trimming contract. Poor Boy’s bid of $78.90 per hour, was the only one received. Inquiries were sent to three other companies.
The city spent $50,961.96 for tree trimming services in 2014, and expects to spend a similar amount this year.
Councilman Austin Sigg, in casting the lone dissenting vote, asked why the city does not handle the tree trimming in-house.
To do so would take up too much of the city employees’ time, City Administrator Carl Slaugh said.
Additionally, Iola does not have all of the necessary equipment to reach some trees, Schinstock said.
COUNCIL members ordered the demolition of a house deemed unsafe at 802 N. Cottonwood, after property owners did not show at Monday’s hearing to discuss the house’s state.
At a house at 321 S. Washington, council approved a motion to allow new owners, David Toland and Job Springer, 180 days for repairs. The house faces condemnation. Repairs do not have to be complete in 180 days, Code Enforcement Officer Shonda Jefferis said, although progress must be made.
Council members scheduled hearings on June 8 to consider condemnation of three other structures, at 616 South St., 210 S. Chestnut St. and 1209 N. Sycamore St.
The 210 S. Chestnut St. property is undergoing repairs, Jefferis said. The hearing would consider time for additional repairs. The house at 1209 N. Sycamore was destroyed by a fire last summer. All that remains is a pile of debris yet to be cleared.
COUNCIL members discussed a number of upcoming city events.
The council voted to work again with the Iola Rotary Club’s Smokin’ Hot Cars and BBQ event July 25 in conjunction with the Allen County Fair. The city provides additional electrical service to Riverside Park to accommodate the scores of barbecue afficionados. The city also provides increased law enforcement patrols of the area, and allows competitors to camp overnight during the cookoff.
David Toland, Thrive Allen County executive director, spoke about the seventh annual Charley Melvin Mad Bomber Run For Your Life July 18-19 and the inaugural Portland Alley Pedal Fest, an event geared to lure bicyclists to Iola Sept. 11-13.
THE COUNCIL also waived the city’s standard sealed bidding process to purchase approximately 1,600 cubic yards of crushed red rock from Buildex, Inc., of Ottawa for use this summer during Iola’s annual chip-seal project. The chip-seal will be targeted toward the northwest quadrant of the city. The city will pay $49 per cubic yard, the same figure as last year, for a total of about $78,400.
COUNCIL members accepted the resignation of firefighter and paramedic Tristan Roegner from the Iola Fire Department and approved annual or six-month evaluations and subsequent pay raises for nine other employees.
