City of LS to repair portion of W. Jackson

Lime Springs -Where is the most broken up, dangerous and avoided patch of road in Lime Springs? Most locals will answer in front of the former Doc Buresh house (currently owned by Denny Hammon). The City Council and street department decided at the April 4 Council meeting to address the repair this year and into next.

Work would probably begin mid-late summer with taking out 10,000 square feet of pavement and replacing with rock. The area would then be allowed to settle with new concrete being poured possibly in summer 2018.

Another street being looked at is West Franklin, a gravel road in front of the Engelhart and Bowen homes. It is a mud hole when it rains, and sump pumps are being used. The City plans to raise the road a little, clean the ditches and have the homeowners and City replace culverts.

• In other business, Ann VanderBie Stevenson is donating the park on the corner of Main and Willard Streets to the City of Lime Springs. Council members questioned the cpst of upkeep of the park.

Mayor Kevin Bill said if Council agrees to accept the park, it has to make sure there is a plan for maintenance. “It is a nice little park, but it will be an expense to the community,” he commented.

The park was formerly DeRuiter Hardware, which was destroyed in the Sweet Corn Days fire of 2000. But the corner is best known as VanderBie Hardware, as it was part of the community in that location for over 48 years (plus 13 years in other locations).

• Work is continuing to move forward at the 118 E. Jackson St. house. Also plans to demolish the house at 221 Clark Street will take place as soon as possible.

• A new question has arisen on the retaining wall at Johnson Farms. The City and County are looking for paperwork that proves the property has been annexed to the City. 

• The City is looking at options to have a City-Wide Clean-Up either this year, next year or both. There is $18,000 in a special City account reserved for clean-up purposes.

• The Council set a public hearing for a possible budget amendment on May 2.

• There is a Howard County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan survey that residents of the county are asked to fill out. They are available at City Hall.

• Barb Robinson is in charge of re-assembling a fire board, which will meet quarterly.

• Robinson will also replace Char Hruska on the Community Center Board. Ed Hampe reported the lean-to is finished and is being used. “Bingo is going well. We had 37 here last night.” Bingo is played at the Community Center Monday evenings, except the third Monday of the month.

• Park and Pool Board has met and discussed hiring life guards, purchasing a new diving board, having a clean-up day and getting three light poles installed for the ball field.

• Jean Brockney was hired as a part-time (6-8 hours per week) Deputy Clerk.

• Public Works Director Casey Sebastian noted the sewer project is going out for bids. It entails updating and installing electrical equipment at the lagoon.

• The application for solar panels was completed and approved through Alliant before April 1, when rules for metering changed.

• The City is still looking at how the heating/cooling system at the Community Center/ Fire Station can be financed.

The next City Council meeting will be May 2, at 7 p.m. at the Community Center.