Staff writer
Florence City Council discussed roller skating events at the Florence gym Monday.
Before newly appointed recreation director Holly Pereillo could start the process of purchasing new skates for the event, council members were concerned about the gym floor being damaged by skates.
The city has a deal with USD 408 where the school district buffs the floor. Perillo told the council if Florence wanted to host basketball tournaments or other sporting events they would need to pay an extra $800 to sand the floor to remove warping from rainwater.
However, she also said if roller skating and other unusual events were the goal to create revenue for the gym, the floor was adequate without any maintenance.
“If you do something unusual, people will come,” Council member Randy Mills said. “We’re the only ones that will do roller skating.”
Council member Trayce Warner also repeated the concerns of Florence Alumni who were worried about the gym floor that they use for reunions and other events.
“They were offered that building and turned it down,” Mills said. “We spent $10,000 on insurance and utilities; if the alumni want to step up, they can have it.”
The council advised Pereillo to keep working on the project and to contact USD 408 Superintendent Lee Leiker to see if the school district would cancel a deal to buff the floor if roller skating were allowed.
The council also advised Pereillo to create a checking account for recreation event proceeds and concessions, and to update them on the status of the account.
Pereillo will also put a sign in sheet for open gyms; she said approximately 15 people used the gym Saturday.
In other business:
- Florence Historical Society members Twilah Williams and Judy Mills gave an update of their financial standing for 2010. The society’s income was $26,610. They received $3,398 in donations, $3,390 for memorials, and $8,500 from a humanity grant. The society’s disbursements were $19,134, including the largest expenditures for a furnace, $5,645, and utilities, $3,869. The historical society meets 5:30 p.m. every fourth Monday monthly at the Harvey House.
- Cemetery ordinance changes were approved. Lot prices were increased to $125. The marking fee was raised to $25 from $5. The only domestic animals allowed in the cemetery are service animals — seeing-eye dogs and police dogs as examples.
- A noise ordinance was approved. Florence Police Chief Michael Stone can now write tickets for noise violations, a Class C misdemeanor, with a minimum penalty of $50 plus court costs.
- A bill of $716 was approved to Jeff Inlow for work at the water plant.
- The council approved sending Fire Chief Mark Slater and four firefighters to a conference. The conference will cost $618 total, which will come out of the fire budget.
- City superintendent Phil Baldwin said the Federal Emergency Management Agency was in town Tuesday to inspect engineering in order to certify Florence’s dike.