Tampa City Council
City will provide match for park grant
Contributing writer
Greg Berens of Tampa PRIDE asked Tampa City Council to accept a grant for $64,000 from Kansas Department of Commerce for a new park. The grant requires the city to provide a 40 percent match, which will be “sweat equity” or volunteer labor, donated material, and equipment. Work on the park will begin soon and must be completed by April 2012. The council approved the commitment.
A donation of $50 was approved to the Centre After-Prom party.
Council members expressed concern about a gas bill of $382 at the senior center. Some members said non-profit groups, such as 4-H clubs and Sunflower Senior Citizens, should contribute more for utilities. The council was informed that the senior citizens’ group has given money to the city whenever payments were received from the county.
Don Zaideman said he counted 12 pilot lights in the kitchen and suggested they be turned off when the building is not in use. After further discussion, Zaideman volunteered to ascertain the cost of installing electronic pilots on the stove.
Ty Peterson reported that David Mueller and other investors who bought abandoned buildings on Main Street would begin renovation or replacement work. Demolition has begun. The historic store fronts will remain with new structures being built behind, attached to the fronts.
A $2,500 award from Monsanto Farmers Grow Communities will be given to John Hajek at 4 p.m. today. The money will be given to the city for renovations to the kitchen at the senior center.
A heater on the city’s tractor needs to be repaired.
Damage was reported by four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles, north of the ballfield and at the site of the new park.
Bills approved for payment included $227 for water at the senior center, $347 to Westar Energy for Christmas lights, and the final payment of $12,175 for a streets project.
The council discussed concerns about the water and electrical bills. It was reported water in a toilet in a bathroom in the senior center had been running. A timer on Christmas lights had not functioned properly so the lights were on in the daytime. The council wants the problem corrected before Christmas.