By JANE VAJNAR

Contributing writer

Problems with vandalism were discussed Monday by Tampa City Council.

Someone had broken the hardware in the toilet in the men’s restroom on Main Street. It was decided to lock the facility until repairs could be made.

Wilbert Backhus moved to get a plunger that would prevent the toilet from running in case of such damage in the future.

Sinks and toilets in the restrooms at the ball field had been plugged with sand. There was some discussion of removing the sand but no action was taken.

The council discussed a plugged culvert at the entrance to Cardie Oil from Lincoln Street. Mayor Tim Svoboda suggested the plugged portion could be cut out and the ends welded together, thus shortening the culvert.

“Then it would be hard for me to get in there with my truck,” Ty Peterson said.

Wilbert Backhus asked: “Could we cut it where the clog is, clean it out, and weld it back together without shortening it?”

The council agreed that that this was a good idea.

The mayor informed the council that Wayne Price, a Kansas State University graduate who now works for a Florida newspaper, wants to come to Tampa to take pictures for his paper.

There was some discussion of sources for bridge planks to replace those across from the bank, which have rotted. Some placed the council had bought them from on other occasions now longer have them.

City Clerk Donna Backhus asked whether the council wanted to raise the mill levy to assure the ability to make the payments on a loan for the city’s sewer project. The county treasurer wants an answer.

“I don’t think we need to raise the mill levy, not this year anyway,” Paul Backhus said.

Svoboda reported that he had gotten rid of several skunks in town.

Wilbert Backhus requested black top for a street. Svoboda said that he would talk to the Marion County road superintendent in an attempt to acquire some from the county.