Council hears committee updates

HARRINGTON – Mayor Nathan Luck opened council’s Aug. 25 meeting with councilmembers Peter Davenport, David Buddrius, Justin Slack, Steven Hardy and Levi Schenk (by Zoom) and visitors Cherie MacClellan, Denisa Holling, Jess & Cynthia Silhan and Joe Armand.

Mayor Luck gave a report on the street projects, stating that some asphalt was put in on Douglas and First (via a TIB grant), as was some chip sealing.

"We will have a little money left over and will see what we can do with that money,” Luck said. Hardy asked if it could be applied to another project. Luck said he would find out. Regarding the Adams Street contract with J.R. Massey, Luck stated that everything looked in order for that project and that council would discuss it at the next meeting.

"We do not have a start date," he said.

A council member asked how the state audit was going. Luck’s one-word response was "frustrating".

I think we're doing what we can,” Luck said. “Jere and I have to do a lot of digging to find what they want."

Luck said that personnel changes are making it difficult.

"We're getting questions answered, but that's kind of at the mercy of the state auditors," he said. Luck added his displeasure at having to pay for the audit, since it is mandated.

Committee updates

Schenk and Luck have advertised the sale of the old Mack fire truck in different outlets. Schenk has not been successful at finding a buyer, however the Mayor has received two offers and will continue to dialogue with them.

Buddrius reported on potential fines or fees for failure to comply with city ordinances. The district court sets the fines and fees schedule.

Before the next meeting, Buddrius will get a draft typed up. Fines do not come into place until the citizen makes it plain that they do not intend to comply. Turning it over to the district court is a last resort, but it is helpful to the city if people refuse to meet their obligations.

Buddrius brought on a discussion of how to deal with delinquent utility bills and whether part of this delinquency is due to COVID-19-related conditions. Council did not believe it to be a valid coronavirus problem since this has always been a problem, and the previous public works supervisor would have to shut off the water when bills got too high. Regardless of the COVID-19 situation, the full bill will continue to be due, and the city can then act on that amount once the moratorium ends. Council believes that there should be a written policy of how to deal with overdue accounts.

Public comments were opened, and Cherie MacClellan told the council what the Chamber of Commerce has planned for vendors for the Harrington Fall Festival on Sept 25. She stated that she already has 18 potential vendors but may increase that to perhaps 30. Each vendor needs a space 10 by 10 feet. She made several possible suggestions for locations and noted that some of the potentials will not be approved due to interference with alumni parking. She was asked to hold off until after the Lions Club have their next meeting on Sept. 1, since they have not confirmed that they are even holding the event due to COVID-19.