The residents have been heard, Iola Mayor Bill Maness declared Tuesday.
Enough have voiced support for better fishing opportunities locally to convince Maness and Iola’s other city commissioners to begin looking at ways to provide better fishing spots either along Elm Creek, the Neosho River or other local bodies of water.
Maness pointed to the recent Vision Iola parks study that noted the public support for more fishing access as well as complaints voiced to county commissioners from locals upset that access to a spot along Elm Creek had been closed off recently.
Maness recalled as a youngster fishing off the since-demolished Elm Creek bridge on South Washington Avenue with his father.
Ideally, the spot would be along South Washington, Maness said, where the city already owns a parcel of land and could work with the owners of another parcel on the north side of the creek to acquire that property as well.
“Even if we can’t do something like a walking bridge (which was proposed as part of the Vision Iola planning process) we might be able to create a small fishing dock,” Maness said.
“Perhaps we could work with the county on a solution,” Commissioner Craig Abbott suggested.
The city will have an opportunity to talk fishing at its July 13 meeting because county commissioners will be in attendance to discuss their ongoing study on whether to rebuild or replace Allen County Hospital.
“We need some place to introduce small children to fishing,” Maness said.
Assistant City Administrator Corey Schinstock also pointed out that the city owns a pair of ponds now that it has acquired what once was the western half of Cedarbrook Golf Course for housing development.
Fishing access could be explored there as well, Schinstock said.
In a related matter, commissioners were reminded that Saturday will offer fishing to local youths through the Iola Police Department’s 14th annual Hooked On Fishing, Not On Drugs campaign at Abbott’s pond near the intersection of North Cottonwood Street and Miller Road. The event is open to children 2-17. Advance registration is available at www.cityofiola.com.
COMMISSIONERS also welcomed a suggestion by Iolan Ron Conaway to look into developing a shooting range for gun enthusiasts.
Locals have no nearby ranges now that the Iola Elks have closed theirs on the south edge of town.
“Right now, we have people who do their target practice from low-water bridges and at farmers’ fields,” Conaway said, which is both unsafe and illegal.
Conaway noted that Garnett has a tightly controlled shooting range that has proven to be both popular and safe.
Commissioners asked Conaway to come back with more detailed plans, including cost estimates and potential locations for the range.
AS PROMISED, commissioners revamped their rewards policy for long-time employees.
Earlier this month, Ken Hunt, the city’s human resources officer, noted that employees who have been with the city for 10 years were eligible to receive a gold ring valued at $1,000, thanks to the sky-rocketing price of gold.
The revamped system now gives cash awards for those who pass 10, 20, 30 and 40 years of service with the city. Ten-year employees will receive $360; 20-year workers $720; 30-year workers $1,080; and $1,440 for 40-year employees. The entire cost to the city could be as much as $24,480 over the next five years, Hunt said, although that number will almost certainly be lower because some employees likely will retire or change jobs in that period.
COMMISSIONERS approved a pair of contracts as part of the city’s ongoing wastewater system improvement project.
Ace Pipe Cleaning, Inc. of Kansas City, Mo., will rehabilitate 33 manholes at a combined price of $73,724, commissioners said.
The city will hire Professional Engineering Consultants, P.A. of Topeka for $6,458 to look at ways to modify the city’s main plant pump station.
In an unrelated matter, commissioners approved a pair of change orders related to ongoing renovations at the Iola Public Library. The city will pay B & R Insulation of Lenexa $6,360 to remove asbestos floor tiles from one room, while paying $2,300 to rewire a rooftop air-conditioning unit.
TO CONFORM with a new state law banning smoking in public places, commissioners approved a resolution that forbids smokers from lighting up within 20 feet of any door, open window, air intake or other access point to city-owned or leased buildings. Smoking also will be banned in any city vehicle.
Commissioners approved annual evaluations and subsequent pay raises to four employees ranging from 2 to 3.5 percent.
Commissioners noted that their July 13 meeting will be a busy one as they consider an expected proposal to begin sending stray dogs and cats to the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility in LaHarpe; the fate of the old IGA building at 319 W. Garfield St.; and the city’s 2011 budget.
Prior to the meeting, commissioners will meet at a July 7 work session to visit with department superintendents regarding their proposed spending plans for next year.
Both meetings will start at 1 p.m. and are open to the public.
