LAHARPE — LaHarpe has a number of inoperable fire hydrants, creating a potential liability issue, Mayor Mae Crowell said Wednesday.
Crowell brought the issue in front of City Council members, saying repairs need to be done promptly.
At least four hydrants have stuck valves, while one has a valve that’s been broken off entirely, Crowell said.
“We need to get this fixed,” Crowell said.
While most communities are encouraged to flush their hydrants twice annually, it’s been at least four years since many of LaHarpe’s hydrants have been flushed.
Crowell suggested the lack of use has caused the valves to malfunction.
COUNCIL members are poised to reinstitute a level payment plan for utility customers.
They hammered out details for City Attorney Chuck Apt to write up an ordinance. The plan is to have the level payment plan in place by February.
In order to qualify, utility customers must have purchased utilities from the city for at least 12 months, and have their accounts paid in full at six-month intervals.
Late payments will be assessed a 10 percent penalty. Those who do not pay their bills by the 25th of each month will have their utilities disconnected. Customers whose utilities have been disconnected are barred from entering a level payment plan for the next year.
THE COUNCIL tabled discussions on buying new playground equipment for LaHarpe City Park at a cost of $21,000, including installation.
Council member Sara’Nicole Prock proposed the city buy the equipment through a lease-purchase agreement, through which the city would pay about $4,000 annually.
While the cost would be less than the city’s annual $5,000 parks budget, Crowell noted other expenses come out of the fund, such as paying park utilities, and funding a portion of Police Chief Jason Prock’s salary.
PROCK and Apt will bring to the Council soon a list of at least 34 abandoned or dilapidated houses in LaHarpe that either need to be repaired or demolished, Prock said.
The Council will prioritize the list to determine which structures must be taken care of first.
