Task force reports to McLoud City Council

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A McLoud City Councilman presented to the Council a list of final recommendations from a Strategic Planning Task Force that was established earlier this year.

Daniel McClure, Jr., the newest member of the City Council, came up with the idea of the Task Force and the other Council members agreed and authorized it be created.

During the most recent Council meeting, McClure presented the list and suggested members review it and discuss it during their September meeting.

The Council agreed to table it to give time to review the recommendations for discussion next month.

McClure explained the Task Force looked at three, major broad areas during their meetings. Those were Community Pride, Government and Economic Development and Community Development.

The members met three times, he said, and also distributed a community survey. He emphasized, “We have to find things for young people in this community to do.”

He noted, “Youth activities were the largest interests in the community survey. The Task Force recommends efforts to create youth activity opportunities.”

Among those were volleyball, baseball and basketball locations; youth leagues; expand outdoor activities at the lake.

Members serving on the Task Force in addition to McClure include Citizen Potawatomi Chairman Rocky Barrett, Dean Hill, McLoud Planning Commission, Melody Martin, Kickapoo Tribal Health Center, Rhett Banks, Chamber of Commerce, Melanie Krause, Chamber of Commerce manager, McLoud School Supt. Steve Stanley, High School Principal Rhonda Hockenbury, Pastor Randy Reasoner, Ministerial Alliance, Wanda Haynes, Public Library.

The Council tabled a public hearing on whether an unfinished garage at 505 Sue Lane in McLoud constitutes a public nuisance as defined by the codes of the city and should be abated.

City Manager Buck Day, council members and their legal counsel Mike Warwick along with the property owner discussed the issue at length.

Finally, the Council agreed to table it and take the issue up again in September,

One of the issues was is if the unfinished garage has to be torn down how much the property owner might be paid for the materials he’s put in it.

The code enforcement officer at the time apparently told the man he could go ahead with it and the man was issued a building permit.

However, Warwick pointed there were codes violated by the property owner related to easements for the water lines, nearness to the road and over the property line.

In other action, the Council approved the low bid from T.J. Campbell at $14.95 a ton to purchase up to $50,000 in millings.

They took no action on approving any pay requests and or/change orders for a CDBG Sewer line project.

Operations Manager Cody Roe reported to the Council that an application has been submitted seeking $317,706 for reimbursement through the CARES Act for expenses the city has incurred during the COVID outbreak.