Our hot and dry weather is a problem in more ways than one. The Butler water department had repaired 17 water line breaks in the past ten days, unless there have been more since this writing. The reason is that as the earth dries, it reduces in size, and as it settles, it causes water lines to break.
Also, the Butler Light Plant has operated during peak heat conditions for three hours on June 26th, and two hours on the 29th. Just one more reason to be pleased that Butler has the equipment to help generate power during peak times.
An interesting development may make this city-help unnecessary...B-and-L Electric, who works for us often, is considering a proposal to design and build a new substation at our light plant, and to construct one-and-a-quarter miles of new transmission line from the KAMO sub-station to the new one that would be built. This would greatly strengthen our electrical system, and hopefully would do away with our having to be careful about overloading. Butler has given the go-ahead on a design study to see what this would cost.
Going along with that comment in mind, a study of utility rates in nearby areas has been made, but because of the various types of use and other situations, we can only say that some rates are a bit higher, and some a bit lower. It boils down to the fact that each city does its best to keep costs as low as possible for its citizens. Overall, rates compared favorable among Harrisonville, Rich Hill, and Adrian.
Going by the rules sometimes make it difficult to do favors, and that goes even between communities. Phil Stump, city administrator in Rich Hill was at this week's council meeting, and noted that Rich Hill has bought a paving machine, but asked if they could borrow Butler's street roller. This got the ok, and Butler will also help train Rich Hill city employees to operate the paving machine. Butler has a policy against loaning, but it's nice that common sense can take over at times, so we can help each other. If only our federal government could work like this
Ordinance 953 was approved, and our tax rate will be 58 cents per hundred dollars assessed value. That tax didn't go up...in fact it dropped just a wee bit because our valuation went up. If that's confusing, just let it be said that the city didn't have to raise it. And that would have required a public vote. So we'll just be happy with what we DO understand...that the tax didn't raise!
No rest for the weary. Jim Wheatley, Butler Code Enforcement Officer, reported at least 18 new properties with offenses. Court action has been taken on 10 addresses, and there are eight problem properties needing such action as demolition.
Fines came to 415 dollars last year, and amount to 555 dollars so far this year, Wheatley reported. And court-ordered community service has amounted to 66 hours in 2012.
Austin Mount, Executive Director of KBRPC was at the council meeting to discuss submitting an application to complete an I-49 corridor study for Bates and Vernon counties. (I-49, you'll remember, will be the new name for our highway 71 when all work is complete).This study will look at potential growth areas like Butler, where annexation might be required. This will include areas like the main exit for Butler at 52 and 71. This is interesting, because the City of Butler and Max Motors tried for months to work out an annexation so that business could move out on 71. That might be solved in the future, with 71 becoming Interstate 49 when all preparation is finished. An application will be made for funding to complete this study about annexation. More on that later, of course.
There's more to the study...for example, the problem on Fort Scott street, west from Orange Street (our Butler Strip) to Fran Avenue, where the new traffic light is located). And the big problem there continues to be the underpass under the railroad, where drainage problems happen when it rains, and the fact that there is no sidewalk under that narrow place.
Butler's Park and Recreation Commission has met and approved the Trail of Memories to continue on the east side of High Street...also approved the development of regulations for banner advertising at our soccer, football and baseball fields...also approved Park and Recreation Commission sponsorship for a softball tournament September 15 and 16th...and also for a 5-K run on October 27th.
And the Commission recommended that funds raised by banner advertising or special events, be dedicated for recreation facility improvements in the city budget. And one final move during their busy meeting, they recommended that the city pay for life guard uniforms this year.
Bids should be in by September 6th on installation of UV disinfection equipment and basin mixers at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
And Butler is still waiting for an ok on our unsafe structure demolition application. In question are two garages...one on Sunset and one on East Dakota, that were not eligible to be included in the demolition application. Cost there would be about a thousand dollars. The city needs agreement for those owners to be included. There will be no cost to the owners for having the buildings razed.
KBRPC is sponsoring a Missouri Sunshine Law Workshop on August 15th at Bates county Memorial Hospital. The Sunshine Law requires that any and all meetings be public, except for those dealing with personnel, property bought or sold, and legal issues. These are excluded until action is taken. An example is where an employee is in question.
And a note that users of Mediacom will see their rates increase, probably in Septermber. Family cable will go up two dollars, to $69.95 per month, and if a Starz package is included, the rate will be $85.95 per month.
The Butler City Council meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month...seven p.m. at city hall. Feel free to attend.
-courtesy FM 92 the Bullet
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