GAS — A quarter-mile-long walking trail in Fees Park on the east side of Gas should be ready for use within a month, councilmen were told Tuesday evening.
Steve Robb, city superintendent, said drainage was being completed and the four-foot-wide trail was being readied for surfacing with material made from recycled tires, which will give the trail much the same consistency as the running track in Iola’s Riverside Park.
Cost will be $54,000, with a $43,088 grant from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment paying the lion’s share. Most of Gas’ $11,000 portion will be from in-kind contributions.
A benefit auction, held in conjunction with the sale of excess city equipment in July, raised $1,646.45 for the park, councilmen were told. The city equipment fetched $590.
Robb also said the city had spent $5,737.65 to start its municipal trash pickup. “We’re picking up seven to 10 tons a week — all in one day on Tuesdays — and should recover what we spent in about six months.”
Monthly cost for residential pickup in Gas and East Lawn is $7. Residents were given the option when the service started last month of whether or not to participate. New residents will be required to subscribe to the service.
Resident Jerald Jesseph, who expressed concern about dogs running loose, was told the city would be more aggressive in efforts to control strays, including through use of a live trap. Dogs apprehended will be taken to Allen County Animal Rescue Facility in LaHarpe. Care of strays will cost the city $75 each. Owners retrieving dogs will be responsible for the fee, as well as any additional charges for vaccinations and spaying or neutering.
Jesseph also said he thought water carried weed killer from a city lot to his yard, where it killed grass and shrubs. Councilmen said they doubted that was the case, given that the material in use wasn’t known to migrate in such a manner.
NO ONE came to question the city’s 2011 budget in a hearing prior to the business meeting.
The budget predicts expenditures of $661,894, supported by a property tax levy of 30.097 mills that will raise $51,139. The levy is .75 of a mill more than this year’s, but .229 of a mill less than was required in 2009.
General fund expenditures were put at $204,366. Water utility fund expenditures for 2011 will be $249,200 for the city’s purchase and resale of water. Sewer fund expenditures were set at $97,028.
