It finally happened. The timing of rain, temperatures and cloud cover has put over half of the transportation system into lock down in the School District. County road workers have done a fantastic job of opening up the blacktop roads. It would be unreasonable to expect any more of the road system. In Effingham, Gary has made it safe to operate city streets. He began early and stayed with it until done. The cold weather has been miserable for all of these fine folks to make our lives as normal as possible in a short period of time. KDOT workers having been putting in some extra hours as well. Next time you see this guys, give them a “Thanks”. SC
Effingham City News
STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO BE BID SOON
An Invitation to Bid on the City’s Street Improvement Project will be published very soon. Streets included in this project are First Street from Edwards Road to Elizabeth Street, Howard Avenue from First Street to Main Street, Tiger Road from Ninth Street north to the city limits and Ninth Street from Seabury to Tiger Road. If all goes as planned, a contract for construction of the project will be awarded by the end of February with work to begin as soon as possible. This project is being funded with a Community Development Block Grant and General Obligation Bonds to be paid from existing tax revenue.
PURCHASE 2005 DOG TAGS BY FEBRUARY 28
All dog owners should make plans to update their pet’s rabies vaccination and stop by the City Office to purchase a 2005 dog tag. The City of Effingham requires all dogs kept in the City, whether they are kept indoors or outdoors, to have a current city dog tag. 2005 dog tags can by purchased at the City Office on weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. A certification of current rabies vaccination for each dog is required at the time of purchase. Fees for dog tags are: $7.00 for females and $5.00 for males and spayed females. If you can’t get to the City Office during our regular business hours, the City Office will be open on Saturday, February 19, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon to sell dog tags. If you still can’t make it into the City Office, you can mail your documentation and fees or drop them in the box on the east side of the Municipal Building entrance. Your documents will be returned to you by mail with your tag and receipt. Don’t forget to purchase tags for your dogs. It can result in fines and penalties being assessed against you.
DOGS RUNNING AT LARGE
This is a reminder to residents who keep dogs. The City of Effingham has a “Leash Law”. Dogs must be kept on your property and not allowed to roam freely throughout the City or your neighborhood. If you take your dog for a walk, it needs to be on a leash. Remember, any citizen can file a complaint in the Municipal Court charging you with violation of City Ordinances if your dog is allowed to run at large. Also, city personnel are authorized to impound dogs running at large and it can be expensive to claim an impounded dog.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL POSITIONS UP FOR ELECTION
Five City Council positions and the Mayor position are up for election this year. Any one wishing to file for one of these positions must do so be 12:00 noon on Tuesday, January 25. You can file at the City Clerk’s Office in Effingham or at the Atchison County Clerk’s Office in Atchison. Forms are available at both offices. A $5 filing fee or a petition with the names of 25 registered voters residing in the City of Effingham is required to file for these offices. Candidates must be at least 18 years of age, reside in the City of Effingham and be a registered voter in the City of Effingham. If necessary, a primary election will be held on March 1. The regular election will be held on April 5. Elected officials will be sworn in and begin their duties on May 3, 2005.
BIRTHDAY RECOGNITION FOR SENIORS
Proclamations will be issued by the Mayor in recognition of senior residents celebrating birthdays beginning with the 80 th birthday and continuing in 5 year increments above that (i.e. 85, 90, 95, 100, etc.). Proclamations will be made upon request only. If you know an Effingham resident that will be celebrating one of these birthdays and would like to recognize it with a Proclamation from the Mayor, contact the City Office 913-833-4471 at least one week in advance of the birthday.
OTHER COUNCIL BUSINESS:
*Directed City Attorney, Leonard Buddenbohm to draft an amendment to Section 14 of the Community Forestry Ordinance making it the responsibility of City Personnel to do notifications regarding street trees that need to be removed and trimmed each year and changing the period of time for written notice to 30 days rather than 60 day prior to work being done.
*Accepted a bid of $960 from Laura & Sterny’s Lumber for an insulated steel garage door for the City Shop. The City Superintendent will install the door.
*Designated the Mayor, the City Clerk, the City Treasurer and City Council Member Kirk Kloepper as signer of City checks for the year 2005.
*Designated the Farmers & Merchants Branch of Exchange National Bank as the depository for City funds for the year 2005.
*Voted to donate an individual season pass to the Municipal Swimming Pool to the ACCHS After-Prom.
*Reviewed the Ball Park Lease and sent it to the City Attorney for changes.
*Voted to give employees a 3.7% cost of living wage increase.
*Considered a request for parking restrictions on the east side of Seabury between Main and Sixth Street and decided not to impose any restrictions as there are many other areas in the City with similar problems and it is not practical to restrict parking throughout the City.
*Discussed problems with postal delivery of water samples to the Environmental Lab. Samples are now being delivered by courier from the Atchison County Health Department to make sure they arrive within the 48 hour period required.
*Decided to get prices for new overhead doors at the Fire Station.
THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2005, AT 7:00 P.M. THE PUBLIC IS ALWAYS WELCOME
All Around Us by Alice Johnson
INVITATION TO AN 80th BIRTHDAY PARTY
Ileta Kuykendall will celebrate her 80 th birthday with a Birthday Party, January 22, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Effingham Senior Citizens Center. Please come and share cake and punch. Please no gifts, just your presence will be enough of a gift. The party is hosted by her children Leona Steuart, Diana Gearhart, Beverly Gaddis and Keith Kuykendall.
SUNNY HILL THIMBLE CLUB
Shirley Hawk hosted the Sunny Hill Thimble Club’s annual January dinner Thursday, January 6 at her home. Guests included Bill Putthoff, Bob Falk, Duane Hawk, Leonard Hawk, and Covell Hawk. Members present were Katherine Lee, Martha Frederick and Mildred Hawk. Pat Maendele will host the February 3 meeting.
BARNETTS TRAVEL WEST
Danny and Mary Kay Barnett visited their son Kevin and family in Oakley, KS over the Christmas holidays. Their other son, Tim from Iola, joined them on New Year's Eve. Kevin was busy baling, so Grandpa and Grandma got to do a lot of babysitting. Kevin and his wife spent New Year's Eve together in the tractor finishing the baling of over 3,000 large bales.
MET AT HOLIDOME
Clyde and Lorraine Strine of Effingham, Duane and Marci Strine and family of Healy, Bret and Shelly Strine and family of Smith Center, Jim Strine of Hays all met at the Holidome at Hays over the New Year’s Weekend to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. Everyone had a good time.
JOHNSONS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS
Lee and Alice Johnson, Effingham, enjoyed a Christmas Eve Celebration at the home of John and Paula Johnson, Easton. Their children Ashley, Sarah and Jared help host the party. Others attending were Rob and Vicky McCoy, Cole, Delaney, Blake and Chase, O’Fallon, Missouri, Mike and Mary Heintzelman, Leavenworth and Betty Norman, Kansas City, Kansas. After the celebration the McCoy family spent the night with Lee and Alice, and despite the children’s desire to stay awake to see Santa they fell asleep, but they were happy to find presents from Santa Claus under the tree the next morning.
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