La Harpe City Council

La Harpe City Council Approves Money For More Water Meters 

By Michael Rodeffer, Quill Reporter

The La Harpe City Council met on March 23rd at 7 p.m. at the La Harpe Clubhouse. City employee Tim Graves noted the 210 water meters have been installed.  Graves asked to buy 205 new water meters to be installed.  Graves noted that the city has approximately 615 water meters in town.  Graves stated they will have about 2/3 of the water meters replaced once they install the new 205 meters which they would like to buy.  Graves noted the cost will be approximately $63,000.  

Finance chairman Dave Clover noted the city had enough money to cover the cost.  Clover noted there is approximately $10,000 left from the IMEG settlement and around $57,781 from interest that could be used.  The council unanimously approved the water meter purchase. 

City Clerk Lucretia McPeak informed the council that the motor fuel fund had $215,343.41 City Treasurer Monalisa Graves noted she had written a $200,000 check to the school that needed to be added to her report.  

Mayor Katherine Hasten-Reed noted the new stickers were here for the 4-wheeler and ATV.  Tim Graves noted there was a 4-wheeler being driven by an unlicensed driver and the 4-wheeler did not have an inspection sticker.  Dave Clover noted there are still kids riding scooters which aren’t allowed.  

Public Comment:

Vivaldi Roberts stated she didn’t agree with the council allowing the police vehicle to be driven to Nauvoo and back.  Roberts noted most other persons have to drive their own vehicle to work and it added lots of extra miles to the vehicle.  In response, Mayor Hasten-Reed explained that they had allowed interim police chief to drive the police vehicle home because he was the only officer on the city police force at the time.  Hasten-Reed added that once the town has an officer in town that the council will discuss the situation again.

Graves informed the council that the city has sold about 15 or 16 semi loads of water at $100 a load. 

Council member Randy Shumaker informed the council that the 2023 Ford Explorer police vehicle arrived March 12th and that he helped interim police chief Tim Edwards take the car to Carthage for lights and decals and switching the cage from the older car to the new Explorer.

Council tabled approving Ordinance for the Sale of Real Estate to Carthage Memorial Hospital until specific wording in the contract is approved by buyer and seller.

Council tabled buying copper sulfate until cost of the product is noted.

Council discussed the leaking water line at Lillian Drive.  The leak has not been found yet and Council has not determined if Lillian Drive is a private drive or an actual city street.  It has a service water line which goes to 2 houses.  If it is determined to be a city street the City will be responsible for running a main water line. Council tabled the topic until more information is available.  General consensus of the council was to only charge Devon Lenix for the amount of water he was using before the leak started.

Council also unanimously approved:

•accepting Treasurer’s report and paying of bills

•permitting Matt Dixon to tog trees behind the Mausoleum on city property

•buying 4 new tires for Tim Graves truck at $776.00

•having sludge testing at the Sewer Plant which are estimate to cost about $3215.

•paying $276.11 to Central Stone from Motor Fuel Tax Funds

Council adjourned at 8:39 p.m.

Those in attendance were:  Mayor Katherine Hasten-Reed, Treasurer Monalisa Graves, Clerk Lucretia McPeak; Council members Jim Lenix, Todd Stevens, Randy Shumaker, Dave Clover, Jeff McDowell, and Marvin Miller;  Employee Tim Graves, and guests Jeanette Ford, John Quigle, Brenda Coulter, Vivaldi Roberts, Dan Gillett and Michael Rodeffer.