Palmyra City Council approve small alley project

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by Mark Cheffey

The Palmyra City Council voted last Thursday to approve a proposal from Heimer Construction concerning a parking lot project the company is working on for HOMEBANK.

By a unanimous vote, the council agreed to allow Heimer Construction to make some water drainage improvements at the south end of the alley between Olive and Church streets connected with the parking lot project across Church Street from the bank.

The alley work would be done at a cost to the city of $7,547.

Street Commissioner Austen Dornberger told the council he had been made aware of the project for some time and that he was fine with Heimer doing the work.

He said his crew is busy with other work and preparing for the change of seasons and that the cost to the city was reasonable.

“I just say let them do the work,” said Mayor Rusty Adrian in recommending council approval.

“This is a really reasonable bid,” said Patrick Barnes, a council member.

Brock Fahy, another council member said he was caught off guard by the timing of the proposal, but joined the majority in voting for it.

The council was notified by the Board of Public Works of a change order in the contract with Mick Mehler & Sons, Inc. concerning the installation of a new sewage lift station for the Greystone Haven South residential subdivision on the south end of Palmyra.

It was determined that two four-inch lateral lines that enter the manhole needed to be replaced at an extra cost of $3,937. 

In light of a fire that destroyed a home in Palmyra Sept. 29, Barnes asked if there was anything in the city ordinances providing a time-limit on removing burned out structures that could be deemed a hazard to the public.

The question sparked discussion about how the city should handle such situations in the future.

It was decided there were not time requirements, but City Attorney James Lemon, said the city does have recourse for having burned out or dangerous structures removed if it is considered necessary.

Fahy, who chairs the council’s Personnel Committee asked council members again for input on possible changes to the city’s hiring policy to allow for council members to attend interviews of prospective city employees.

He said he recently attended an interview for a BPW position and indicated it was instructive and worthwhile.

Mayor Adrian agreed, adding the presence of council members could have a positive affect on the prospective employees final decision to accept employment offers from the city. 

Ellen Goodwin, a council member reported she is working on a possible grant application to obtain funding to repaint the city’s recycling center.

Earl Meyer, who chairs the city’s House Committee, said he was having difficulty finding a company to fix a downspout at city hall that may be the cause of a leak.

Lemon said he might be able to pass along information about a St. Louis, Mo. firm that could be of help.

Dornberger updated the council on the Bailey/Stanley street storm water draining project, noting that progress is being made in obtaining the necessary easements. 

He also said finishing work is being done on the Main Cross/Bradley street bridge project and that it could be open for use sometime this week.

Mayor Adrian said the Palmyra Fire Protection District lease agreement for use of the Palmyra Fire Station is close to being finalized.

He also reported he plans to meet with a MoDOT official in Hannibal soon about moving forward with some of the road and interchange projects the city is seeking.