Durant City Council

Memorial planned in honor of former Police Chief Doug Cook

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A section of Fourth Street in Durant will be repaired with asphalt at a cost of $29,900. Officials held a discussion at the May 11 council meeting on additional damages caused to the street by local company CMT Highway due to a high volume of truck traffic. Plans to reconstruct the street are in the works, but aren’t expected to begin for several more years.

“I just hate to see the taxpayers foot the whole bill,” council member Dan Sterner said of the project. He was advised that the cost includes only laying fresh asphalt on the street. Any work done to the right-of-ways will need to be completed by the property owner.

Mayor Scott Spengler said he would like to meet with representatives from the company to talk about the extra wear and tear on the street, as well as other citizen complaints.

Doug Cook memorial in the works

Police Chief Orville Randolph told council that Deb Cook was looking to use memorial money from her late husband and longtime police chief Doug Cook’s funeral for a memorial at the police station.

Randolph presented some ideas that could include a flagpole, landscaping, painted benches and an electronic sign. He was excited about making improvements to the building, which used to be the home to Casey’s General Store, saying Doug had been instrumental in getting the police station moved to that location.

“I wish Chief Cook would have had some time to work in this building,” he said.

He was asked to bring more detailed plans to the next council meeting.

Miscellany

In other action, council:

* Opened the meeting with the approval of the agenda, approval of city bills and approval of the minutes for the April 27 council meeting.

* Council held a public hearing concerning the second amendment for the FY2020 budget. There being no public input, the meeting was closed and the amendment was passed.

* Council held a second discussion on whether or not to partner with Liberty Trust & Savings Bank to host a city shred day. The measure passed on a split decision with Noel Price voting against the event and the remaining council members voting in favor of it.

* Approved pay application two for the Fourth Street sanitary sewer replacement project in the amount of $8,455.

* Officials chose to waive the second reading and approve the third and final reading of ordinance amendment 2020-01, which changes the zoning of the Durant industrial park from light industry to heavy industry in order to bring new businesses to town.

* Approved the monthly police report. Randolph told council that extra patrol has been done verifying compliance of local businesses and at parks due to restrictions from COVID-19. He also said officers have been patrolling the area of Highway 6 that is now closed for construction, noting there haven’t been many issues in the area.

* Approved a bid from Tri County Builders for $6,420 for a new service window and counter remodel at City Hall. The window will provide additional protection for city staff and will be shatter proof.

* Approved April’s financial statements.

* Set a work session for codification review and changes for June 8 following the council meeting.

* City Clerk Deana Cavin noted that the community center was working on a plan to reopen to the public. Plans to reopen City Hall and the library were also undetermined at that meeting.

Council members Diane Quiram, Price, Sterner, Kevin Mundt, Dave Schulz and Mayor Spengler were present. All action taken was unanimous unless otherwise noted. The next city council meeting will be held on Monday, May 25 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

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