My asters are blooming

Monday's City Council meeting began with the adoption of the budget. You can find it here. It does not make much sense to me, but it may to you.

The budget adoption was followed by a number of items that took little time. There was a transfer of funds for the Park Department, and a second approval of the abandonment of an easement in Drexel Park, this one with the proper legal niceties. (See here.) The electric tracker for this quarter is a small increase. For the household using the average amount of electricity, it will cost an extra 74¢ a month. The Council approved combining two TIF districts into one, an action previously passed by the Redevelopment and Advisory Plan Commissions.

The Council approved an across-the-board salary increase for City employees of 3%. Insurance will only increase by 1% this year, much less than anticipated. The Council kept the City's contribution to employee's health savings accounts at $1500.

The Council approved three expenditures from the public relations fund. One was for the utility office to enter a scarecrow in the Park Department's Scarecrow Trail which will be in Milroy Park again this year. Another was a donation to the American Legion for their annual free Thanksgiving dinner.

At a previous meeting the Council had decided that the trick-or-treat day would be on Sunday, October 27. At Monday's meeting they established the hours from 5:00 to 8:00. Trunk or Treat at the Fairgrounds will be 5:00 to 7:00. Unless the Trunk-or-Treat event can get more help running the event, this may be its last year. In 2018 over 2000 kids came to the event. Anyone interested in helping or contributing candy can call Alice at the Extension office.

The City has been interested in purchasing the property at 817 West Clark, which is on a lot of .36 acres. The City has made an offer and the owner is willing to sell. The Council approved the purchase of the property, which will be added to Brookside Park.

 You can see the house in the picture below that shows continued work on preparing the ball fields.

The walking train behind the softball field is no longer open as dirt moving has reached the tennis courts.

Below is the view from the tennis courts.

The committee appointed to follow up on the Colonial Life presentation from the last meeting decided not pursue the offer and the Council agreed. The High School Homecoming parade will be Thursday evening at 7:00. The fire chief reported that the aerial truck continues to have problems and was granted permission to investigate purchasing options.

Paving has begun on some City streets. Below is a picture of new paving on East Maple Street.

 The footings for the basketball hoops at Monnett/Staddon were poured on Monday and the courts should soon be ready for basketball.

 Next to the basketball courts are benches and planters. Notice how green the soccer fields are. The grass is growing nicely.

Few if any flowers bloom later in the summer than asters and my blue asters are now blooming.

Enjoy the little that is left of summer.