On Thursday, April 17th, the Emmet City Council decided on policy regarding the use of city property by citizens, approved ordinances setting meeting times, allowing the mayor the use of a credit card, and setting water and sewer tapping fees.  The city will also be applying for a $250,000 grant for a walking trail.

The first item of business was the matter of putting into written form the city’s practice regarding use of city hall, the library, the chuck wagon and a portion of the old bowling alley.  Mayor Booker recommended charging nothing for the city’s storm shelter, charging $100 a day for the use of the chuck wagon concession stand with utilities included, no charge for the use of the fireman training room for group meetings. 

The city hall meeting room would be used for city business only.  “Now then the west end of the front portion of the bowling alley is to be rented at a cost of $150 per month, per month, with utilities not included,” Booker said. The front portion could be rented at $25 a month, utilities not included. The back portion would be used for city equipment storage. The motion to accept these policies passed unanimously.

Next an ordinance setting the time and date for city council meetings was approved on its second reading. The third Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. will be approved in its final reading next month.

Then an ordinance approving the mayor’s use of a credit card was given its second reading.  The second reading was approved and the ordinance will get its final reading to approve as city law at next month’s meeting.

Water tap fees, sewer tap fees and reconnection fees were the concern of the next ordinance that was read for the first time.  It amends a 1960 ordinance so that the fees account for increased costs to the city for tapping with use of larger pipes.  For water, half-inch pipes will be $850.  One-inch pipes will be $1,100.  Two-inch pipes will be $2,500. For sewer the cost will be $900.  Reconnection will cost $45 plus payment of any unpaid amount.

The ordinance had an emergency clause, meaning that when the city council approved it, it went into effect immediately.  The motion to approve was voted unanimously.  

City council member Shannon Peck said she wanted to discuss annexation of areas outside the city limits that use the city’s water service.  

Joann Muldrew spoke on the Great Strides Trails for Life Grant of $250,000, a no-match grant which could be used to complete the walking trail, place benches, improve the pavilion and reroute water flow.  “It would give us a good start to adding to what we already have,” Muldrew said and it would offer a chance to address the health needs of an older citizenry. 

A community meeting would need to take place to gather input from citizens.  That meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 3rd at 10:00 a.m. in the park pavilion. 

The city council provided its authorization for applying for the grant.  

Deana Allen provided an update on preparations for the Emmet Farmers Market which will have its first day on Thursday, May 1st, with hours from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  Tarps that have been purchased to protect from the sun will be installed by then. Eight vendors have been signed and more are interested.

The Emmet Vision Association, Allen said, will have a fundraiser,  “an entertainment type evening with a meal . . . on May the 9th. We're possibly looking at doing a spaghetti supper with spaghetti, bread, salad, dessert, drink. Adult plates would be $10 a smaller child's plate type version would be $5. The money raised for that, of course, will go toward our July event.”

For July 4th, the Nighthawk band has been booked. As for the fireworks, the vendor has notified EVA that these will cost double what they did last year because of tariffs on imports from China.  EVA’s move to 501c3 nonprofit status will allow it to approach corporations for donations to defray these costs, Allen said. 

Council member Grant Cox asked if inclusion of work on the pavilion would be legitimate to include in the Great Strides grant application since it seemed to prohibit work on existing structures. Muldrew replied that making the case that additions to the pavilion related to use of the walking trail would likely make such work acceptable to the grant committee.

Mayor Booker asked Muldrew if she would be approaching Spears Engineering about work on the walking trail.  She said she would probably focus on using engineers more specialized in landscaping.

“We want the sitting areas,” Muldrew said. “We want the flower garden so that it's going to draw you in. I'm not sure that's Spears’ forte … Once you start, you can see down the path, there's something, let me move down there. Or the next stop, there's a sitting area, whatever you need to rest. So hopefully, once we have our community meeting, we can get input from the people who are going to be using it, and then once we write it up, then we can present it to the engineer to see what ideas he would have to make it happen.”

Booker reported that two culverts were put in the park.

Energy Transfer has granted $2,500 to the library, $500 of which will be used for a scholarship for a graduating senior and $2,000 will be given to EVA to use to build a border around the Arkla Park.  A presentation of the grant will happen at the playground April 23rd at 4:00 p.m.

Allen said the 501c3 status will allow EVA to submit a grant application to the railroad company for a $5,000 grant for playground equipment more suited for use by toddlers.  Booker encouraged this application. 

Councilmember Peck asked about Booker’s investigation of the need for larger pumps for the city’s sewer system. He said a product had been found to help clear out obstructions.  “We have got a product now that's unbelievable, but you can dump it as a granular material in these these sewer pump stations, and it will dissolve everything in there, rags. It doesn't matter. So we're doing that now, and we're periodically pumping them out,” he said. But repairing one particular pump will likely cost $6,000 for motor replacement. Still, he said the use of the granular product could lengthen the life of the city’s sewer pumps.

The meeting adjourned at about 7:45 p.m.