City Council Deals With Expensive Part

Ethan Cunningham, second from right, was sworn in Monday as a new member on the Frankfort Police Department. Cunningham comes to the police department from the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office. To the left of Cunningham is Frankfort Police Chief Scott Shoemaker and Mayor Judy Sheets and to his right is Deputy Police Chief Cesare Munoz.

The City of Frankfort dealt with an unexpected dilemma Monday when they found out that a needed part for the Aquatic Center had not been ordered and temporarily delayed the project. The cost of that part was $78,144

“We found out for Envoy there had to be a change order was not covered under the guaranteed price,” said Frankfort Mayor Judy Sheets. “So, the additional cost using our contingency was around $38,000. We were going to ship that money back out of economic development in the ARPA fund back up to the pool.”

After that was done, the City Council passed the amended ARPA ordinance on second and third reading last night.

The council also passed an ordinance amending Chapter 98 of the municipal code regarding trash collection and disposal on second and third reading to help clear the way to bring automated trash pickup to Frankfort hopefully by November.

Sheets feels the automated trash collection is a better and safer way to take care of the garbage.

“What has always been my concern is the safety of our trash employees,” said Sheets. “They’re out there. They’re on the back of a truck. We have injuries from throwing  the trash, they fall, they might slip. We’ve had several injuries from that, workman’s comp just from that. We try to be as safe as we can. It’s a dangerous job.”

One thing that Sheets wanted to make clear is that there will be no increase in fees on trash.

“We are not raising rates for trash pickup,” said Sheets. “Now, maybe for an extra toter. But we’re doing 96 gallons. That’s a huge tote. Most should be okay with that.”

The city is getting 146 extra totes for residents.

In the Board of Works meeting prior to the council, the board approved a two-year PASER contract with Butler, Fairman and Seufert.

“It’s something that is very important,” said Sheets. “This helps them to know which roads to pave as well as when we use the CCMG (Community Crossings Matching Grant). That information is very, very beneficial.”

The cost of the two-year deal was $8,850.

The Board of Works accepted the resignation of City Attorney Les Bergum effected December 31, 2022.

“I knew that he was going to be turning in his paperwork for retirement,” said Sheets. “He has been a great asset to the city. He is going to be so missed.”