By BEN GRAFTON
At the Freeport City Council meeting of March 22 Fire Chief Ben Greenslait announced that the annual Easter egg hunt will be held at the Sports Complex on April 7 beginning at noon. Some 12,000 eggs are being prepared for the event. Special times are being set for children of different ages and with different needs.
Greenslait advised the Council that, with warmer weather, calls are being received about the opening date for the swimming pool. He will provide a draft flyer for a discussion at the next Council meeting about the schedule for pool opening, operating days, times and events.
Greenslait asked the Council to approve purchase of a replacement for the Fire Department’s 1997 refrigerator which has quit running. The expense was not budgeted. The city can get a 15-percent discount on the floor price for the unit. The request was approved.
The fire department is moving toward providing an inside decontamination room at the station. In order to provide room, equipment now stored inside must be relocated. Construction of either a 30 by 36-foot or a 30 by 48-foot pole barn is proposed to provide sheltered storage, facing Adams Street, outside of the main building. Boats and the old fire truck would be moved into the pole barn. The Council approved going ahead with the 30 by 48-foot barn.
The fire department report for the months of January and February shows that a total of 175 calls were made compared to 131 calls during the same period last year. In February 81 percent of the calls were to provide medical assistance.
Preble-Rish engineer Charlie Cotton reported that both the North Bay water main and the energy grant projects are on track and are projected to be finished in April. The abandoned fiber optic line has not slowed the work on the North Bay project.
Cotton also reported that the city’s waste water permit has been submitted.
The County Public Health Department has requested a waiver of fees for a one-day use of the Community Center to present a program. The scheduled date will be provided later. The Council approved the request.
Drawings for two carports to be used to cover city generators have been received. Efforts are being made to keep the costs down. The carports would be anchored to the ground with straps. Carolina Carports is the only supplier providing wind load data. The Council approved the project.
Two prices have been received for the replacement of an X-ray machine with monitor which was used to locate underground utility piping, but which was lost in a wreck. The monitor and the machine each cost $5,000. The city has a three year-old backup monitor and the supplier assured the city it will work with the new machine. The Council approved purchasing the replacement X-ray machine and using the three year-old backup monitor with it. In the event the monitor does not work, then the city will purchase a new monitor.