Wymore council approves temporary police hire, parking ordinance and $54,500 tree-trimming contract

At its Aug. 16 meeting, the Wymore City Council approved several administrative actions including a temporary hire for the police department, a parking ordinance change, and a contractor bid to trim trees along power lines.

Chief of Police Bobby Martinez requested permission to hire a temporary part-time employee to organize equipment and paperwork so he could spend more time on public duties. Council approved a six-month position at $11 per hour for three days a week, six to eight hours per day; council agreed to revisit the hiring decision if the position needed to continue.

On parking, the council suspended the required three readings and adopted Ordinance 674 to change center parking on 7th Street between D and G streets from angled to parallel parking. Councilmembers and the police chief noted that residents and visitors will need time to adapt to the new layout.

The council also accepted Green Tree Company’s Estimate #326 for $54,500 to trim trees identified by staff that are close to power lines; Tim Sedlacek said the same company performed work after the June 2022 tornado and that completing the work soon could help prevent major storm damage.

Other business included direction for departments to prepare surplus lists so the city attorney can draft a surplus resolution, a note that the city has not yet been reimbursed by the Valley Police Department for Officer Willman’s vest (Chief Martinez said he will follow up), and presentation of revised department budgets for council review. Council adjourned at 9:39 PM.

Votes taken on administrative items included several routine approvals of minutes and claims, some of which recorded abstentions on individual check approvals; those motions and abstentions are reflected in council minutes.