Efforts underway to replace grinder pump tank at ballfield

VERNON – Vernon City Council approved spending $493 to replace the grinder pump tank at the baseball field during their regularly scheduled meeting April 26, after the restrooms became unusable due to clogged toilets yet again. The decision was made at Council’s regular meeting Monday night.

“It was embarrassing; we had four teams out there at one time and a couple hundred people with no operating restrooms,” said Council President Tray Hawkins. “We’d clean out the tank just to have it clog up again and then we found out that the tank we have isn’t the sufficient size to be handling this many toilets; we just need a bigger tank.”

The Council also approved of the recreation department using the recreation funds to buy the necessary equipment needed to continue running the concession stand such as a griddle and an ice machine.

Hawkins motioned for the council to approve that everyone working with the children playing baseball be subjected to background checks, and informed them that Dixie Youth supplied the paperwork. The Council approved.

Hayward Brock approached the Council again about the city doing away with the utility taxes and Council member Byron Biddle explained that they had to follow procedure to vote to do away with the taxes.

“We’re going to speak about it in the next workshop meeting,” said Biddle. “There are some that it may be detrimental to do away with it, but we did a first reading, now we’ll discuss it at the next workshop and with a public hearing we can have a second hearing to do away with it.”

The Council approved of Hawkins’ motion to implement Emergency Vehicle Operator courses for firefighters.

“I can’t fathom why the city hasn’t done this before,” said Hawkins. “It’s just a lawsuit waiting to happen.”

Mayor Al Mani reported that Andersons Columbia provided the library with 13 new parking places, including concrete bumpers and that the grass damaged by people parking on it would be replaced.

He also reported that the Historical Society’s grant request wasn’t on the list for 2010 or 2011 for grant funding.

A representative from the Washington County Chamber of Commerce invited the council to attend the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the Circle H gas station and convenience store on April 30 at 10:30 a.m.

The Council approved of the Washington County Council on Aging’s request to use the Community Center on May 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at no charge.