City Of Kahoka Awarded $134,800 CDBG Demolition Block Grant

By Mike Scott

Fifteen residential and two commercial buildings in Kahoka will be demolished in the coming months, thanks to a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $134,800.  Mayor Herb Butler made the announcement during the Monday night, June 11, meeting of the Kahoka Board of Aldermen.  As part of that process, the board approved Kealings from Columbia, Missouri, for the required asbestos inspections on the properties.
The board approved liquor sales applications from the following Kahoka businesses during Monday’s meeting:  Moose Lodge, C&R Market, Ayers Oil Co., Casey’s General Store, Duer’s Oil Co., Bulldog Bar and Pamida.  There were no licensing changes from last year, according to City Collector Barb Webber.
Mayor Butler also made his annual proclamation allowing fireworks usage inside the city limits.  Fireworks will be permitted from 6AM until 10M Sunday thru Tuesday, July 1-3, and 6AM until midnight on Wednesday, July 4.
Five local skateboarders, led by Navar Hren, addressed the board concerning a skate park.
“We were wondering if we could use the west end of the tennis courts to put in ramps and rails,” Hren asked the council.  “We’re not asking for any money, just permission to use that site.”
The board agreed that it would be a good site, and was generally favorable to the proposal, but took no action pending a liability review.
The board heard a report from Paul Jensen, of the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission concerning the Prairie States  Energy Campus.  The city previously invested in the project, and will receive an allocated amount of electricity at a fixed rate.  The coal-fired plant in Illinois is expected to be in service between 2011 and 2013.
“The project is moving forward, and costs are in line with projections,” Jensen told the council.” 
The board approved Ordinance 369, an amended agreement with the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission,  on three readings.
The council also approved a change in the city’s ordinance concerning doorways between connected buildings.  The board approved Ordinance 370, which will allow variances to be issued by the council under certain circumstances.  As a follow up matter, the board approved a variance for Steve’s Restaurant, which will allow owner Steve Howell to expand into the building to his south.
In other business, the council:
-Discussed establishing a specific day or days for brush collection  and chipping in Kahoka.
–Approved a resolution concerning Workers’ Compensation Insurance for volunteer firefighters.
–After discussion, approved repairing the exposed wall of the now-vacant lot on the north side of the square, and then deeding it to Kathy Shipley.
–Agreed to additional closed streets around the square during Old Settlers’ Day.
–Discussed bid guidelines for cemetery stone restoration work.
–Approved three building permits.
–Approved the bid of $2785 from Santa Fe Auto for a trailer.
–Approved the bid of $181.55 from Doug Rankin for a used lawn mower.
–Approved a bid from Joe Elsea of Hannibal for a used truck.
–Rejected all bids for the used police car.