Lowell City Council wrapped up its second meeting for July in fewer than 25 minutes on Monday night. There were only two pieces of business up for discussion, and all councilmembers were present for the conversation.
Resident Perry Beachum spoke during the citizen comments portion of the meeting. He noted Pink Arrow Community Day will be on August 18 this year, and the Pink Arrow game will be held on September 1.
He also followed up on his comments from last meeting and reiterated his concern that the fairgrounds had been used for an automobile sale. “I [don’t] feel like my tax dollars should be supporting a for-profit company,” Beachum said. He encouraged councilmembers to change ordinances to prevent a similar sale in the future.
Under new business, councilmembers considered a new agreement for the Lowell Area Fire and Emergency Services Authority, which oversees the Lowell Area Fire Department. Mayor Mike DeVore, who serves as the council representative on the authority, did not provide any specifics on the changes to the agreement other than to say that it eliminated “antiquated” provisions. “We feel it reflects the current state of the department,” DeVore said.
The agreement was approved by Lowell City Council unanimously. Lowell Charter Township and Vergennes Township, which are also part of the authority, had votes on the agreement at their Monday board meetings as well.
Councilmembers also unanimously approved temporary use of the King Building parking lot by King Milling workers while a new addition is being constructed.
City Manager Mike Burns was absent so there was no manager’s report.
During councilmember comments at the end of the meeting, Councilmember Jim Salzwedel noted that a “Showboat bath” was scheduled for this Sunday, July 25th, at 12pm to clean bugs from the boat. Volunteers from the public are invited to help.
Police Chief Chris Hurst mentioned that he had been told the Showboat needed an inspection. Salzwedel said he didn’t know anything about the inspection, but he knew attorneys were in the process of trying to track down the Showboat’s title. “When they built the boat, they actually should have given us a title,” he said.
Other councilmembers commented that people should not believe everything they read online. Councilmember Cliff Yankovich said there is no effort by the City of Lowell or Lowell Light & Power to encourage the use of solar energy, and DeVore said there are no plans to sell the Boy Scout cabin and property to developers.
“Repeating a lie doesn’t make it the truth,” DeVore said.
The meeting adjourned at 7:23pm. The next regular meeting of Lowell City Council will take place on Monday, August 1, at 7pm in Lowell City Hall.
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