Kingston appoints new Mayor
Kingston City Council met in regular session May 5. All members of the board were present along with City Clerk Debbie Fleming and Water/Sewer Superintendent David Bethel.
The council revisited the results of the April election for the purpose of deciding on a mayoral candidate. No one filed for the position but there were several write-ins. Those people were contacted to determine if they had an interest in the job. The only person interested in the position was Chris Kipp, who was also present at the May meeting. The board agreed to appoint Mr. Kipp as Kingston’s mayor for the next two years. He was then sworn in to office and took his place at the table.
David Bethel reported on activities for the Sewer/Water Dept. He said that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was in town April 19, for a 3-year water inspection. The reports have not come back and he expects there will be no problems. He mentioned that a contact time study may have to be done since the city’s upgrade. On the city’s billing program, the cost for the program will be broken up into two payments. The company will send the city two hand held units to test to see which one the city likes the most. Meter readings will be entered into the hand held unit and then downloaded to the computer for billing. Bethel said in two years when everything is changed to Windows 10 the current billing program will no longer work. The company said they would upgrade the city at no cost if they could wait until August when the new Soloist software comes out.
Bethel said that consumer confidence reports were included in customer’s water bills. They are also posted at the city hall, courthouse, Twin Creeks and post office. Bethel said he has been researching locaters and is leaning towards the Fisher model. The cost will be approximately $2,600 for the locater and case. Mayor Kipp said he knows where there is one for around $400 and council said they would take a further look at it.
Bethel said the city received another letter from Dennis Yoakum. Yoakum said he had filed a complaint against the Attorney General because they have not answered his first complaint. He has not had water since October 2015 when the city shut off his water for nonpayment. He is asking for relief. Council will discuss further in closed session.
Alderman Fleming asked when they were going to get asphalt to fix the street around the courthouse. Someone from the county will use the county truck to pick it up. Mayor Kipp said he could arrange to get community work from the prison to help with the job. Campbell made a motion that they get 15 ton, not to cost over $2,000. Fleming said he didn’t want to spend all the city’s money on basically one street while all the rest of the streets in town continue to be in bad shape, siting the street from the blacktop to the school was almost impassable.
Campbell asked if the city received the money for selling the lot at Twin Creeks. Bethel said he was waiting for Ryland to sign the Quit Claim Deed releasing the easement he has on the property. If they can’t get him to sign, the deed will have to be drawn up with the easement still on it.
Bethel said Green Hills Telephone was going to have a meet and greet on May 24th at the park.
