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City to purchase emergency equipment
Jasper City Council members during their July 8 meeting approved spending $21,040 on a spreader, battery and charger for equipment that will be used by the Jasper Fire Department to extricate people from vehicles after crashes. Ambulance Director Kim Drew said the Jasper Ambulance Board agreed to purchase related equipment, including a cut blade, battery and charger for $20,349 for the Fire Department using state funds. Jasper Fire Chief Chris “Kip” Johnson and Drew said the comparable equipment the Fire Department has now is 19 years old and the Fire Department plans to sell it. Drew said the new battery-powered equipment is less cumbersome and easier to use.
Safety fence to be added to park
Council members voted to purchase and install a safety fence between the volleyball court and the new splash pad at the Jasper City Park to prevent children using the splash pad from being hit by volleyballs. Angel Garcia, who is organizing a volleyball tournament during Quartziter Days, said during the community concerns portion of the City Council meeting that he was concerned about children getting hurt when the ball is served or spiked. The council approved purchasing chain link fencing and poles. The fence was expected to cost around $80 and the cost of the poles was not yet clear.
Company hired to review gym equipment
Jasper City Council members approved a quote from Push Pedal Pull for an inspection and maintenance of the exercise equipment at the Wellness Center at the Quartziter Community Center for $850. Public Works Superintendent Brian Thode said a representative of the company had visited the Wellness Center and said that the equipment is outdated, but most of it appeared to be usable. He advised that any equipment that was not designed for commercial use should not be used at the Wellness Center.
Jasper to update zoning ordinance
The City Council voted to pay the Southwest Regional Development Commission (SRDC) up to $3,000 to update its zoning ordinance to make it consistent with current land use practices, compliant with state laws and aligned with local goals. According to a proposal, the SRDC plans to dedicate up to 30 hours of professional planning staff time to help the city update the ordinance at a cost of $100 per hour. City Clerk/Treasurer Trinidad Garcia said the process could take from nine months to a year.
City Council meeting time changed
The Jasper City Council voted to change its monthly meeting time to 5 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month. Councilor Zack Kounkel asked if it would be possible to start the meetings earlier and the other council members supported the idea. After some discussion, the council decided to keep the meetings on the second Tuesdays of the month, but move them to the earlier time. The meetings were previously held at 7 p.m.
Late fees added to fire department bills
Mayor Kim Lape said there have been some invoices for services from the Jasper Fire Department that haven’t been paid in a timely manner. Johnson said there was one outstanding invoice from two years ago, for example. He said it might help to send the bills to insurance companies rather than individuals. After some discussion, the City Council voted to add a 15 percent late fee to invoices not paid within 60 days.