Opinions voiced at city meeting
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Though the Chrisman Sesquicentennial Celebration is in the books, some things were left unsaid until after the celebration.
Dan Moore, President of the Chrisman Area Community Club, was in attendance at the Chrisman city council meeting Monday night, on behalf of the Sesquicentennial Committee to voice his displeasure with what we reported in the Leader after the first city meeting of September.
Moore began by stating that the celebration brought a lot of people into town and it was all possible because of the volunteers that donated their time to make this such a great celebration.
“Then I get an article in this paper (The Chrisman Leader), Thad Crispin. I was not very happy with it,” Moore said. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Moore referred to the council as ‘you people’, reminding them that early on in the celebration planning, they had vowed to support the Sesquicentennial committee.
Mayor Danny Owen agreed as he was at the committee meetings.
“Mayor Owen told us to give him a list of what needed done for the Sesquicentennial,” Moore said. “Then it’s brought up in the paper (the Leader) that I’m telling your workers to work.”
Moore mentioned, as another reminder, to Commissioner Cory Chaney, that the committee was told if they needed help with the Sesquicentennial signs to call the city, to which Chaney agreed the council said.
“Get your facts straight before you start,” Moore said. Dan stated again that if it wasn’t for the volunteers things wouldn’t have been done. He also stated that he received comments that Chrisman had never looked better than what it did.
An issue that Moore brought to the council was something that Commissioner Crispin had said at the last city meeting. Crispin had stated, about the celebration, that things were “getting out of control”.
“What exactly was out of control, Thad?” Moore asked.
“People personally facebooking messages to workers,” Crispin said.
Moore admitted that he did send a message to a city employee about a sign that needed put in the park, but Crispin corrected him saying that he wasn’t the only one who had sent messages to employees.
Moore said that he had only seen Commissioner Bryan Haddix and Commissioner Cory Chaney volunteering their time for the preparation of Chrisman Days, then went further and stated that Haddix was doing Crispin’s job.
Another issue was the golf carts in the park during the celebration. Moore had in hand the original ordinance, which was approved due to safety issues.
“I agree, but it was stated that everyone was consulted,” Crispin said. “Not to mention that you drive your little utility vehicle through the park.”
Moore explained that he rides his vehicle in the park because he is watering the flowers. Moore made the comment that he’s trying to bring everyone together, but Commissioner Crispin was “trying to tear it apart”.
In his final thoughts before leaving, Moore asked Crispin about the ordinance of blowing grass trimmings into the streets and stated that he had pictures of Crispin doing so.
“I blow my grass back and I clean it up,” Crispin said.
After voicing his issues, Moore approached the councilman’s table and handed back the water key.
“I will no longer have anything to do with this City Council,” Moore told them. “And I’m done volunteering.”
Once Moore left, Mayor Owen asked former Commissioner Rodney Wolfe what he had to discuss. Wolfe asked the council if they had thought about the water line approach in Paris.
“People from Edgar have said that someone still owns water, then I had people ask about running water to Scottland,” Wolfe said. “I told them I’m not with the city and we don’t have the resources.”
Wolfe stated that Paris might be able to get the money to get water to people in Edgar and Scottland, but he knows that the city spent a lot of money to get the water line to us. Commissioner Crispin asked if Paris would even be interested in taking on the project of getting water to Edgar and Scottland. Wolfe said they would have to ask, but Paris possibly has the resources to make it happen.
Wolfe made mention about the water that would become stagnant sitting at the top of the water tower. Water goes in and comes up from the bottom of the tower. The water in top, if something would happen to the line going into the tower, if the water got into the system, would cause the city to go on a boil order due to chlorine not reaching it.
“I’m told that every couple of weeks, in hot weather, they want to overflow the tower, grab a sample and if there’s chlorine in it, you’re good,” Wolfe said. “It will just overflow and take the stale water and push it over the top.”
The cost of this would run about $200 per time, but in the long run would benefit the city.
The Chrisman Area Community Club is interested in reserving the park for the Halloween weekend (28th 29th and 30th). “Last year, they did the Halloween parade and a free meal. This year, they want to do a food stand for the junior class to try and raise money for them,” Crispin said.
Activities will take place the whole weekend, possibly including a hay ride, pumpkin decorating and other things, but nothing is set in stone. Commissioner Bryan Haddix mentioned doing the trunk or treat and trick or treat on separate days in order to get more people in the park.
Hours for the trick or treat will possibly be set at the next meeting once things are squared away with the community club.
There has been a change in plans for the tar and chip due to construction being done on Washington Street for the lift station. “Instead of Washington Street, we’re going to do McKinley,” said Crispin. “Hopefully, financially it will be feasible.”
We will publish another map once everything is worked out.
Commissioner Cory Chaney said that he put a call in to Ameren for ten street lights to be replaced and that has been done. A total of nine more leaks have been discovered and are in the process of being replaced.
The city recently received another $86,000 for infrastructure. “I need a list from you guys what you need help with,” Chaney said. “It needs documented to be turned into the state as we spend money.”
Chaney stated that he was up at the dump a couple of weeks ago and saw a carpet and various trash and mentioned putting the chain up or more cameras.
“They’re (the city workers) wasting time pulling all of that out of there,” Chaney said. Haddix said a sign was put up telling residents that nothing but yard waste was to be dumped.
In another matter, Police Chief Tom Dolan wanted to extend a thank you to the Indianola and Ridge Farm Police Departments for their help during the parade. Ridge Farm also helped with town coverage during the event weekend.
Charleston Police Department has also helped out. “They brought out their drug dog for me for a thing I had going and they were here today because the high school requested a K-9 there,” Dolan said. “They brought two dogs and spent a couple of hours here. The educational value of having them here was pretty productive.”
Also at this week’s meeting was approval of the previous meeting minutes and claims in the amount of $41,332.46 as well as building permits for 102 Woodlawn.
The council approved the resignation of City Clerk Autumn Perryman and Lela Ramey was approved for the position. Perryman was also removed from both bank accounts and Ramey was added.
