STRATFORD-This week the Stratford City Council held a discussion regarding the denial of Dalton Higgins request for allowing chickens on his property. Several council members stated the request for written signatures from neighbors was not available and encouraged property clean up. The council encouraged Higgins to come back with a request for chicken once property was cleaned up. On a related note the Stratford City Council approved the following modification that chicken coops and confinement where the animals are housed must be at least 25 feet from neighboring properties in Stratford.
The Stratford Municipal Swimming Pool will close for the summer season this Sunday,August 17 pending staffing. Stratford city manager Kim Leeds reported to the city council that keeping the pool open the last week has been a struggle due to all the kids going back to college. The Stratford City Council approved a quote from Dryer Painting for $23,542 for painting the pool basin using LOSST (Local Option Sales Tax) funds after the pool leak is fixed.
There was a discussion regarding sidewalk repairs or incentives at the property at 1025 Shakespeare Avenue. The council had no incentives at this time.
A quote from Double A Roofing for a roof membrane coating system, and to replace any work or damaged areas on the roof for the City Hall building in Stratford was accepted.
Stratford City Manager Kim Leeds updated the council on the leak at the Municipal Swimming Pool. CIT and ACCO attempted to locate the pool leak with no success. Bolton and Menk engineer Jim Leiding met with maintenance and Leeds to review the findings. The next step will be to schedule Iowa Rural Water Association . Zeb McFarland will come after the pool closes for the season next week with a leak detection transducer along with Jim Leiding from Bolton and Menk with a pin like camera. It is hoped that the two will be able to located the exact location of the leak and come up with a plan to fix it.
The second reading on ordinances for fireworks and trees in Stratford were approved. The council approved the purchase of a big lift station flygt pump at the cost of $43,188.
The September meeting date of the Stratford City Council will be moved from September 8 to the 15th. Normally the council meets on the second Monday of the month