First reading of swimming pool fence ordinance gets council OK

Last Monday night’s meeting of the Prescott City Council began with the approval of the consent agenda.

The Council announced they were informed that the DNR has received the application for the courtesy dock and there is a 30-day period where they will take comments on the application.

Prescott Parks and Streets Superintendent Mike Kinneman presented a request to the Council to purchase a John Deer 50G compact excavator.

“What we have right now is a 110 backhoe, rubber tire, and it will dig approximately eight feet deep, which is not deep enough for most of our digs,” Kinneman reported. “The problem is, we could maybe get down to the valve, but we can’t shape the sides to make it safe. This here will dig just about thirteen feet deep and it’s a track hoe, which you can swing 360 degrees.”

Kinneman informed the Council that they purchased the old piece of equipment thirteen years ago for $30,000 and can get just about $23,000 for trade-in. Due to COVID-19, John Deere slowed down manufacturing, so they are unsure if they would be able to find one in 2021. The request is being made now because there is one in stock and would cost anywhere from five to eight percent less if it is purchased this year. The final cost of the excavator is $41,709 with funds coming from capital projects, water and sewer. The Council passed the vote without a negative voice vote. Kinneman had planned to purchase a bucket truck with the 2020 budgeted money, but elected to purchase the excavator instead, as it is considered a higher need.

Next, the Council was informed that the Fire Department is in need of new turnout gear.

“Our firefighters are kind of in a predicament right now where they need to replace 20% of their gear,” Councilmember Dar Hintz stated after she informed the Council that the Fire Department applied for a grant this expected to be granted, although at this point they do not know for certain. The Council elected to approve $17,200 be allocated to the purchase of the turnout gear, funded by the Routes to Recovery grant program.

The Council also approved an audit contract with Johnson Block for the 2020 year, which passed without a negative voice vote.

Changes to the swimming pool ordinance were discussed so that all swimming pools over 15 inches would require a four-foot fence. It was agreed that the fence would not have to encompass the entire yard, and it could just be around the pool. No existing pools would be grandfathered in without a fence. As soon as water is added to the pool, a fence would be required. The Council discussed an annual permit that residents would have to acquire through the City. Councilmembers Robert Daugherty and Maureen Otwell motioned to approve and seconded the first reading of the swimming pool ordinance, which passed without a negative voice vote.

Photo by Jack McLoone.