CLAYPOOL — Business was kept short at Claypool council’s monthly meeting, Aug. 21, with only one item of new business on the agenda.

The new item was a wastewater adjustment for Angela Bucher who had had a water leak. To remedy the issue, the council averaged Bucher’s wastewater bills for the prior six months and adjusted the difference of the July bill. Bucher was owed back $10.

In old business, Scott Shireman had sent a letter to the council for last month’s meeting asking permission to make some improvements to a ditch on his property that runs along CR 700. The property is within city limits. Shireman would like to make the ditch deeper and fill it with stones.

Council members agreed last month they would not have an issue with granting this request, but wanted to check with street superintendent Gene Warner and the county before granting permission. Warner, who was not at last month’s meeting, advised the improvement would be acceptable.

The council also passed a new ordinance regarding the city’s upkeep of vacant and unkept properties. Ordinance 2017-08-21 states that on the first offense the cost of mowing an unkept property will be $100 for the first hour and $1 per minute thereafter. On the second or subsequent offense, the cost will be $500.

In other business:

• The council asked Warner to speak about the cement “trash” issue that has been brought before the board numerous times. Warner advised the surveyor’s office will move the entire lot as soon as they get a bid to use a piece of the cement. Once they get that bid they will move the cement to a different location to then use as needed.
• Claypool City Council is holding an executive meeting Wednesday, Aug. 23 at 5:30 p.m. This is a closed meeting.
• The next standard meeting will be Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Lion’s Club building as usual.