City Beat: Council makes way for grant to fund police laptops

In a 20-minute July 24 meeting, Springfield City Council unanimously approved a resolution for the acceptance of a $192,000 Department of Justice law enforcement block grant. It will assist in funding the Springfield Police Department's records management system and provide laptop computers to officers as part of a $1.1 million project to replace the current management system.

Officials consider annexation, city audit

Council heard a public hearing bill to annex property located at the northeast quadrant of Westgate Avenue and Willard Road. The owner of the land spoke at the meeting and said it was his wish that the land be annexed into the city. City staff also recommended the annexation.

A first reading bill to authorize the city to enter into an agreement with Pricewaterhouse-Coopers LLP to provide professional auditing services to City Utilities for fiscal year 2000-03 was heard by council. The Finance Committee recommended approval.

City to assist with trunk sewer

The second first-reading bill would authorize the city to enter into an agreement with the city of Strafford and developer S.J. Lurvey Jr. for a portion of the cost of installing a 15-inch trunk sewer south of Division and west of Farm Road 193.

First reading bills on the consent agenda included an ordinance approving the preliminary plat of W. Bruce Howell Subdivision as an addition to the city and authorize Director of Planning and Development Fred May to accept the dedication of land or easements to the city. The Planning and Zoning Commission and city staff recommended approval.

Another first reading bill declared the necessity of condemning right-of-way over, under and through Sanitary Sewer District 99 of Section 3 for constructing and maintaining sanitary sewers. Another first-reading bill on the consent agenda declared the necessity of condemning right-of-way over, under and through the West Bypass trunk sewer to construct and maintain sewer easements.

Walnut Street to close one day in August

One-reading bills on the consent agenda authorized the city traffic engineer to annually close Walnut Street between Jefferson Avenue and Kimbrough Avenue on a specified Saturday in August from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., subject to conditions. Another one-reading bill established a numbering system for the city land development code, merit system, salary ordinance and purchasing manual which is consistent with the newly adopted City Code.

Citizens voice concerns

In other actions two National Association for the Advancement of Colored People representatives, Cheryl Fischer and Rosemary Stewart Stafford, addressed council about reparations to the Springfield African-American community. Stafford said the 1906 lynching of three black men on Park Central Square will be mentioned in book about lynching in the United States written by Georgetown University professor Emma Coleman Jordan.