by Don Beman
The Canby City Council learned last week that the state will put up $191,625 to replace the Custer Avenue bridge.
The city’s share of the project will be $40,596.
A meeting was held to begin the preliminary planning for the project, which City Administrator Diane Miller said would be completed this year, probably in August.
The last set of plans called for replacing the bridge with culverts.
Mayor Rich Blackwelder said the last he knew the state budget went through without the Can by project, but the city subsequently received a letter saying the state had set aside money for the project.
In other business, Jeff Pederson asked the Council for $1,500 to do some repairs around the swimming pool.
“It’s very, very bad,” Pederson said. “I’ve got to do something.”
Miller said there was money in the budget for repairs.
The problem is in the decking, or concrete slab, around the pool. Pederson said it is crumbling and is now bad enough that it could pose a danger.
The Council directed Pederson to go ahead with the repairs.
Pederson and Chris Husby appeared jointly before the Council recommending that Jason Weber be hired as a city employee. The position has been vacant since Pederson was promoted to head of the water department.
Pederson and Husby said they had a good selection of candidates and it was hard to settle on one.
The Council approved the hiring and was told Weber would be on the job within two weeks.
In other business, the Council approved the appointment of Mark Greenway to the Canby Economic Development Authority. He replaces Jeff Harms, who resigned.
During the general discussion, Rick Bueltel asked about the prospects for a skateboard park. The budget for this year contains $25,000 for one. Miller said there was no chance this year of any state money for the park because of the state deficit.