This week is a busy week for the City.  We will hold our regular monthly council meeting on July 2, at 7:00 p.m.  As always, meetings are held at City Hall and are open to the public.  The main order of business will be finalizing the 2016 budget.  Our office will then be closed on Monday, July 6^th to observe the 4^th of July holiday.

Phase I of the Main Street water project is complete.  They are now preparing the ground to begin laying the driving surface.   Again, please drive carefully through the work zone.

The new saucer swing has been installed in the park.  Thanks to the volunteers that installed it.  Enjoy the new swing, but swing responsibly and use it only as it is intended to be used!

If you enjoy fireworks, we have two shows coming up in our community.  On Friday, July 3^rd, the Horsethief Reservoir will host a display and on Saturday, July 4^th, the annual Hodgeman County Big Bang will be held at the Fairgrounds in Jetmore.  Both shows start at dusk.  Thanks to all the sponsors who donate to make these displays possible.

Along with that, please be reminded that Chapter 7, Article 3 of the City Code states that fireworks can only be discharged in the City between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 midnight on June 28^th through July 5^th, as long as the fireworks are not discharged within 25 feet of any building.  Article 7-307 also states that the adult granting permission to detonate fireworks at a private residence shall clear the front yard of that private residence and all adjacent public right-of-way of all debris from the detonation of the fireworks before 10:00 p.m. July 5^th.  Please help us keep out streets and properties clean!

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday!

Work continues on the power plant and we are still on schedule for an August completion date. We look forward to having the back-up power source available again.

Even though the calendar doesn’t say it is officially summer, the thermometer does!  We would like to offer a few simple suggestions to help you conserve energy and lower your energy costs:

* Set your air conditioner thermostat as high as comfortable – possibly 78 degrees or higher when you’re home and 85 degrees when you are gone.  Make sure air vents are not blocked.  Tune your air conditioner in the spring and replace filters often for more efficient operation.

*Minimize indoor heat:  run the dryer and dishwasher at night and let your dishes air dry.  Line dry laundry if possible.  Avoid heat-generating incandescent lighting and use a microwave, toaster oven or outdoor grill instead of the oven.  It’s best to avoid the use of major appliances between 2 and 8 p.m.  Unplug appliances and electronics when not in use.  Plug home electronics into power strips and turn off the power strips when the equipment is not in use. Set your water heater to 120 degrees.  Wash clothes in cold water and clean the lint filter in the dryer after every use.

*Keep the blinds and windows closed during the day and open at night.  Window, ceiling and whole-house fans are also low cost ways to keep your home a little cooler.

There are many other energy conserving ideas, but these are a few quick and inexpensive ideas.

Stay cool and enjoy your summer!

The rains have stopped, so the street project is back on in full force.  The storm drains are in place and the next phase will be the replacement of the water lines.

Along with the rains come the mosquitoes!  The city crew sprayed the first time on June 5th.  However…we would like to ask the citizens to help us out.  Mosquitoes require water to breed.  Adult mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant or slow moving water.  By eliminating these water sources, you can keep new generations of mosquitoes from taking up residence in your yard. You may need to reroute your downspouts or add extensions to carry water away.  Walk your property after a rain and look for areas that are holding water. Dump anything that holds water twice per week if it rains.  Birdbaths, wading pools and pottery will all attract breeding mosquitoes. Keep your property clean of any items that can hold water, including discarded aluminum cans and old tires.

The crews have been busy grading alleys and roads.  The road to the lake is smooth again, so plan a trip out to enjoy the City Lake.  Fishing, boating, a picnic and the new shooting range are a few ways you can enjoy the lake.  Permits are $4.00 per day for a vehicle or a yearly pass is $25.00.  There is no fee for fishing.

Our City Administrator has moved on and the search for a new administrator continues.  Interested applicants can view the job advertisement at http://www.lkm.org/classifieds/jobs/.