TRUMAN– The Truman City Council on Monday heard from Kathy Sorenson and Lynn Brownlee of the Spruce Up committee who suggested some improvements to the city ahead of Truman Days and the city’s 125th anniversary.

First they asked if the council thought it was possible to do a city-wide clean up earlier this year, ahead of Truman Days. The past few years the clean up day has been in September.

Mayor Jake Ebert said that Councilor Patty Truax, who was not present, had been leading the clean up day and that he thought she was planning it for the fall again.

“There’s a couple things involved– Praireland is involved and we need dumpsters,” said Council Member Chris Mosloski.

However the council indicated that it was open to an additional clean up day. Sorenson and Brownlee said they were also considering asking the fire department or Sentence to Serve to help remove and clean up items from households occupied by older residents.

Sorenson also asked about the status of the new picnic table. Ebert said he thought they were about five weeks out. A total of 12 new picnic tables were ordered and at least three will go to the campground and some will go to Graf Park. It was said that the existing tables at Graf Park will be disposed of as they’re breaking down and no longer considered safe.

Finally Sorenson talked about some new signage that has been ordered for downtown buildings

“We’re ordering five new historic pictures that will go downtown,” she said.

The council also discussed the Graf Park boulevard. Last meeting the council talked about getting a second bid for adding concrete to the boulevard and on Monday Street Superintendent John Bosshart said he’s been in contact with someone who said they can haul in dirt to the low places and also put down grass seed for $1,100.

“He said that he doesn’t like to do any seeding after the first of June…so if they are going to do it he said they should get the sidewalk done as soon as possible,” Bosshart said.

The council indicated that it wanted to move forward with both the sidewalk and the grass seed, but worried about how soon the concrete work could get done.

“If he can do it in the next week or so, do you want to go forward with the grass seed?” Ebert asked the council.

Mosloski said it it can be done in the next few weeks, otherwise the seeding would get done too late in the season.

In other news, Faith Clow, a pool commissioner, was present to share some updates with the council. She said that they’re planning to open the pool for the season on June 1. Most lifeguards from last season are returning and the council approved a 25 cent raise for them. It also approved the hire of several new guards