CEYLON — During the Ceylon City Council meeting on Tuesday, the Helping Hands of Ceylon representatives asked about the playground equipment at the park. Some of it is rusty and they felt some was dangerous.

The council asked what the inspector said and was told they said it was dangerous. The representatives thought it was the company representative who was selling equipment. The council asked that a state or county, or more indiscriminate authority, be checked. The Helping Hands of Ceylon group is confident that they can get a grant for the equipment, but they need approval and need the old equipment removed. The council asked that they have quotes and descriptions for the equipment.

The excavation of the county tile and the camera investigation by the county were approved. Rosburg excavating will do that part, and the county will photograph the tile when their camera is fixed. When the tiles were put in by the county and city, the county administration is listed as paying the camera part, and the city is liable for the excavation part. Any property benefiting from county tile repair etc., is billed when that work is done. The Water Treatment Plant repairs had quotes for $6,000 for the valve and $6,000 for the media layers from the Beemer company approved. The repairs are scheduled for months from now since the parts must be ordered, possibly for winter repairs.

The council discussed using some of the investment money to help cover the repair costs. The environmental report was tabled until more information is known. Bolton and Menk Engineer Travis Winter explained some of the work with information from the city utilities employees. The representative from USDA will meet with the council members at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 1 to explain the grant instructions and provide more information about getting city infrastructure improvement grants. Winter also remarked that information about the downtown buildings will be available for the next meeting.

Council reports asked about the rocks needed and asked the utility/city employee if that could be done asap. The ragcatcher in the water treatment plant is needed too. In a discussion about hours, the new employee, Nate Beckendorf, asked that his hours be the same as Jim Plumhoff’s so he can learn from him. The hours are 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. most days. The mayor passed out an ordinance update report for the council to review and make suggestions about to her. She mentioned that many ordinances are out of date. She has taken on the updating of the ordinances as her project.

In other business:

— A public comment about the amount of water drainage problem was brought up by a resident. The city utility employees reminded the resident that the 6-inch rainfall was gone in two days, and they thought that the draining time was sufficient. The Data Request Policy report was tabled until the next meeting. The change in the Agenda Policy to give the Council more time to investigate matters and have information available for the meeting was approved.

— The quote from Crown Tree Service for $2,000 to remove the large maple tree south of the City Hall was approved.

— A discussion about the Nov. 4 election was held as the school district referendum from Fairmont Area Schools will be then. Some will vote at the Knights of Columbus hall in Fairmont. The Mayor will find out where the Ceylon residents are to vote, and if it can be in Ceylon, how to elect judges.

— Reports from the utility employee said that there would be an inspection of the Water Tower on Sept. 16. He also asked about the purchase of a power washer. They have been using the Fire Department’s, but that requires repair/replacement. They will look into a refurbished one for $1,600 or what the quotes will be for a new one.

— The Clean Up Day in Ceylon will be Sept. 27. Tags for pick up of items at curbside are available at the City Hall, with further information as to the items that are acceptable and not acceptable. This is always a good opportunity to get rid of items that must be removed due to an ordinance violation.

— The clerk reported that she would not be in the office from September 16 to 19. Any emergency information should be given to Jim Plumhoff or Nate Beckendorf on those days.

The next regular meeting of the Ceylon City Council is scheduled for October 14. They have scheduled work sessions on Sept. 23 and Oct. 1.