The Perry City Council met in regular session last night.

During open forum, Fire Chief Chris Hinds was there to answer questions from Council Members on concerns they’ve heard about the new fire truck purchase.  Hinds assured the Council that the truck that has been selected will fit in the current fire station, is built to allow the department to fight fires in any area in and around the town and is the best option for the City.  The truck purchase was listed in the approved budget for fiscal 2013-2014.

Three public hearings were then held, the first in regards to the 28^th Street construction project which is for roughly 600 feet of 28^th Street between Willis and McKinley Streets near the new Rowley Masonic Home expansion.  The other two hearings were in regards to essential and general purpose loan agreements.  No one from the public spoke in regards to either topic.

The council then approved a bid of $505,900 from Keller Excavating for the 28^th Street Construction project.  The bid is under the engineer’s estimate and the project will extend into next spring with no paving happening this fall.

The  $2.2 million loan agreement for essential and general purposes was then unanimously approved.

A public hearing in regards to the disposal of public property on lots 7 and 8 of block 74 was then set for the next meeting on September 3^rd.  The recommendation is to sell the property for $50,000 to build a new cell phone tower.

Finally, the second reading of the ordinance amendment in regards to peddlers, solicitors and transient merchants was approved, with Councilwoman Eklund voting no, with plans to ask other area communities about a few issues that were brought to her attention recently.  The third reading will be considered at the next meeting in September.