BLAND —  Bland Park Board President Mark Farran informed the Belle Board of Aldermen Sept. 10 about updates for the park this fall.

Farran said the grills for the pavilion and benches for the playground area have been purchased. Mark Heintz will be completing road repairs soon, and the park board had been busy planning the Fall Festival (Oct. 6).

“Any thought to the pavilion coming into the park,” asked Mayor Ron Shafferkoetter.

Farran said the park board was reviewing the repairs that were needed. 

“Is there anything we can do for you,” Shafferkoetter asked.

Farran mentioned a stump that needed to be removed and asked Shafferkoetter if there were any objections to having Public Works Director Rodney Turner remove it.

Alderman Tommy Thompson said he didn’t, as the park was owned by the city. However, Alderman Jim Carpenter said the reason the stump was not removed before was because it was so close to the water and electrical lines. They did not want to risk roots being wrapped around electric or water lines.

Shafferkoetter asked Turner for a recommendation.

“We will look again,”Turner said.

Turner will determine if the electric and water lines are too close to dig the stump out.

In other business, Bland City Marshal Patrick Boatman presented his department’s handbook to the board for approval. 

Boatman said a social media policy was missing from the old handbook and felt one was needed for the new one. He said he contacted Rosebud for a copy of their police department’s policy.

Following his announcement, Tommy Thompson presented Boatman with a list of  areas he felt needed stop signs installed. His list had 18 locations in all.

Shafferkoetter said the signs were $26 not including the cost of the posts.

Thompson made the motion to install the listed stop signs and for the clerk to create the ordinance needed to authorize them. The motion passed with all in favor.

Shafferkoetter also asked the board to reconsider a vote from a previous meeting to renew the codification of ordinances.

“The attorney is still reviewing the proposals and believes that codification will not exceed $10,500,” Shafferkoetter said.

He added that while the codification needed to be done, it was not in the city’s budget for this fiscal year.

“I propose we table it at this time and recommended adding it into the next budget for the next fiscal year.”

The board made a motion to postpone the codification until next fiscal year with all in favor.