Mower gets clipped in Walnut

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WALNUT — Walnut is having a difficult time deciding if “two mowers are really better than one?”

Trustee Lee Sarver, chairman of the cemetery committee, gave the Walnut Village Board information regarding the purchase of a new Skagg mower with a mulching kit, costing $9,700 or $5,200 with a trade in.

As recently as a couple of months ago, the only mower the cemetery had with a mulch kit went down due to a problem with the motor. For the better part of two months while it was being repaired, the only mower the cemetery had available to them was one with a side discharge, which when used, covers headstones, markers and flower beds with loose grass cuttings.

Due to complaints from residents throughout the village office, the cemetery board would like the village to consider this purchase, so the cemetery crew would always have a back-up if needed.

Board member Jack Ackerman asked why the village needed two mowers. “Most people only have one mower,” he said. While members debated the pros and cons, Superintendent Gary Sarver reminded the board a trade-in would minimize the cost.

Voting on the purchase of a new mower ended with a split-decision, forcing Mayor Gary Brooks to cast the deciding vote. Brooks voted against a new mower, saying he’d like to have additional discussion on the issue. The board agreed to discuss the matter again at next month’s meeting.

In other business, the board:

• Agreed to let Superintendent Sarver continue to work on getting residents (connected to the alley located north of Walnut Street) to agree to pay half of the work needed to make the alleyway a safer road to travel. The costs are estimated at about $10,000 for the completed project, with the village paying half the costs. Some board members had a difficult time understanding why some of the residents are not coming readily on board with the suggestion, since their property values could rise if the alleyway was repaired. Sarver said he would continue to look into the situation but told the board “not to get their hopes up.”

• Passed a motion to give the Walnut Fire Department the village fire truck. The board did not see any reason why the village should own or be responsible for any further upkeep; it will now be the fire department’s responsibility.

• Agreed to pay only 50 percent of the Walnut Fire Department lock box. The 50 percent would cover the police portion of the bill, only with the payments starting immediately to cover the month of July.

• Will be turning the garbage and rubbish ordinance over to the village attorney for review.  The board feels some of the wording needs to be reworked.

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