Burlington Junction to help ballfield
SKYE POURNAZARI/THE FORUM
Burlington Junction Alderman John Mires loves decorating for Christmas and his home shows it. Mires’ home offers lights of all kinds, moving holiday décor and music to entertain community members as they drive by. He told The Forum that Clark Griswold’s home in “Christmas Vacation” has nothing on his place!
BURLINGTON JCT., Mo. — The Burlington Junction Board of Aldermen approved financial assistance for the BJ Blazers during its regular meeting on Dec. 9 at City Hall.
The board approved paying one-third of the cost of replacement lights for the ballfield ordered by Nate and Shayli Larabee with the BJ Blazers.
The lights had already gone through three rounds of replacements by the manufacturer, EiKO, after many of the 34 new LEDs installed in 2020 were found to be faulty. After an analysis of the ballpark’s electrical grid by EiKO and Evergy, no cause of the failures was definitively found.
Last month, Nate said that the two companies both told the ballclub it isn’t their problem, but some voltage spikes were found using analyzers attached to the system.
The Larabees had to order six lights at a cost of $5,268 just to get this most recent season started and asked those who use the field to help with that cost.
Shayli told the board that the West Nodaway school board agreed to pay for one-third and the ballclub would take care of the final third.
Other news
- The board approved a 2.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment for city employees.
- Two board seats will be up in the April 2025 election: John Mires’ and Martha Greeley’s. To apply, candidates should file a Declaration of Candidacy at City Hall from now until Tuesday, Dec. 31.
- City Clerk Jo Anna Marriott suggested a change to the hours City Hall is open during the winter because she will now be managing the testing of the lagoon. City Hall will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for Thursday, when City Hall will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Alderwoman Martha Greeley said she’s often thought City Hall should be open later for people who can’t quite make it during the workday.
- Board members approved purchasing insurance from Hart Insurance Agency, LLC at a cost of $22,708. After some discussion, the board agreed to also purchase $70 worth of terrorism coverage. Marriott said it had previously been mandated to carry terrorism coverage, but is no longer. Alderman Martin McGary said that he thought they ought to carry it, because they could drop it later if they want to once the board receives more information about what that premium would provide for the city.
- City Hall will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 25, and Thursday, Dec. 26. It will reopen on Friday, Dec. 27.
SKYE POURNAZARI/THE FORUM
Burlington Junction City Hall was filled to the brim with community members during the city’s Christmas Party on Monday night. Santa arrived on a fire truck to great applause from children who later had their photos taken with him. Snacks and hot chocolate were provided during the annual event open to the public.
