The Harlan City Council approved to surface Maple Road from Highway 44 to the Wasterwater Treatment Plant. In a regular meeting Tuesday, The council approved the bid from StaBilt Construction for $36,185.90. City Administrator Terry Cox said the city will maintain the road following the surfacing. The city has never put an overlay on the road as Cox said it has been rock for thirty six years. In other business, the city approved a solar light school crossing blinker sign for Highway 44 and 19th Street crosswalk. However, the city still needs to go through the proper channels on getting the sign approved by the Iowa Department of Transportation. Cox said at the meeting he submitted the sign to the DOT office in Atlantic but it now has to be sent to the office in Ames for approval. Cox says the solar powered lighting will be much more noticeable for traffic,

Cox1: “When you push the button to cross it will flash these lights. It won’t be 24/7. Once the person crosses, it will be a green light going east and west. We did get the LED light from the utilities. This is a safety thing to help the neighborhood kids.”

The cost for the new LED lighted cross walk will be $6,280. Currently there is a crossing sign on Highway 44 but the city will have to install the new signs with the LED lights. In other news, Harlan Mayor Gene Gettys reported there are four seats up, 3 on the council and the mayor’s position, for election in November on the Council. If you are interested in a seat on the Harlan City Council, stop at City Hall to pick up a packet as the due date is September 19th. Gettys also announced the “Today in America” film crew will be in the area on Monday, August 26th to start filming the city of Harlan for the program.

(Joel McCall KNOD)