WHITE PINE-White Pine's City Council meeting was rather routine Tuesday evening. All council members were present for the meeting, which had only two items on the agenda.

The first item council approved was the minutes of the September meeting.

Council also unanimously authorized the mayor to enter into a standard form of agreement with Hatfield and Allen Associates, Inc., for engineering services for the RUS 2008 Water System Improvements.

Mayor Stanley Wilder explained the agreement or contract was for "bringing the old well up to par so the city will be able to use it." According to City Recorder Sandy Smith, the project is being paid for by grant funds, which total about $580,000. The funds are to be used solely for repair of the well.

In other business, Councilman Mickey Smith pointed out the traffic lights at Exit 4 of Interstate 81 and Roy Messer Highway will be installed soon. Preliminary work has been done. The construction crew is waiting on poles to set the lights, he explained.

Responding to an inquiry by Councilwoman Ann Strom, City Recorder Sandy Smith said all of the materials have been ordered for the construction of the Splash Pad at Kidz Kountry. She said work should begin in early November. Smith said a groundbreaking for the water play area would be announced soon.

Police Chief Charlie Epps pointed out signage has been placed and striping has been done to indicate "no parking" zones along Roy Messer Highway near the ballfield and school.

"This will help the flow of cars in and out as well as the kids who are darting out between cars to cross the street during sporting events," said Epps. "We are enforcing the $25 fine for parking in those areas that are marked no parking."

He also pointed out no parking in the fire lane in front of Food City is being enforced.

Epps said the police department has been approved for a grant to replace the department's bulletproof vests. Responding to a question from Strom, Epps said no decision has been made about what to do with the old vests. He said they can be donated to the military or to a smaller police department that needs the bulletproof vests for officers.

Strom expressed her concern about traffic along Maple Street in the vicinity of the fire department. She said signage needs to indicate the fire department's presence.

White Pine Volunteer Fire Department Co-Chief Brad Brady said there are three older blue signs posted, but they are not visible. He said one sign reads, "Caution:  Emergency Vehicles Entering Traffic."

"They were put up about 15 years ago and are not very visible. They are blue signs instead of yellow," Brady said. "If you replaced the signs, you'd just have the expense of new signs and not poles. The poles are there."

"We need to look at that," said Wilder. "It would make perfect sense to me to put up more visible signs."

Strom reminded everyone of a White Pine Firemen Community Appreciation and Open House set for Saturday, Oct. 10, from 2 to 4 p.m. a the fire hall. Everyone is encouraged to attend and bring a covered dish for a meal.

"We want everyone to show their support for our firemen and their families," said Strom. "We are very fortunate to have such a great fire department, and it is time we show them how much we appreciate them and what they do."

"We are very fortunate to have the new ISO rating; it is absolutely awesome for our town," she added.

All firemen and their families are encouraged to attend the event. She also pointed out city employees have also played a role in the fire department's success and they are encouraged to attend.

"It takes us all working together to have a successful fire department," said Brady.

Councilman Fred Taylor, who serves on planning commission, said there were no items on the planning commission agenda for September.

"If all goes well, we will have a regional planning commission set up by November," he concluded.