Keota Moves D.A.R.E Funds to School

KEOTA – During the Feb. 20 meeting of the Keota City Council, the council discussed giving money in the D.A.R.E account to the school so the program can continue. The D.A.R.E program, intended to teach school children about drug prevention, was previously run by Keota Chief of Police Doug Conrad, who resigned last year and currently works for the Washington County Sheriff's Department. Conrad would like to continue the D.A.R.E program with the school, in his spare time. The council supported transferring the remaining funds in the account used for the program to the school. The account used for D.A.R.E currently has roughly $3,000 in it, although City Administrator Alycia Horras noted that, last year, the city had paid a $1,500 bill to send students to Adventureland for the D.A.R.E program, instead of taking money out of the D.A.R.E account. Councilman Curt Burroughs stated that the city should hold off on transferring the money until the city is reimbursed for any existing bills. The council approved transferring any remaining funds, once the bills have been paid.

The council gave support to Keota Unlimited in their plans to seek a grant from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation to add waysigns throughout Keota, showing directions to locations like the school, cemetery, downtown, parks, and the Veterans memorial. Keota Unlimited also plans to put up new, more decorative street signs downtown. The council also approved submitting a grant to the Riverboat Foundation to purchase security lights, a PA sound system and an AED system at the pool.

Horras reported that the city had closed on a property located 506 S. Fulton street. The city plans to continue leasing the building for rent for the time being and to use the greenspace for parking at the pool. The city is also close to having a purchase agreement for a nuisance property on Broadway, which the city plans to tear down. The council approved giving $2,000 to the community club to purchase new holiday lighting.

The council approved looking into setting up security cameras in city hall. A set of cameras was purchased for the museum three years ago but never installed, due to the museum moving locations. The council intends to install cameras in the front vestibule and in the museum. Councilman Keith Conrad noted that technology changes fast and the cameras may not work any more, but stated he had no issue hiring someone to see if the cameras will work.