New look of Odessa Town Council

The Odessa Town Council met Monday night for the first time in 2016. The first order of business was to swear in Lois Hubbard, re-elected to position #1, and Bill Crossley, newly elected to position #2. The council then had a quorum and could proceed with its business. The first order of business was to appoint a mayor. No candidate had filed for the position and former mayor Doug Plinski declined to run for a third term. With no candidates running and no volunteers coming forward, the council is then authorized to appoint a mayor. Council members unanimously approved a motion to appoint Lois Hubbard as mayor. Since it was not possible to hold the positions of mayor and councilperson simultaneously, Hubbard then resigned her council seat in order to remain mayor. The council then approved a motion to appoint Terry Goetz to the newly vacated position #1 council seat. Goetz had sent a letter of interest to the council some weeks earlier after the election drew so few interested candidates and has been attending the bi-monthly meetings regularly. Goetz also volunteered to become the mayor pro tem for the next six-month period, and council members unanimously approved his appointment.

A Wilbur company has submitted the winning bid for installation of a columbarium at the Odessa Cemetery. The columbarium is a stone structure containing niches in which cremated remains can be stored. As cremation has become more popular, such a structure has become necessary to delay expansion of the cemetery, which is nearing capacity.

Council members also approved a request by Doug Plinski to move the boundary line between two properties he owns in downtown Odessa, the Avista building and the small red building just east of it. He requested moving the property boundary from the east wall of the Avista building to a line five feet away toward the small red building, placing it approximately midway between the two buildings.

The police department reported that in between calls for service, staff has been working on purging old files after retrieving any important information from them. Chief Helen Coubra reminds community members to renew their dog licenses. The purpose of the licenses is to facilitate return of the pets to their owners should they get loose.

Coubra and officer Bryce Peterson are also working to organize a Bicycle Rodeo to be held in conjunction with the school in the spring with the assistance of the fire department and EMTs. Peterson is also in the process of applying for a grant from the Board of Education to help the police department to purchase bike helmets, reflectors and lights to give away at the event.

Peterson told the council about his service for the past year on the Community Wellness Committee (former called the Mental Health Committee). This group of local citizens and members of the Odessa Ministerial Association is formulating plans for outreach to older adults who may be isolated in their own homes. Talk has also revolved around getting youth involved to help out the elderly with shopping, errands and the like. Also being planned are events for kids during this year's Deutschesfest.

Public works director Rod Webster reported that the roof of the community center over the new commercial kitchen has suffered leaks due to ice and snow buildup, with questionable workmanship also a factor in some areas. It was hoped that the affected sheet rock would dry needing only sanding and repainting rather than replacement.