SPRINGTOWN -- The following is a summary from the draft minutes of the Feb. 14 Springtown Council meeting.

Mayor Paul Lemke reported that salt and sand were applied as needed to the town's streets due to the recent snow and ice accumulations and that there are several trees that will be cut up and hauled off in the next few weeks.

Carla Wasson, attorney for the town, will follow up with a call to FEMA because the town has not yet heard anything regarding its appeal of FEMA's request that the town return money not used on the Aubrey Long Bridge construction project.

The park committee reported that it is working on the Springtown Barbecue and had made preliminary arrangements for games for kids, door prizes and a dunk tank.

Wasson told the council that any of the items the town no longer needed --items that were donated to the town several years ago -- can be used for auction items and door prizes at the annual Barbecue or put out in the trash as desired.

Lemke reported that he has spoken with Decatur officials and they indicated that they may be able to help Springtown with enforcing the town's animal control ordinance on a contract basis.

Lemke reported that he had spoken to Delia Haak, of the Illinois River Watershed Partnership regarding a water park for new park area by the Aubrey Long Road Bridge. He said Haak put him in touch with a designer who will come to Springtown to look at the park area and offer advice on the best use for the space.

Lemke reported that it is time to renew the town's 10-year contract with Empire District. Wasson is working with Empire on the correct wording for the contract and will follow up with the contract.

Lemke reported that the town has entered into an agreement with the Benton County Emergency Management Agency to adopt an All-Hazard Mitigation Plan which would allow the town to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. The plan also allows for additional hazard mitigation grant funding in the event of a presidential disaster.

Lemke reported that he met with John Wasson, who desires to donate land to the town for a walking trail. Lemke said he would like to go ahead and have a portion of the proposed trail surveyed and staked at this time. This would be the portion starting from the east end of Aubrey Long Road Bridge, then north, then northwest to where the trail would come out on Bredehoeft Road. The council gave unanimous approval to a motion to have this section surveyed and staked.

Since the town will need to secure grant money to implement the plans for the walking trail, the council also approved a motion to allow Mayor Lemke to contact Cassie Elliott for assistance in obtaining grant money.

Don Johnston, the town's engineer, will be used as needed for the project.

Kay Taylor reported on the volunteer hours accumulated by the town in the past two years. In 2012, the total was 281 hours performed by 32 volunteers, with a value of $20,435 as calculated by the state's Volunteer Program. For 2013, the hours were 159 for 20 volunteers, with the value to be determined by the Volunteer Program.