Culbertson council approves local repairs, hires and equipment purchases; library and cemetery work planned

Culbertson’s town council handled a series of community‑level items during 1965, approving repairs and purchases, hiring temporary staff, and allocating modest funds for library and recreation needs.

Personnel and operations: the council approved hiring John Lab as a utility man at $300 a month with the town paying truck licensing and gasoline when used for town business (June session). The council also approved short vacation pay for certain employees (Alex J. Damm and Harry McCormick) and approved various bonds for municipal officers.

Public works, maintenance and safety: council motions approved cemetery fencing work and asked Roy Lemieux to complete cemetery weed and well work; the clerk was instructed to seek a water test container from the State Board of Health for the cemetery. The council ordered 'POSITIVELY NO ADMITTANCE' signs around the water reservoirs and approved purchase of a cattle guard for $100. Council discussed drainage and curb work and requested property owners be notified where sidewalks were required. The council renewed sewer‑plant insurance and approved other routine maintenance contracts and payments.

Library and recreation: library‑board representatives and the women’s club asked to use the ground floor of a recently acquired telephone building for library space. The council authorized spending up to $150 to make repairs and said heat would be turned on around Jan. 1, with Roosevelt County agreeing to contribute $300 toward repairs. The council increased the summer recreation equipment budget from $100 to $150.

Fire apparatus and intergovernmental matters: at an Oct. 4 meeting the council moved to buy a second‑hand fire truck parked at a private station if arrangements could be made with the vendor (LaFrance Co.); the minutes note the motion carried with Alderman Damm recorded as abstaining. Council also discussed fuel use for rural fire calls, concluding that gas used on rural fires should be billed to the county.

Why it matters: these operational decisions affect day‑to‑day municipal services — utilities, cemetery upkeep, public safety apparatus and library access — and are the kinds of administrative actions that shape resident experience.

Attribution: statements and motions are recorded in the council minutes; named actors include Mayor Mark Moore, City Clerk E. F. Garbe, Aldermen Traeger, Damm, Rasmussen and others, and residents and groups who requested services.