The Board of Aldermen held a meeting on Tuesday night July 3 2012 at 7:00 PM. Those present included Mayor Greg Richmond, Alderpersons Keith Kohley, Calvin Wilson, Bill Hess and Kristen Lett. Also present were City Supervisor David Brodie, City Clerk Paula Brodie, Chief of Police Tom West, Officer Curt Drake, Emergency Management Director Denis Kolb, Tax Collector Dawn Bunch and Municipal Judge Clyde Davidson Guests included Carlton Lewis J.R. Fisher, Kelson Rehobson and Inderson Rehobson.
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
The Board of Aldermen discussed the minutes from the meeting on June 19, 2012. Ald. Wilson moved to approve the minutes. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Lett, Kohley, Wilson and Hess voted aye with 0 nays
The Mayor acknowledged Nick Myers to give the 2011 Audit report. He went through the complete Audit explaining different sections. He stated that the City had a strong balance sheet, and the water/sewer department is holding its own, but needs to look to future expenses and revenues. He noted that the water/sewer department is the City’s business account and should show a profit enough to maintain the running of the water/sewer department and to pay of its bond obligations. He stated that he found no deficiency in the internal control of the City but always recommends looking into ways to improve existing controls. He made recommendations including better reversing entry’s, making out job descriptions and duties, adding account numbers to the actual bills to help alleviate errors in entering revenues and expenditures to the Easy Accounting Program and suggested looking into to how to better handle compensatory time off compering requirements for wage and hour by the Department of Labor.
Ald. Kohley moved to approve the 2011 Audit Report. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Kohley, Hess, Lett and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board discussed the house that burned owned by Cynthia McCoy at 122 N. School Street. It was noted that the Board had voted to give her an extension until June 29th to comply with the suggestions made by William Mosby the City Inspector. The Clerk noted that she had tried to call Ms. McCoy to remind her of the meeting but the phone number that she had used before to contact her was now not working. She also noted that she had talked to William Mosby and he said that he had not heard from her either and suggested the Board going ahead with the condemnation. The Board agreed to give her until the next Board meeting to complete the items that Mr. Mosby asked for or to attend the next Board. If she fails to appear the Board will vote to continue the condemnation.
The Mayor reported on MODOT’s answer on posting signs stating “No Jacobs Breaking Systems within the City Limits”. (Copies of City’s existing noise ordinances in packets). The Mayor stated that MODOT would allow signs that say that the “City’s Noise Ordinance Is Being enforced”, however they will not allow signs that say “No Jacobs Breaking Systems within the City Limits”. The Mayor stated that MODOT was concerned about the legality of them telling truckers that they can’t use their jake breaks. Ald. Wilson said the city does have existing ordinances about loud noise within the City Limits. Clyde Davidson said that the Police Department can issue tickets for loud noise right now. J.R. Fisher stated that the trains are as loud as the jake brakes and that the City of Neosho does not allow the use of the train horns. Municipal Judge Davidson stated that the City of Neosho has a whistle ordinance and has spent a good deal of money to make the town whistle free from the trains. The Mayor stated that for now the Police Department will inform people who are in violation of the noise ordinance and if they do not stop the officers will issue citations. The Board agreed to have the Police Department handle the matter.
Clyde Davidson was present to ask the Board to average the Micronesian Church’s water bill. He said that they have been working on the church but are not actually having services yet. He said that they received a bill showing that they had used 27,000 gallons. David said that the Church’s usage had showed up on the high water usage report so he had gone over to check the meter and in one day they had used another 2,000 gallons so he went ahead and shut off the water. Clyde stated that they were going to see where the leak was and asked if David could meet with them to help them find the leak and he agreed. Ald. Wilson moved to average the water bill for the Micronesian Church. It was noted that they do not have sewer. It was noted that they have a septic tank Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Kohley, Lett, Hess and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
The Following were reports from department heads.
Tom West- Nothing
David Brodie reported that the pumps he had fixed where repaired and installed and the extra pump was stored. He noted that his water line locator is not working correctly. He stated that a new one costs around $900.00. He said he had called the company that it was purchased about repairing it. He said they do not keep parts anymore but the representative that he talked to said his problem sounded like it might just need to adjusted. He said for it to be worked on the cost will be $350.00. He said his concern was that if the adjustments made to the locator do not work the Board would still have to purchase a new one and would have wasted the $350.00. He said he would call them and see if they would not charge the $350.00 if it could not be repaired. Ald. Wilson stated that if they have to pay the $350.00 and it didn’t fix the problem wouldn’t it be better to just go ahead and approve the purchase of a new one. David noted that the locator was 15 years old and he needed one that was reliable to do locates. David stated after looking the catalog that it would be ordered from that a new one is $850.00. Ald. Wilson moved to allow the purchase of a locater for $850.00. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Wilson, Kohley, Lett and Hess voted aye with 0 nay votes.
Denis Kolb- . stated he had nothing to report. Ald. Kohley stated on behalf of the Emergency Management Department he hoped people would be careful around town shooting off fireworks do to the dryness.
Dawn Bunch – stated she had nothing to report. Her monthly reports were in the Aldermen’s packets.
Paula Brodie – noted that the 22nd Annual City Wide Yard Sale will be July 28 and people could sign up at City Hall to have their sale added to the City Maps until the 25h of July. She noted that the water bill incorrectly stated people could sign up until the 25th of June.
– noted that the ads have been placed in the paper for the transfer switch for the Generators at the Police Department and City Hall. Bids will require using prevailing wage order # 18. JR Fisher asked if the transfer switches had to be bid prevailing wage. It was noted that any public works job that cost $2,000.00 or more has to be bid prevailing wage.
The Board discussed the following old business:
The Board discussed the street repair bids. The Mayor stated that the suggestions made by David are OK however he would like to add Garner Street from 59 HWY to just past the Casey’s store driveway. The Board discussed going ahead and bidding the streets with the existing drawings and bid the Garner street addition later. Ald. Wilson suggested that the Board should go ahead and add the part from 59 HWY to the Casey’s Store driveway and then if the bid comes in to high it could be cut from the project. The Board discussed where they wanted the bid advertisement placed to get the best response. J.R. Fisher stated that Seneca had recently received bids on a project from contractors all over. It was noted that the water project contractor was from the far East side of the state and it turned out to be a real problem as the contractor had no ties with the area. Ald. Wilson moved to go ahead and place the advertisement for bids for the street repair project adding the stretch from 59 HWY to the Casey’s Store driveway. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Kohley, Hess, Wilson and Lett voted aye with 0 nays.
JR Fisher stated his business had been broken into again and he was wondering what is going to be done to alleviate the break-ins. Officer Drake noted they had requested over 20 lights around town to be repaired, they have asked New Mac and Empire to do some tree trimming around the lights, and the city guys have also been cutting brush along the streets. He said that all these things were being done for better visibility around town. Chief West stated that all the towns around the area are getting hit. He said that he knew in the past they would work areas in groups. Dawn stated that they had a lot of traffic down their dead end street. Chief West stated that he had been trying to catch and talk with the cars he has seen going down the dead end. He said all of the local departments in the area work together to try and catch those who are breaking in.
The Mayor stated that he had talked in the past about putting up a sign at the City Park on Barlow and Janice. David reported that he had talked with the Betterment Club about getting the fence repaired and then the Board could have a sign installed.
The Board discussed the bills in the amount of $24,782.19 including transfers. Ald. Lett moved to approve the bills in the amount of $24,782.19. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Hess, Kohley, Lett and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
Ald. Hess moved to adjourn. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Kohley, Lett, Hess and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays. __________________ Greg Richmond, Mayor
Attest:______________________________
Paula W Brodie, MRCC, City Clerk