The Board of Aldermen held a meeting on Tuesday night February 5, 2013 at 7:00 PM. Those present included Mayor Greg Richmond, Alderpersons Kristin Lett, Calvin Wilson, Keith Kohley and Bill Hess. Also present were Officer Curt Drake, City Supervisor Davie Brodie, City Clerk Paula Brodie and City Tax Collector Dawn Bunch. Guests included Jim Morgan Stan Marion and Lois Kolb.
The Mayor called the meeting to order.
The Board of Aldermen discussed the minutes from the meeting on January 15 2013. Ald. Wilson noted that there was a typo on the minutes regarding L & M Construction and Farming; he noted that it should read L & M Construction and Framing. Ald. Wilson moved to approve the minutes from January 15, 2013, with the above noted correction. Ald. Lett seconded. Ald. Lett, Wilson, Hess and Kohley voted aye with 0 nays.
The Mayor stated that the Board was holding a Public Hearing to discuss changing the zoning at Marion’s Market 205 S. Roy Hill Blvd from C-2 to R-3. Mr. Marion had requested the hearing so that he could change his grocery store into apartments.
Public comments were; Jim Morgan said he felt it was unfortunate that Stan Marion had to close his store. He also noted that he understood there was a question as to whether or not his septic system would handle apartments. He said that he knew that Otten plumbing had put in the septic system when Stan had the store rebuilt and that it would handle apartments. Stan stated that the Health Department said that a 1500 gallon system could handle three bedrooms, so his septic system could handle 4 apartments, with a total of 5 bedrooms. Mr. Marion stated he wasn’t bitter at the Dollar General but because it had affected his business he had to take out the store and would like to put in apartments.
There were no public comments against changing the zoning from C-2 to R-3.
Ald. Lett moved to approve changing the zoning at 205 S. Roy Hill Blvd. from C-2 to R-3. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Lett, Kohley, Wilson and Hess voted aye with 0 nays.
The following Department Head reports were:
Officer Curt Drake- had nothing to report.
David Brodie- informed the Board that he had been in contact with Capital City Ford about the cost of a state contract truck. He said they had a Ford F250, 4 wheel drive, ¾ ton, Fleet vehicle, with air conditioning, 6.2 motor, V-6. He said it was a very standard truck with roll down windows, rubber floor matting, regular cab, etc. It was noted that the truck was bid out on the state contract bidding process so the City would not need to put it out for bid. David stated that with a snow plow hook up they had quoted him a price of $20,985.00. He noted that they would take the bed off for a credit of $500.00 but he had said to leave the bed on because he felt the city could get more for it than the $500.00 and anything the city received on the bed could be put towards a utility bed.
He noted that he had contacted Bus Andrews about the cost and installation of a utility bed and was told the bed would be around $5,300.00 installed with lights. He noted that Bus Andrews had installed the snow plow over 15 years ago and the city had never had any trouble with it. He noted that the bed would need to be put out for bid.
Ald. Wilson asked how long it would take to get the truck. David said the salesmen told him it would take 4 to 6 weeks.
David stated that he had gotten a price from the Chevrolet dealer on the state contracted Chevrolet truck that compared to the Ford F250 and the cost was $21,800.00 for the Chevrolet truck without hitch. He noted that he thought the Ford F250 would be a better work truck.
David noted that he had been looking for a used vehicle but for one with around 60,000 miles the cost was $18,000.00, so he thought the City would be better off to purchase the new truck.
Ald. Wilson moved to purchase a F250 Ford from Capital City Ford for $20, 985.00. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Kohley, Hess, Lett and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
Denis Kolb- nothing to report.
Dawn Bunch – Monthly report.
Paula Brodie – informed the Board about the annual City Clerks Spring Institute March 11th to 14th 2013. She informed the Board that she had applied for a scholarship from the Southwest Division of City Clerks and Finance Officers Association and had received a scholarship for the seminar fees, and the Pineville City Clerk was going to attend and they would share a room to help with the room cost. Ald. Wilson moved to approve Paula attending the Institute. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Hess, Kohley, Wilson and Lett voted aye with 0 nays.
– informed the Board that they had received an increase on the employees premiums for the health insurance through Anthem. She told the Board that she had contacted Tim Roark their agent about looking into different coverage. She noted that he had given her applications for Coventry Health Care Insurance. She noted that she had asked for the same kind of coverage and Mr. Roark had informed her that the employees could go to either Mercy or Freeman for care under the Coventry coverage. The Board agreed to have the employees fill out applications to Coventry to get a quote. Paula noted that the Board could accept a different coverage through Anthem and stay within their 2013 budgeted health insurance amount. The Board will decide as soon as a quote is received from Coventry.
The Board discussed the following old business: David asked about tires for the Sludge Truck. He said the sludge truck’s tires have dry rot. Jimmy Morgan stated that he thought that the tires should be converted from tubes to tubeless tires. He stated that he had wheels that he would trade for the old wheels on the sludge truck. The new tires would fit on the newer wheels. David stated that he had talked with Paul at Goodman Gas and Service and that the new tires would run around $330.00 each. He noted to purchase the 6 tires from Goodman Gas will cost $1980.00. He told the Board that they haul sludge 3 to 4 times a year. He stated that they will need to start hauling sludge about the end of March and will have to have different tires by then because they are unsafe. Ald. Wilson asked David to check into capped tires just to see what the price would be.
Jim Morgan thanked the Board for having the alley behind the fire station on Main Street repaired.
The Board discussed the following new business: Jim Morgan, representing the Betterment Club stated that the club has plans to rebuild the gazebo at the Ballpark. He noted that Chad Crow is going to help by supplying the I-beams and the club is going to purchase the metal for the roof and the cross beams. He stated that he understood that there is about 6 pieces of pipe at the ballpark that he believed the City had given to the recreation department. He asked if it was OK for the Betterment Club to use the pipe for the corner pieces of the gazebo. The Board agreed that the pipe could be used for the gazebo. The Board expressed their appreciation for the Betterment Club taking on the project of replacing the gazebo.
Mr. Morgan noted that the Betterment Club had also agreed to clean up the lot at the corner of Wall and Garner. He noted that the property was in the name of Zier. The Clerk noted that Zonnie Marrs, one of the owners lives in Neosho. Jim said that they were going to try to notify her and tell her they would help her clean up the property.
The clerk noted that she had attended a meeting in Springfield regarding this year’s Community Development Block Grants. She said that she had talked with the Mayor about attending to find out information to apply for a grant for the Community Building. She stated that she had asked Sue Bacorn the grant writer that helped the city get the Block Grant for the water improvement project to look over the application that Callie Hudson had prepared. She said Sue was going to look over the application and would redo it if she felt there was a chance that the city might get the grant. The Mayor noted that the Board might have to agree to put some match money in on the grant application. The Clerk noted that the application will be written up for a Community Building/Emergency Center.
It was noted that the insulation from the chicken houses on C Highway is getting on to other peoples properties. The Board agreed to have the clerk write the owner, Carroll Bailey informing him that it needs to be cleaned up.
David stated that Mr. Gideon is still interested in bidding on the oiler that is stored at the treatment plant. He suggested putting it out for bid and placing the information on posters around town, like the ones they put out for the patrol car, opening the bids on February 19, 2013 at the Board meeting. The Board agreed to place it out for bid and to open the bids on February 19, 2013.
The Mayor told the Board that Corby Clark contacted him about a water leak he had. He said his bill had been increasing the last three months. He said Corby said his bill was really high this month so he asked David to help him find the leak, which he did. David said Corby said that the leak was at his freeze proof hydrant. The Mayor asked the Board to average Mr. Clark’s water and sewer bill for this month. Ald. Lett moved to allow the averaging of the January water/sewer bill for Corby Clark. Ald. Wilson seconded. Ald. Wilson, Lett, Hess and Kohley voted aye with 0 nays.
Jimmie Morgan informed the Board that the Rural Fire Department will be testing out a pumper truck that he has been working on at Marshal Long’s house from 1:00 to 4:00PM on Sunday February 10th. He invited the Board and the public to attend.
The Board discussed the bills including transfers in the amount of $30,279.52. Ald. Kohley moved to approve the bills including transfers in the amount of $30,279.52. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Hess, Kohley, Lett and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
Ald. Wilson moved to adjourn. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Lett, Kohley, Hess and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.