~~The Board of Aldermen held a meeting on Tuesday night May 7, 2013 at 7:00 PM. Those present included Mayor Greg Richmond, Alderpersons Calvin Wilson, Keith Kohley, Alice Kezar and Bill Hess. Also present were City Supervisor Davie Brodie, Chief Curt Drake, Tax Collector Dawn Bunch, Emergency Management Director Denis Kolb, Clyde Davison Municipal Judge and City Clerk Paula Brodie. Guests included Crystal Vaughan, Jimmie Morgan and Lois Kolb. Also present was Kyle Hill from Kurm Radio and Bev Puckett from the McDonald County Press.
The Board of Aldermen discussed the minutes from the meeting on April 16, 2013. Ald. Wilson moved to approve the minutes from April 16, 2013. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Wilson, Hess, Kohley and Kezar voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board of Aldermen discussed the minutes from the special education session on April 27, 2013. Ald. Wilson moved to approve the minutes from the special meeting April 27, 2013. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Hess, Kohley, Kezar and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
The Mayor asked if any of the Citizens present had any business with the Board. There was none.
The Mayor noted that the Board was going to begin the business section of the meeting.
The board discussed the open patrol officers’ position. They discussed when to set up interview times for the applicants. The Mayor noted that they had received only 3 applications so far. The Board discussed the need to advertise in the Joplin paper or Neosho Daily News. The Clerk noted that the Neosho Daily News cost was $194.00 for two day and a notice on monster.com. Ald. Wilson moved to have the Clerk put the ad in the Neosho Daily News for two days including monster.com for $194.00. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Wilson, Hess, Kohley and Kezar voted aye with 0 nays. The Board agreed that the advertisement should be run on Sunday and Wednesday. The Board decided that they would choose a date to do interviews at the next meeting. All applications must be turned into the Goodman City Hall by 4:00PM on the 21st of May.
Chief Drake asked to be included in the interviews and the decision making process. The Board agreed that they wanted him involved with the process.
The Board discussed the CDBG grant application for the Post Emergency Shelter/Community Building.
The Mayor asked the Board to decide on what funds they would like to restrict. Clyde asked if they knew if the Goodman School was going to be set up as a FEMA shelter. No one knew.
Ald. Wilson suggestion was to place $20,000.00 for the City’s commitment for the Post Emergency Shelter/Community Building; $20,000.00 for repairs to the Police Station, $20,000.00 for City Hall Improvements and $75,000.00 for Streets. The Board agreed to the amounts, so Ald. Wilson moved to approve Resolution #2013-0001 with the above restricted amounts. Ald. Kezar seconded. Ald. Kezar, Hess, Wilson and Kohley voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board discussed the need to go over the probable cost estimate from Paragon Architecture. The Board decided that they needed more time to study the cost estimate and to discuss it. They agreed to set May 9, 2013 at 6:00PM to discuss the cost estimate and to decide on the changes.
The Board agreed to hold a public hearing on May 30, 2013 at 6:00PM.
The Board discussed the letter drafted by the Clerk informing the citizens where the Board is on the Grant application procedure and asking for citizen and business support for the project. The Board discussed whether or not to send the letter to all of the Citizens and Business Owners. The Board agreed for the clerks to mail out the letter to all water users.
The Board discussed the following new business.
Ald. Kohley noted that several places around town have high grass and that letters need to be mailed to the landowners.
Clyde Davidson was acknowledged by the Mayor. He stated that he was the president of the McDonald County Recreation Board this year. He said that the Board might not be aware of it but the McDonald County Recreation Board had set some guide lines on the running of each ball field. He said that they had agreed that all of the ballparks would prohibit smoking in the player and spectator areas of the ballparks to help protect the children from second hand smoke. He said that signs had been placed at the Goodman Ball Field and that people were being asked to smoke on the West side of the driveway that runs North/South on the West side of the ballpark. The McDonald County Board had also decided to restrict pets from the ballpark during practices and games. This restriction does not include service animals. Ald. Wilson asked how the enforcement would be handled. Clyde stated that the Recreation Board Director or his designee would be the one to deal with the enforcement and if they needed help they would contact the Goodman Police Officer on duty.
Clyde also asked the Board to draw up a job description for the Recreation Board Director. He said that last year there had been an unfortunate occurrence between the Recreation Board Director and some individuals at the ballpark. He said that the Board of Aldermen did not stand behind the decision made by their Recreation Board Director and because of that the man almost lost his job and consequently decided not to sign up for the Recreation Board Director’s position this year. Clyde gave the Board a recommended job description. Clyde stated that it had always been agreed that the Recreation Director or his appointed designee was in charge over the ballpark. The Clerk noted that the Auditors had asked for the Board to write job descriptions for all the city’s employees on the last audit and it was never done so they were including it in this year’s audit report.
The Board agreed draw up a job description for the Recreation Board Director.
David reported that someone at the ballpark has been mowing on the West side of the North/South driveway. He said that it has always been bush hogged in the past and recommended to keep bush hogging because the land is rough and will tear up the Dixie Chopper. Clyde said that he would inform the Recreation Board Director.
The Mayor asked if the concession stand at the North end of the park was being used or did it need to be torn down. Clyde said he would find out and report back to the Board.
The Department heads gave the following reports:
Curt asked for a new photo copier for the Police Department. He gave the Board a print out of a Samsung SCX-4729FD printer from Wal-Mart for $249.00. The new one would be networked to both computers in the Police Department. He said that Michael Keels would need to network them after the printer was purchased. The Board agreed to table further discussion until the next meeting to give the Clerk time to talk to Lakeland Office Products about purchasing one from them with a repair contract. She stated that Lakeland Office Products handles the city hall copier and the contract with them includes all repairs and toner.
Chief Drake asked the Board to allow him to have Smith Auto Group install steps on the Dodge Ram Patrol Truck. He noted that Smith Auto Group at the state line is where he takes the patrol truck for maintenance. The Board agreed to discuss the purchase at the next meeting.
Chief Drake noted that he would be attending a UCR class at the Troop D Headquarters in Springfield on June 12 from 8:00 AM to 4:00PM.
David Brodie asked the Board to approve the purchasing of a utility bed from Bus Andrews for the new pickup. He said the Board had approved the purchase at the time that they approved the purchase of the truck. He said now that the new truck was in their possession a bed needed to be installed on it. He said that he had contacted Bus Andrews and they reported that they could put a Knapheide 696J1 utility bed with flush mounted lights, shelving package, recess bumper and painted white for $5,353.00 on the new truck. He noted that they were one of the few places that put utility beds on and from his past experience with their installation of the snow plow on the dump truck he would recommend buying from them. David noted that Bus Andrews had offered $450.00 for the bed that came on the pickup; however he would recommend putting the bed out for bid. David stated that he believed the Board could get more than the $450.00 offered by Bus Andrews. The Board discussed whether or not the city or the purchaser should take the bed off. It was agreed that the city would remove the bed to limit any damage to the new truck. The Board agreed to put the bed out for bid. The bids are to be turned in by 4:00PM on May 21st. The bids will be opened on the 21st of May. David said that the truck needs steps and that Bus Andrews has steps and will install them at the same time as the bed for $250.00. Ald. Wilson moved to approve David ordering a Knapheide Utility Bed and steps from Bus Andrews for $5625.00. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Wilson, Kezar, Hess and Ald. Kohley voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board discussed the purchase of an outdoor announcement board. David informed the Board that the McDonald County Health Department had one and he had asked for literature on it. The Board tabled until the next meeting for further discussion.
Denis Kolb informed the Board that he had looked at computer towers as they asked, but after researching them he felt that a laptop would be more economical. He said he had a quote for a Hewlett Packard for $278.00 and a Gateway Basic for $328.00. Ald. Wilson moved to approve a Hewlett Packard for $278.00 for the Emergency Management Department. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Wilson, Hess and Kezar voted aye with Alderman Kohley abstaining.
Dawn Bunch. (Report enclosed in Board packets).
Paula Brodie asked the Board about a plaque for Tom West and if they had any suggestions on when to hold a retirement reception for him. The Board agreed to discuss it at the next meeting. Curt asked if the Board wanted to purchase a badge for him with his name on it. Ald. Wilson moved to approve the purchase of a badge in the amount of $110.50. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Wilson, Kohley, Kezar and Hess voted aye with 0 nays. The Mayor is to talk with Mrs. West about when to schedule the reception.
Curt asked the Board if he was going to receive a pay increase, since he had been promoted to the Police Chiefs position. The Board agreed to hold a closed personnel meeting at the end of the special meeting they had already scheduled for May 9, 2013 at 6:00PM to discuss his request. They also agreed to go over the applications they have already received for the patrol officer’s positions at the same time.
The Board discussed the bills including transfers in the amount of $67,029.60. Ald. Wilson moved to approve the bills including transfers in the amount of $67,029.60. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Kohley, Hess, Kezar and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays. The Board noted that the new Ford Truck was on the bill sheet at the cost of $20,985.00. The truck was purchased with settlement funds from the water improvement project.
Ald. Kohley moved to adjourn. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Kohley, Hess, Kezar and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.