November 1, 2016
Regular Meeting
The Board of Alderman held a regular meeting Tuesday night November, 2016 at 7:00 P.M.
Those present included Mayor Greg Richmond, Alderpersons Alice Kezar, Calvin Wilson, Roger Coe and Keith Kohley. Also present were City Supervisor David Brodie, Tax Collector Meghan Sexson, Police Chief Curt Drake, Emergency Management Director Denis Kolb and Asst. City Clerk Karla McNorton. Also present were Carol Coe, Lois Kolb, Nathan Wagner, Jim Morgan, Michael Richmond, Kevin Keeney, JR Fisher, Clyde Davidson, Ron Johnson and Charlotte Johnson.
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
The Board discussed the minutes from the regular meeting on October 18, 2016. Ald. Wilson moved to approve the minutes from the regular meeting on October 18, 2016. Ald. Coe seconded. Ald. Coe, Wilson, Kohley and Kezar voted aye, with 0 nays.
The Mayor noted Deaun Richmond was not present to discuss a hospitality room for the volunteers for Holiday Express Train. Karla McNorton noted Deaun Richmond was not able to be present, but wanted to know if she can have hospitality room for the volunteers working the train and if the school can have a chili feed and craft fair? The Mayor stated we will be discussing all the Holiday Express Train preparations in a little bit and will cover it then.
The Mayor acknowledged Nathan Wagner to discuss the Fireworks Ordinance. Nathan asked what exactly the Fireworks Ordinance is? It was explained that you can only shoot off fireworks the day of Fourth of July from 8:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. Nathan explained a lot of other Cities have their Ordinance to where you can set off fireworks the week the Fourth of July and News Years Day until 8:00 P.M. in the evening and feels we should change ours. He also mentioned we might consider in the future adding additional days if a family of a different nationality moves here and celebrates using fireworks. He also felt if there are any special occasions that a person wants to shoot off fireworks, they need ask the Board for permission two weeks prior to get approval and no shooting off fireworks in the park. The person will also be responsible for cleaning up their mess afterwards. Nathan stated he felt that the Ordinance was put into place so the City could make money as the officers can come out and write more than one ticket. Mayor Richmond stated if you saw our budget, you would know that was not the case and he does not feel this or any previous Board approved an Ordinance to make money off the citizens and we will look into the Ordinance.
The Mayor acknowledged Jim Morgan to discuss the obstruction of view at the Fire Dept.
Mr. Morgan noted Mr. Estes was unable to attend. He then gave the Board members photos he had taken. The first one is of Fire Prevention Week and the second is of Halloween night. The bushes are really high on the side and cut real low in the front of the Coe’s, the survey pin is the Fire Department line and is supposed to be an alley and not have a building on it. He also noted on Halloween night while handing out candy, there was an issue with mosquitos and the bushes may or may have not been the issue. The Easement states there are to be no obstructions in the Easement. Mr. Morgan then pointed out the bushes that are obstructing the view and has made it a safety hazard getting the fire trucks out of the Fire Department. Mr. Coe states the Easement Morgan read is improper and does not state anything about the easement being clear. Mr. Morgan then asked to read the Easement. He read a majority of the easement between the City and Roger and Carol Coe dated August 21, 1990 and it does state no obstructions in the easement. Mr. Morgan then asked the Board who is responsible for the easement? The Mayor said he felt it was an issue between the fire department and the Coe’s and the City was no longer involved. The Mayor stated the two parties lawyers may need to get involved and the bushes are obstructing the view and the City does have a vegetation Ordinance.
Holiday Express Train preparations- Mayor Richmond noted the train is scheduled on 12-14-2016 at 4:00 P.M. The train is 366 feet long and the section we show where they are putting the train, David measured is 366 feet. David stated he had emailed Doinele Carlson about the specifics of the train.
David was contacted by the Trainmaster Jeff Orcutt and is meeting him in the morning and will get more specific details about where exactly the train will be located. The Mayor then noted his wife had received information from the Neosho Chamber of Commerce on the Train and people had started showing up an hour or more early. Neosho had a clicker and they had around 3800 people go onto the train. Clyde Davidson noted the school is hoping to let the kids out by 12:20, as they want the school traffic to be out of the City before anyone arrives to start lining up for the train. Clyde also noted he may be able to get a few school busses and we can bus them back and forth from the Ballpark to the train. The Mayor noted KCS will provide steps, lighting, ropes to help keep the line in order and when the kids board the train, they will get a gift bag. KCS will give out 500 gift bags and we can get more items and make more gift bags if the City wanted to. When the Holiday Express Train arrives, KCS will let the volunteers in to change into the elf costumes and they will be expected to stay until all guests have left. He also noted there is a possibility the train could be late, but the train supervisor will let our lead volunteer person know. Curt has plenty of help for that day. Curt noted he has all our officers working except maybe one and some from Pineville and Anderson that should be able to come and assist. The Mayor noted Asst. City Clerk Karla had spoken with the Police Chief in Neosho and asked her what she had found out. Karla stated the chief said the biggest issue they had was parking and especially for disabled and that we should consider at least 200 handicapped parking spaces. He looked at our map of the City and had suggested the school parking lot as it was all paved. It was discussed about the man who had come and asked to be a vendor and the board had decided that no vendors will be allowed. There will be several who would like to give out free hot chocolate and that will be allowed. The Board agreed to have a meeting on November 10 2016 at 7:00 to further discuss the Holiday Express Train.
Citizens Business: JR Fisher talked about the voters registered and he stated that he got the voter registration papers for everyone in the City. It showed that Roger Coe’s children’s address are listed as his address and asked Roger if his children lived in his house because if they didn’t, it was voter fraud and that is a Federal offence. He then asked for Roger Coe’s immediate resignation and if he didn’t, he would have an audit done of the City and it wouldn’t be a Nick Myers audit. Roger stated that two years ago his children had listed his address as theirs. The Mayor stated it would be looked into.
City Clerk Paula Brodie then joined the meeting.
Discuss old business-None
Discuss new Business-None
Department head reports:
Curt Drake- Curt handed the Board a copy of the Moperm Insurance paperwork about no one being in the police vehicles while the officers are on duty, except the Police Commissioner. It is considered an increase in Hazard and if it continues, our rates could increase. Moperm did recommend a liability waiver, but City Attorney Duane Cooper says it isn’t worth messing with. In the past, it has been asked if it was ok to ride with the officers and Duane considers it high risk liability. According to Moperm, others are allowed to be in the car during special occasions only. He then mentioned his office chair broke and he will be going to Sam’s Club to get a new chair.
Denis Kolb- Nothing to report.
Meghan Sexson- Meghan informed the Board she had picked up the tax statements
this morning and will need a check in the next few days for postage. She also
mentioned there is a check that the Mayor needs to sign and when we get the
exact amount of Postage we will have Alice come in and sign.
David Brodie- Nothing to report.
Karla McNorton – A check for $2483.18 deposited into the General fund from
the Ozark Orchard Festival has now been issued to the Festival committee to
open their own account. She also informed the Board that this year the school is having a
breakfast instead of a lunch, as Veterans Day is on a Friday and school gets out at
noon The PTO has asked us to purchase doughnuts instead of a cake. The amount
for the doughnuts at Wal-Mart will be around $70.00.
Ald. Kohley brought up that since the front of the Police Station had been paved, there is water standing and could possibly go into the Police Station every time it time it rains and asked David what could be done about it? David thought it may have to be removed, since there wasn’t an issue before. David stated her would look into it.
The Board discusses the bills from November 1, 2016 in the amount of $24,338.80 including
transfers. Ald. Wilson made a motion to approve the bills including transfers in the amount
of $24,338.80. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Coe, Wilson,
Kohley and Kezar voted aye with 0 nays.
Ald. Wilson made a motion to go into closed session pursuant to RSMO. Section 610.021,
Section (3) to discuss hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting of particular employees by a public
governmental body when personal information about the employee is discussed or recorded at
8:10 P.M. Ald. Kohley Seconded. Ald. Coe, Wilson, Kohley and Kezar voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board of Alderman came out of closed session at 9:20 P.M. and the Mayor noted no votes
were taken. He did note we were in closed session to go over the applications for Water Billing
Clerk and we will have a Special Meeting Tuesday October 8, 2016 to do interviews.
Ald. Kohley made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ald. Wilson seconded.
Ald. Coe, Wilson, Kohley and Kezar voted aye with 0 nays.