COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday May 21, 2019
The Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting on Tuesday May 21, 2019 at 7:00 PM. Those present included Mayor Greg Richmond, Alderpersons Calvin Wilson, Ron Johnson, Keith Kohley and Ed Tuomala. Also present were Police Chief Curt Drake, Asst. Police Chief Joe David, Emergency Management Director Denis Kolb and City Clerk Karla McNorton. Also present were Greg Beckner, J.R. Fisher, Walter Jeffers, Beth Hallmark, Nick and Lisa Riggins, Kevin Keeney, Kristina Hartley from Midwest Assistance Program and Sally Carroll from the McDonald County Press.
Mayor Richmond called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
The Board discussed the minutes from the regular meeting May 7, 2019. Ald. Wilson moved to approve the minutes from the regular meeting held on May 7, 2019. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Johnson, Kohley, Tuomala and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board discussed the minutes from the special meeting May 14, 2019. Ald. Tuomala moved to approve the minutes from the special meeting held on May 14, 2019. Ald. Johnson seconded. Ald. Johnson, Kohley, Tuomala and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board discussed the third reading of Bill NO. 2019-502 Ordinance NO. 2019-512, An Ordinance Amending the Code of Laws if the City of Goodman MO. to Establish Regulations for Mobile Food Trucks, Mobile Food Trailers and Pushcarts. Ald. Johnson moved to approve the third reading of Bill NO. 2019-502 Ordinance NO. 2019-512, An Ordinance Amending the Code of Laws of the City of Goodman MO. to Establish Regulations for Mobile Food Trucks, Mobile Food Trailers and Pushcarts. Ald. Wilson seconded. Ald. Johnson, Kohley, Tuomala and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board discussed the Business License Application for Mobile Food Trucks, Mobile Food Trailers and Pushcarts. Ald. Wilson moved to approve the Business License Application for Mobile Food Trucks, Mobile Food Trailers and Pushcarts. Ald. Tuomala seconded. Ald. Johnson, Kohley, Tuomala and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
Mayor Richmond acknowledged Carlton Lewis (Peanut) to discuss traffic on Main St. Mr. Lewis explained that there are kids driving into town at a high rate of speed and wants to know if anyone has been stopped on Main St. between the edge of town and the police station in the last two years. Chief Drake responded that the Police Department has stopped people for speeding in that location doing various rates of speed. Asst. Chief David explained that last summer the police were on Mr. Lewis’s property, because he requested it, doing traffic and citizens complained the police were out of line, so they moved to the Police Department. Asst. Chief David explained the department does traffic for speeding by radar and sight distance and they do that all over town. Mr. Lewis noted that many people are dissatisfied with how the Police Department catches people who are speeding. It was asked how many tickets for speeding have been issued in the last year. Asst. Chief David noted that he would have to check with City Clerk McNorton on the exact count. Chief Drake noted 70 or more tickets have been written in the last 4 months. It was explained by Asst. Chief David that not all traffic stops are an automatic citation, some are warnings. Mr. Lewis stated he does not understand that and will go to the Sheriff, then the Attorney General if he has to. It was noted by Asst. Chief David that the police Department might be able to get a battery operated radar sign and maybe people will slow down when they are aware of how fast they are going. Mayor Richmond asked the Police Department to look into borrowing a radar sign or renting one if necessary, as soon as possible. Mr. Jeffers asked about getting another speed limit sign for that area on Main St. It was noted that part of the road is owned by the state, but the Police Department could contact state to see about getting another sign or a citizen can. Mr. Jeffers stated he would be willing to check into getting another speed limit sign.
Unfinished business:
Ms. Hallmark asked about the rate study mentioned several meetings ago and if she could find out the results. Kristina Hartley from Midwest Assistance Program noted she had provided the City of Goodman with the completed rate study. Ms. Hartley explained that she takes the income provided and she breaks it down by the fixed expenses and variable expenses. Ms. Hartley explained that your fixed expenses are how much it cost to run your pumps, pay your employees, and run your sewer facility and the chemicals, which is 75 percent of the expenses. Variable expenses are your utilities, insurance costs as they can change, which is 25 percent of the expenses. The fixed cost is what it cost to run and pay your bills. When Ms. Hartley does the study, she lets the City know this is what your rates should be to cover your costs. Ms. Hallmark feels she is not paying for an accurate reading since the City bills by the thousand gallons and she may only use 2100 gallons, but gets billed for 3000 gallons. Ms. Hartley noted each City is different on billing. Some bill by the cubic feet, some by the thousand gallons and some by units. Ms. Hartley stated that the City has it by Ordinance on how they bill, making it legal to bill that way. Ms. Hartley noted she gives the information to the City and they do what they feel is best with that information. Mayor Richmond noted the City has not made any decision on the results of the study at this time. City Clerk McNorton noted that she had looked up when the City started billing by the thousand gallons, because Ms. Hallmark had asked in a previous meeting and the earliest McNorton found was July 26, 1955.
Mr. Fisher then brought up the Special Meeting from May 14, 2019. Mr. Fisher noted the minutes from that meeting say Mayor Richmond requests that the City allow him to use the City Attorney. Mayor Richmond replied that he had asked the Board, if it would be possible, could he use the City Attorney. Mr. Fisher asked why the taxpayers would want to pay for him to have an attorney. Mayor Richmond noted the citizens wouldn’t. Mayor Richmond noted he would only use the City Attorney if he legally could. Mayor Richmond noted that if Mr. Fisher was suing him personally then no; he could not use the City Attorney for representation. Ald. Tuomala asked if it was a lawsuit between one candidate and another or a candidate and the Mayor. Mr. Fisher replied it was between a candidate and the Mayor. Mr. Tuomala then noted that would be City Business and he then could use the City Attorney. Mayor Richmond noted he has not spoken to an attorney yet, but he will. Mayor Richmond noted that he does not understand why he was personally named in the lawsuit as it is asking him for a recount. Mayor Richmond noted that he can’t recount the ballots if he never counted them in the first place. His only involvement in the election was he signed up to be a candidate and voted. It was noted that the minutes from the May 14, 2019 meeting are misleading on the subject of Greg Richmond being represented by the City Attorney. Mayor Richmond noted again, that he had only asked if it was possible, could he be represented by the City Attorney.
Ald. Tuomala asked if there was a problem with the City’s police SUV. Asst. Chief David noted there was a problem with the battery and the SUV didn’t want to start and he got a jumpstart and the graphics are coming off of it. Chief Drake asked to be able to purchase a new battery form Walmart this evening. The Board agreed for Asst. Chief David to get a new battery from Walmart.
Ms. Hallmark asked if the City had someone to look at the foundation for the community building yet. Mayor Richmond noted that City Supervisor Brodie was out on vacation and he does not believe he had a chance to have someone look at it yet. When City Supervisor returns, Mayor Richmond noted that the Board had discussed in past meetings about putting extra footing around the existing foundation for extra security, but will find out if City Supervisor Brodie has any information on the concrete foundation yet.
Mr. Keeney brought up the flooding on some of the streets. Mayor Richmond noted that he would like to see three (3) drainage pipes total on Whitmore St. and Garner St. or the ones that the City now has be bigger than they are now if it is doable, in hopes of keeping the streets from flooding when we get large amounts of rain like we have recently. Mr. Keeney thinks the state should be contacted to put in a new culvert where Ozark Trail and C Hwy intersect.
New business:
Mr. Jeffers asked if there have been any complaints about sink holes. Mr. Jeffers noted there is a sink hole across the street from him that started out pretty small, but is now about six (6) foot wide and about three (3) feet deep. It was noted in could be an old cistern. Mayor Richmond noted he has one on his property that he fills with rocks.
Department head reports:
Curt Drake: Chief Drake gave the Board the March and April Monthly Reports.
Chief Drake then informed the Board that Goodman Tire and Auto had been burglarized and they are pursuing two suspects. The suspects took some tires, batteries a few small things and a car.
Chief Drake also noted that a lot of people may think the Police department doesn’t do a lot but, the department takes between 110 and 150 plus calls in a month that can be anywhere from 5 minutes to take care of and others can take days besides patrolling, running traffic and public relations and drug interdiction.
Chief Drake then noted that the Charger is in the shop getting the brakes fixed.
Denis Kolb: Nothing to report.
Karla McNorton for David Brodie: City Clerk McNorton noted that David needs 11 street signs at $37.00 each for a total of $407.00, 10 cap braces at $8.99 each for a total of $89.00 and 10 90 degree brackets for a total of $89.00. Total of all before shipping is $586.00 He is asking the Board to approve his ordering the street signs, caps braces and brackets for a total of $586.00 before shipping. Ald. Wilson moved to approve David ordering
street signs, cap braces and brackets for up to $750.00. Ald. Johnson seconded. Ald. Johnson, Kohley, Tuomala and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
Mr. Jeffers asked who takes care of the trees hanging over the street signs you can’t see from a distance. It was explained that the City workers take care of some of them, if they are on a person’s property, they are responsible. Mayor Richmond asked Chief Drake and Asst. Chief David to look into where trees are hanging over and let the City workers know where the problems are.
Meghan Sexson: Not present.
Karla McNorton: The Board has the April Financial Statement.
The Board discussed the bills in the amount of $21,737.03 including transfers. Ald. Tuomala moved to approve the bills in the amount of $21,737.03 including transfers.
Ald. Wilson seconded. Ald. Johnson, Kohley, Tuomala and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
Ald. Kohley moved to adjourn the meeting. Ald. Wilson seconded. Ald. Johnson, Kohley, Tuomala and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.