COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday July 16, 2019
The Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting on Tuesday July 16, 2019 at 7:00 PM. Those present included Mayor Greg Richmond, Alderpersons Calvin Wilson, Ron Johnson, and Ed Tuomala. Also present were City Supervisor David Brodie, Police Chief Curt Drake, Emergency Management Director Denis Kolb, Tax Collector Meghan Sexson, City Attorney Duane Cooper and Asst. City Clerk Dana Cornwell. Also present were, Kevin Keeney, J.R. Fisher, Beth Hallmark, Linda Gill, Tammie Davis, Patrick Watson, Candace Watson, Charlotte Johnson, Roy Foust, Jerry Bates, William Weber, Craig Wilson, Nick Smith and Sally Carroll from the McDonald County Press.
Mayor Richmond called the meeting to order at 7:02 P.M.
The Board discussed the minutes from the special council meeting June 27, 2019. Ald. Tuomala moved to approve the minutes from the special council meeting held on June 27, 2019. Ald. Wilson seconded. Ald. Tuomala and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays. Ald. Johnson abstained.
The Board discussed the minutes from the regular meeting July 2, 2019. Ald. Tuomala moved to approve the minutes from the regular meeting held on July 2, 2019. Ald. Wilson seconded. Ald. Johnson, Tuomala and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board discussed the minutes from the special council meeting July 8, 2019. Ald. Tuomala moved to approve the minutes from the special council meeting held on July 8, 2019. Ald. Wilson seconded. Ald. Tuomala and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays. Ald. Johnson abstained.
The Board discussed the three prospects for the Southward Alderman position.
Mayor Richmond asked Ald. Johnson if he was up to speed on the candidates. Mayor Richmond feels it is his duty to appoint someone into the slot when we have able and willing people to take on the roll. Ald. Tuomala wanted to make sure all candidates were eligible for the appointment. After a brief discussion Mayor Richmond felt like Linda Gill would be a good fit. Ald. Tuomala felt Beth Hallmark was more qualified for the position. Ald. Johnson and Wilson agreed. Mayor Richmond went with the consensus of the group and asked for a motion from the board to appoint Ms. Hallmark. Ald. Tuomala moved to appoint Beth Hallmark as Southward Alderman. Ald. Johnson seconded. Ald. Johnson, Tuomala and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays. Before reading the Oath of Office Tammie Davis wanted to know if Ms. Hallmark needed a business license since she rents out a room in her house. Asst. City Clerk Cornwell said when City Clerk McNorton gets back we will look into it and let Ms. Hallmark know. Ms. Hallmark read the Oath.
New business:
Tammie Davis wanted to know if the city had an attendance policy for elected officials to be at meetings. Mayor Richmond said he is not aware of one. Chief Drake noted that the Judge is an elected official and he is hardly ever at a council meeting.
Mr. Weber said he was here on behalf of his client J.R. Fisher and that the board had all been given a copy of the unsealed ballots and that the ballots provided were all votes for his client. Mr. Weber feels that when this goes to court the Judge will decide in favor of his client and that the votes will count. Mr. Weber wanted to ask for Mayor Richmonds resignation so they could avoid having to go to court and save money for all parties involved. Mayor Richmond respectively declined to resign. City Attorney Cooper acknowledged Mr. Weber explaining to him that it is unethical to address a party to an ongoing case without their council present. Mr. Weber agreed and said that since we are at an impasse that his business is done. Mr. Fisher said that since his attorney could not speak he wanted to ask the Mayor for his resignation. Mayor Richmond once again respectively declined. Mayor Richmond noted that the election goes thru county and they then send a certified copy for the City Clerk to read. This is the same process they have used for many years. Mayor Richmond said he will keep his seat till he is told legally otherwise. City Attorney Cooper then informed the Mayor of his rights on speaking without his attorney present. Mayor Richmond opted to invoke his right to remain silent on the subject from that point on. Ald. Tuomala wanted to state that he believes Mr. Fisher is convinced the votes in question will be allowed to be counted once the recount has been ordered since there was a less than a 1% margin between the election results. Ms. Gill stated that this is a county matter as of right now not a city matter and wanted to know if the subject could be dropped so we could contend with actual city business.
It was then asked where the person doing the water / sewer study rate got the numbers from. Mayor Richmond noted that they get the numbers from the water program.
Mr. and Mrs. Watson wanted to know about missing street signs and who they needed to talk to about a street light out. City Supervisor informed them that they had been ordered and received and that he and his helper were in the process of getting them all replaced when they had the time. He also told them that they could call City Hall at any time to report a light out.
Department head reports:
Curt Drake: Noted he had talked to Aaron about doing the new vinyl on the SUV and that Aaron would be willing to do it for the same price as he did the Truck. Chief Drake also noted that he is still waiting to hear back about the estimated cost for the brakes. Ald. Wilson asked that we hold off on the vinyl till next meeting in hopes that we will have a price for the brakes by then. Chief Drake agreed as he feels the brakes are more important as well. Chief Drake was asked if we have an officer on duty of an evening. Drake stated he will let the council address that question. Ald. Tuomala noted that Officer David is on extended leave right now. Ald. Tuomala then asked about a reserve officer. Chief Drake noted that due to the restrictions and budget at this time we do not have one. Chief Drake also noted that reserves can be asked to work up to 20 hours without pay and he requires this, so unfortunately it is very hard to find someone willing to work for nothing. He did note that county does do their very best to provide cover for us but they have a lot of area to cover and are not always available either.
Denis Kolb: Nothing to Report.
David Brodie: Meter lids are being run over by citizens and the city could not keep absorbing the cost to replace them every time. Ald. Johnson wanted to know that if we give citizens ample time to be notified that of this date the city will start charging the land/home owner for every lid needing to be replaced. Mr. Brodie was asked as of right now what is the approximate number of lids needing replaced, he stated right off hand he could probably replace around 40.
Mr. Wilson on Whitmore Street wanted to know what could possibly be done around his property to help with the flooding. Mr. Wilson wanted to know if the road could be cut down or a spill way added in or a possible third whistle. Mr. Brodie noted that he did not believe a third whistle would help. He also stated that unfortunately Mr. Wilsons’ house is in a low spot. Mr. Cooper said he would be glad to ride with Mr. Brodie over to Whitmore Street to take a look at what could possibly be done. Mr. Wilson said he would appreciate that because all he wants is to hopefully find a way to divert the water. Mr. Brodie did say that depending on what could possibly be done it may require calling dig rite to have all lines marked before a final decision could be made on the best way to proceed.
Meghan Sexson: Noted that the tax sale ad will run in the newspaper for the next 3 weeks and that the tax sale will be the last Monday in August at 10 a.m.
Dana Cornwell- Asst. City Clerk Cornwell mentioned the Municipal Elected Officials Training July 30, 2019 and asked if any members of the Board would like to attend. Cornwell noted that the training is in Aurora, MO and is $15.00 to attend. After a brief discussion, Ald. Wilson moved to approve Ald. Johnson, Ald. Tuomala, and Ald. Hallmark to go to the Municipal Elected Officials Training July 30, 2019 in Aurora for a total of $ 45.00.
Ald. Hallmark seconded.
Ald. Johnson, Hallmark, Tuomala and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board discussed the bills in the amount of $15,668.52 including transfers. Ald. Tuomala moved to approve the bills in the amount of $15,668.52 including transfers. Ald. Johnson seconded. Ald. Johnson, Tuomala and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays. Ald. Hallmark abstained.
Ald. Wilson made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ald. Hallmark seconded.
Ald. Johnson, Tuomala, Hallmark and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.