Minutes-May 6, 2014

~~May 6, 2014
Regular Board Meeting

The Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting on Tuesday night May 6, 2014 at 7:00 PM.  Those present included Mayor Greg Richmond, Alderpersons Calvin Wilson, Alice Kezar, Keith Kohley and Bill Hess. Also present were City Supervisor David Brodie, Chief Curt Drake, Emergency Management Director Denis Kolb, and City Clerk Paula Brodie. Guests included Vickie Fields, Zackery Adamson, Lois Kolb, Jim Morgan and Katrina Hines from the McDonald County Dispatch.

The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.  

The Board of Aldermen discussed the minutes from the regular meeting on April 15, 2014. Ald. Wilson moved to approve the minutes from the regular meeting on April 15, 2014.  Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Hess, Kezar, Wilson and Kohley voted aye with 0 nays. 

The Board of Aldermen discussed the minutes from the special meeting on April 22, 2014. Ald. Kohley moved to approve the minutes from the special meeting on April 22, 2014.  Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Hess, Kezar, Kohley and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays. 

The Board of Aldermen discussed the minutes from the special meeting on April 29, 2014. Ald. Hess moved to approve the minutes from the special meeting on April 29, 2014.  Ald. Wilson seconded. Ald. Hess, Kohley, Kezar and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays. 

Citizens Business:  the Mayor asked if there were any citizen comments and there were none.

The Board discussed the report from liquid Engineering.  David Brodie reported that they had inspected the tower on School Street. He reported that after inspecting and making sure that a diver could go into the tank they recommended cleaning both towers at the same time. He noted that if the Board agreed to have both towers cleaned at the same time Liquid Engineering would only charge another $1200.00 for the tower on School Street. He also noted that he had discussed the need to have the towers inspected and cleaned during the Boards Budget discussions and that they had agreed to have it done. David also stated that the altitude valve is not working correctly. He said that during the inspection of the towers, they had discovered that the tower was only ½ full. He said he had contacted Jim from Tiff City Pump and told him about the problem. He noted that Tiff City Pump had installed the valve and that they would know how to do the repairs. Ald. Wilson moved to extend the contract to approve the cleaning of the tower on School Street from Liquid Engineering in the amount of $1200.00. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Hess, Wilson, Kezar and Kohley voted aye with 0 nays. 

The Board discussed their attending a meeting to be held on May 19th at 5:00PM at the Lampo Building, in Neosho to receive a report on the Camp Crowder Joint Land Use Study (JLUS). The Board stated that they would be attending, that the clerk needed to post the meeting and note that no City Business would be discussed or decided on during that meeting. 

The Board discussed Bill# 2014-446 for Ordinance No. 2014-456, an Ordinance adopting and enacting a new code of Ordinances incorporating the Ordinances that were passed during 2013.

The Mayor read  for the first reading Bill# 2014-446 for Ordinance No. 2014-456 by title only, an Ordinance adopting and enacting a new code of Ordinances incorporating the Ordinances that were passed during 2013.

Ald. Wilson moved to approve the first reading of Bill # 2014-446 for Ordinance No. 2014-456, an Ordinance    adopting and enacting a new code of Ordinances incorporating Ordinances that were passed during 2013.
Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Hess, Kohley, Wilson and Kezar voted aye with 0 nays. 

The Board discussed the following old business:

Katrina Hines extended an invitation to the Board to allow the Police Department to install a drug take back box in the Police Department. Curt stated that it would be hard to have the office scheduled to be open for a certain amount of hours per day. He noted that with one officer on, they could be called out and would need to lock up the police department during the scheduled open hours. The Board agreed that they would like to be able to accept however it was not feasible.

The Clerk noted that the Board had agreed at a meeting in January to revisit the situations at the Kramburg and Brewington properties. She stated that the Board had set May 20th for that meeting. The Board agreed to put the discussion on the next agenda and asked the Clerk to write the interested parties informing them of the meeting.

David told the Board that they needed to look into the house at 121 Wall Street. He said someone had started tearing it down but had never finished. He said he felt that the owner should be told that he needed to complete tearing it down. Chief Drake reported that he thought that the people who owned the house at 125 Wall Street had bought that property. David stated that the property on Douglas Street, by the rail road tracks that is owned by Mike Davis needs to be cleaned up. The Board agreed a letter should be written to him and that he should be given until July 1st to comply or attend the Board Meeting on July 1 to explain why he can’t.

Ald. Wilson said that the Police Department needs to start talking to people about mowing and dogs. Curt stated that he had already been stopping and talking with people about cleaning up and mowing their yards. Ald. Wilson stated that he needed to keep a list and then go back by and check to see if they have complied. Ald. Wilson stated that he had heard that there was a new Missouri State Statute passed during the Legislative session which effects when someone could be ticketed for allowing their dog to run at large. He said he believed that it said that the dog would have to be known to be running at large for a period longer than 12 hours.

Ald. Wilson stated he felt that the Board should place on the next agenda discussion and decision on what street repair they want done for this year so that the job can be put out for bid. The Mayor stated that it should be put on the agenda and that he thought that the Board might have enough funds to do about 3,000 running feet.

David reported that he had been looking at safes for the records that needed to be locked up and have fire protection.  It was noted that the City has two already but needs more space. David stated that he had been looking at the largest ones and they run between $1,499.00 to $2,000.00 dollars. The Mayor asked him to get exact figures together before the next meeting and to have discussion and decision on purchasing the safe placed on the next agenda.

The Clerk asked if the Board wanted to replace the hard back covers of the code books for $75.00 each.  She noted that over the years two have come up missing. She noted with the new code books they have the pages for 10 books but only eight covers. Ald. Kohley moved to approve the purchase of two new hard back covers for the code books for $75.00 each. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Hess, Kohley, Kezar and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.

Ald. Kohley asked if the Locker Plant had started doing the slaughtering at the locker plant. David said that he talked with the owner and that he is still working on setting up a slaughter area. He said the owner had said he wanted it done right so it will take him a while to get things ready to begin.

The Mayor asked Jim Morgan about what the Betterment Clubs plans were helping to replace the gazebo at the ballpark. Jim said that the Club was meeting in the near future and that he would ask them.

The Board discussed the following new business:

David stated that Lee Clark has a rent house on Stites Street that he will not be renting out. He said that Lee asked if he could cut the water service to the house and use it for an extra watering meter that would not be charged a sewer charge. Ald. Wilson said he didn’t think there would a problem letting him change the service. Ald. Wilson moved to allow Lee Clark to disconnect his rental house and use the meter as an agricultural meter. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Hess, Kohley, Kezar and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.

The Department heads gave the following reports:

Curt Drake- reported that all three of the vehicles were worked on yesterday. He introduced Zachery Adamson who would like to be put on as a reserve for the City. He stated that once he had received his proof of certification he would like to hire him as a volunteer reserve.

Ald. Kohley moved to approve hiring Mr. Adamson as a reserve. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Hess, Kohley, Kezar and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.

Denis Kolb-

David Brodie- gave the Board information regarding the problems he has been having at the treatment plant. He noted that the City has received a violation letter from DNR. He said that he was aware the letter would be coming and that he had informed the Board about the situation in the past; however he wanted them to know that the Hunte Corporation also received a letter of a violation. He noted that the City needed to answer the letter from DNR by May 15th.  He stated that he compiled a letter of response and that the Mayor had signed it. He said that he believed the Clerk had given the Board copies of all three letters in their packets.

He reported that the Hunte Corporation employees are working with him to fix the situation. He noted that they use a chemical to disinfect equipment that has very high chlorine content and that they have started using a product to neutralize it before discharging it into the City’s sewer system. He also informed the Board the his DO and PH is down and he feels that is caused by the Hunte’s trucks holding tanks being discharged into the City’s sewer system, however since finding that out he said they have been working to make sure that is not a continued practice. He did note that they had a repeat occurrence over the weekend and that he had been in to tell them that it had to quit happening. He said that they are working with him to keep that from happening again.

Dawn Bunch – report in Board packets.

Paula Brodie – note letter from MOPERM regarding refund check.
                       -note Memo to Board regarding annual Clerk training.
         – noted that the 2013 City Audit was completed on May 2nd. 
        
David stated that he had talked with the Board before about the backhoe needing new kingpins and bushing. He said that it could not be put off any longer and that he had contacted Turner Diesel in Joplin, who had worked on it before to get quotes on how much it would cost for parts and labor to replace the kingpins and the bushings. He said he was waiting for them to call back. Jim Morgan stated that they had called him back and asked him to tell David that they said it would cost around $1,000.00 unless they get in there and find more problems. Ald. Wilson stated that the Board could authorize up to $1500.00. Ald. Wilson moved to allow David to get the Backhoe repaired for up to $1500.00 Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Kohley, Kezar, Hess and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.

            David reported that the roof at the treatment plant needs to be repaired, that it had been             damaged by wind and that the Insurance Agent from MOPERM had looked at it and that he            said it would not be much more than the $2500.00 deductible. David asked the Board if             they wanted to put the job out for bid.  Ald. Hess moved to place the job out for bid. Ald.             Kezar seconded. Ald. Kohley, Kezar, Hess and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.

Ald. Kohley reminded the Board that the door at the Emergency Management Department needs to be replaced.

The Clerk noted that the Board might want to look at their ordinance in regards to bidding. She noted that it had been years since it was voted on and that the cost of running the newspaper ads has increased so much that it might be more cost effective to change the amount for bids that they require newspaper advertisement for bids.

Ald. Hess asked if the roof can wait until after the Board looks at their bidding procedures. David stated he had the roof temporarily fixed so it would be OK to wait for a few weeks.

The Board discussed the bills including transfers in the amount of $27,790.70.  Ald. Wilson moved to approve the bills including transfers in the amount of $27,790.70. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Hess, Kohley, Kezar and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.    

Ald. Kohley moved to adjourn. Ald. Hess seconded.  Ald. Hess, Kohley, Kezar and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.