March 3, 2015
Regular Board Meeting
The Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting on Tuesday night March 3, 2015 at 7:00 PM. Those present included Mayor Greg Richmond, Alderpersons Calvin Wilson, Bill Hess and Alice Kezar. Also present were City Attorney Duane Cooper, City Supervisor David Brodie, Emergency Management Director Denis Kolb, Chief of Police Curt Drake, Tax Collector Dawn Bunch and City Clerk Paula Brodie. Guests included Rick Hendricks from Empire District Electric, Roger and Carol Coe, J.R. Fisher, Jesse James and Rita Greene from the McDonald County Dispatch. Ald. Kohley was not present.
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00PM and noted that the Board had held a closed session at 6:30PM. He then announced that during the closed session the board had voted unanimously to reimburse people who had property outside the City Limits but were charged City of Goodman franchise and sales tax on their Empire District electric bills. He said that there were 7 people who had been charged the taxes in the amount of $3,119.70. He stated that City Attorney Duane Cooper had been present during the closed session and had agreed with the Board on paying back all of the taxes that were collected incorrectly by Empire District Electric.
The Board of Aldermen discussed the minutes from the regular meeting on February 17, 2015. Ald. Wilson moved to approve the minutes from the regular meeting on February 17, 2015. Ald. Kezar seconded. Ald. Hess, Kezar and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
Citizens business:
The Board discussed the following old business:
The Board discussed the second reading of Bill#2015-459 for Ord. #2015-469 approving the renewing of the Empire District Franchise agreement.
The Mayor read the second reading of Bill#2015-459 for Ord#2015-469 by title only. Ald. Wilson moved to approve the second reading of Bill#2015-459 for Ord#2015-469. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Wilson, Hess and Kezar voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board discussed the second reading of Bill#2015-460 for Ord. # 2015-470 approving the Municipal Electric Service Agreement with Empire District Electric.
The Mayor read the second reading of Bill#2015-460 for Ord#2015-470 by title only. Ald. Hess moved to approve the first reading of Bill#2015-460 for Ord#2015-470. Ald. Kezar seconded. Ald. Hess, Kezar and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board discussed placing $1,000.00 into an account for each employee to reimburse them for any or all of the $1,000.00 deductible on their health insurance. The Clerk noted that she had talked with Patty from Nick Myers office and she had said that Nick did not think there would be a problem setting up an account for that reason, but he wanted her to check with Beimdiek the City’s Health Insurance agent. She noted that she had talked with Lori from Beimdiek and she had not gotten back with her yet. Ald. Hess asked if the City would have to report that as a benefit to the employee. The Clerk stated that was one of the things Beimdiek is looking into. The Board tabled until the next meeting.
The Board discussed the following new business:
The Board discussed the first reading of Bill#2015-461 for Ordinance #2015-471 Adopting and enacting a new code of Ordinances (Legislative updates and codes from 2014).
The Mayor read the first reading of Bill#2015-461 for Ord#2015-471 by title only. Ald. Wilson moved to approve the first reading of Bill#2015-461 for Ord#2015-471. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Wilson, Hess and Kezar voted aye with 0 nays.
Department head reports:
Curt Drake-.Curt gave the Board his monthly reports from January and February. Curt stated due to health reasons and the weather the department was a little behind but it should pick up in the next few months.
– Curt asked the Board if he could fill out an application for a $10,000.00 grant of which the city would have to pay $1,000.00 match. He said that he would like to apply for a grant to purchase Tasers, a repeater and body cameras. He reported that Duane had said there were pro’s and con’s to the use of body camera’s but he was agreeable to the use of Tasers. He said before the Tasers were purchased he would draw up a new procedures policy regarding the use of Tasers. He asked the Board to approve his filing the application and approval for the department to use Tasers. He stated that the Tasers would be around $1,000.00 a piece and the body cameras are about $500.00 each. He stated that they would need some extra batteries and tapes for the cameras. He stated he was one main concern of using the camera was once they were used the recordings could be classified as open records for anyone to view. He noted that he was looking into the pros and cons of using the camera’s and what would be classified a closed record
Ald. Wilson stated that he thought it would be for Curt to apply for the Grant since the City’s match would only be $1,000.00. Ald. Wilson moved to approve Officer Cagle filling out the application for the Grant for $10,000.00. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Hess, Kezar and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays. Curt noted that if they were awarded the grant the $1,000.00 would come out of 2016’s budget.
Curt noted that he had $3,000.00 in capital additions that he would like to use to hire Zack Adamson to work one 10 hour shift on the weekends Bill is off. He said Zack was will to work for $8.00 an hour but it was noted that the City had already been paying him $10.00 an hour. The Mayor stated that the Board had agreed to pay him $10.00 an hour in the past. Curt stated that Zack was doing a good job. Ald. Wilson stated that he didn’t see any problem with it as long as he did not work the same shifts as Curt and Bill. The Board tabled further discussion for the next meeting.
Curt noted that the Ford Expedition and the Dodge Ram had both been worked on. He noted that he had done some damage to the truck during the snow and ice, ripping off the step. He said while having it replaced he had the oil changed on it.
Mayor Richmond thanked the Police department for their help at Andrew Hunte’s Funeral Saturday.
Denis Kolb-. Stated that he and the Mayor had agreed to accept a new standard operating procedure for the activation of warning sirens that was prepared by an Integrated Warning Team, which members consists of Meteorologists, Emergency Management Directors and Fire Chiefs from Springfield, Joplin and Branson. He noted that it was to standardize across the Ozarks the procedures for activating warning sirens. The Mayor stated that he understood it was so where ever someone travels in the Ozark area the sirens would be activated the same way in all towns and counties. It was noted that most of the Counties were on board with the new procedures and several of the Cities in the area were implementing them.
David Brodie-noted that he had taken a blower to Kansas City to see what is wrong with it and he had called the City of Anderson to bring there router up to help clean out a 6” line on Garner Street. He stated that the line handles the sewage from Terry Street. He said that when the weather gets better they needed to strip out the sewer line and repair it. He noted that the sewer line was very old and probably shouldn’t have been installed the way it was.
Dawn Bunch –report was in the Board Packets.
Paula Brodie –Noted that Region M Solid Waste Management District is having an annual meeting. She noted that the City was a member of region M and that Region M is part of the Harry S. Truman Coordinating Council. The Mayor stated that he would try to attend.
-noted that she has been attending the Harry S. Truman Coordinating Council meetings representing the City. She stated that recently she had been asked to be a Board Member of the Harry S. Truman Coordinating Council.
The Board discussed the bills including transfers in the amount of $24,266.42. Ald. Kezar moved to approve the bills including transfers in the amount of $24,266.42. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Hess, Kezar and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
Ald. Hess moved to adjourn. Ald. Wilson seconded. Ald. Hess, Kohley and Kezar voted aye with 0 nays.