The Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting on Tuesday night December 1, 2015 at 7:00 PM. Those present included Mayor Greg Richmond, Alderpersons Calvin Wilson, Kohley, Kezar and Roger Coe. Also present were City Supervisor David Brodie, Tax Collector Meghan Sexson, Emergency Management Director Denis Kolb, Police Chief Curt Drake and City Clerk Paula Brodie. Also present were Lois Kolb and Rita Greene from the McDonald County Press.
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00PM.
The Board discussed the minutes for the special budget meeting on November 16, 2015. Ald. Kezar moved to approve the minutes from the special budget meeting on November 16, 2015. Ald. Coe seconded. Ald. Coe, Kezar, Kohley and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board discussed the minutes from the regular meeting on November 17, 20115. Ald. Wilson moved to approve the minutes from the meetings on November 3, 2015. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Coe, Kezar, Wilson and Kohley voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board discussed the annual donation to the Goodman Betterment Club for candy for the Christmas Parade that is going to be held on December 12, 2015 at 1:00PM. Ald. Wilson moved to approve donating $200.00 for candy for the Christmas parade. Ald. Kezar seconded. Ald. Coe, Kezar, Kohley and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board discussed the following old business: The clerk noted that she had given the board an updated copy of the 2016 budget for them to look over. She stated she would have it ready to vote on at the next Board meeting.
David reported that the carport is scheduled but held because the crew that puts them together was held up do to snow in Nebraska.
Ald. Kohley asked if there was anything to report on the Kramburg property. The Clerk noted that Mr. Kramburg was in court because he had received a ticket for weeds and high grass and for failure to comply with a request made by the board to remove an unsafe structure. Mr. Kramburg pled guilty to the high weeds and high grass but pled not guilty to the removal of the unsafe structure. His court date is January 5, 2016.
The Mayor asked if Curt had gotten the Crown Vic ready to sell. He said he had. The Board agreed to discuss putting an advertisement in the paper at the Board meeting on January 5, 2016.
The Board discussed the following new business: The Mayor noted that the Board had discussed placing a ½ of 1 percent sales tax for transportation purposes on the April, 2016 Ballot. He noted that the Board had agreed that to do any major repairs or overlays to the streets the citizens should be asked to approve the sales tax for transportation purposes. The estimated amount that would be brought into the City budget was about $35,000.00. The clerk noted that RSMo. 94.705 allows City’s to place on the ballot a sale tax proposal for transportation purposes (defined in RSMo. 94.700 (9), which includes, construction, reconstruction, repair and maintenance of streets, roads, sidewalks, trails and community-owned parking lots, and bridges within a municipality. The Board agreed to a first reading of the transportation sales tax at the next Board meeting.
Ald. Wilson moved to allow the City Clerk to put in the McDonald County Press a notice of Candidate filing dates from December 15, 2015 through January 19, 2016 at 5:00PM. The positions to be filled will be the Municipal Judge for a two year term, a Southward Alderperson and a Northward Alderperson for two year terms and a tax collector for a 1 year. Ald. Coe, Kohley, Kezar and Ald. Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
Ald. Kohley noted that whoever files for candidacy must not be delinquent in any taxes. The Clerk noted that whoever files for the positions must fill out an affirmation of tax payments.
Ald. Kezar discussed people in the city that put their trash out prior to Monday night. She stated a lot of them place their garbage in bags not cans and then dogs or animals tear up the bags. She asked if the code requires people to place their trash in cans and to put it out the Monday night before trash pickup on Tuesday. The Clerk reported that City Code does require people to place their trash in cans with tight lids; however it is not enforced on a regular basis. The Board discussed whether or not to send out a letter to remind people to not put the trash out prior to Monday night and to place it in regular garbage cans with lids. Curt stated that he has looked at door hangers that you could put on peoples doors that you could place information on of City code violations. The Board agreed to table for further discussion.
Ald. Kohley asked about giving the employees a small Christmas gift. He said the employees have worked hard and should be shown they are appreciated even in a small way. The Clerk noted that in the past the Board had given gift cards, Sam’s club memberships, turkeys, hams or cash. Ald. Wilson moved to approve giving all City employees and Board members $50.00 this year. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Kohley, Kezar, Coe and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
The Clerk stated that Michael Barnett from the Word Spirit Revival Tabernacle had asked if his church could use the gazebo on Main street to hand out hot chocolate, cookies and provide live Christmas music before and after the parade. The Board agreed to allow them to use the gazebo.
The following reports were made by the department heads:
Curt Drake- reported that the Charger is completed except for the lights, which have been order and will be installed as soon as they get them. The Crown Vic is emptied out and ready to be sold. Curt noted that he had paid Aaron Hutchinson $60.00 out of petty cash for providing the garage and equipment to install the radios and sirens. He asked the Board if he could go ahead and get prices for door hangers. Ald. Wilson suggested he get prices from Competitors Warehouse too.
Ald. Kohley asked where the Dodge Charger patrol car is being kept. Curt stated that it had been at Calvin’s, but a cat keeps getting on it. Calvin said that at his house it can be kept in the garage. Curt said that Aaron Hutchinson has security cameras, but Calvin’s does provide protection from the wind.
Mayor Richmond suggested looking into fencing around the water tower and well house because DNR recommends a security fence around the well house and tower. He said if the Board had the well fenced in by the City Hall the cars could be kept in the fenced in area.
Denis Kolb- had nothing to report.
David Brodie- noted that the roof is leaking at the treatment plant. The roof is a rubber roof that has been there since 1990. He sated it leaks around the vent pipe. He said that they are going to use roofing tar and try to fix it themselves. He also stated that the tires on the Ford City truck do not have much tread left on them. He said he had talked with Jerrod at Goodman Tire and Auto about a price for new ones. He said Jarrod can get him Yokohama 10 ply tires at $162.00 a piece for a total of $648.00.need to be replaced. Ald. Wilson moved to allow David to order the all-terrain Yokohama, 10 ply Tires for $648.00. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Kohley, Kezar, Wilson and Coe voted aye with 0 nays.
Paula Brodie – noted that while David was repairing the toilet in the employee’s bathroom she had suggested installing a taller toilet, which David did.
Ald. Kohley asked about a copy of a letter from Bob Anglin, Manager of S. Anglin & Associates #12, LLC. The Clerk noted that Mr. Anglin does not consider himself a landlord so he does not feel that he is responsible to pay past due water bills for people renting his properties. She said that City Attorney Duane Cooper did not agree. She said that the water clerk had send Mr. Anglin a copy of a renters past due bill and he refused to pay it because he sells the properties and does not rent them. She said she had responded to his letter, of which the Board had a copy and she sent a letter to Duane Cooper asking his advice on how to handle the situation. She noted that the Board had a copy of that letter also.
-noted that Karla was getting a spreadsheet ready with old final bills that could not be collected on. She said the Board would have to vote to abate the bills. At that time the Board may want to discuss looking into raising the meter deposits to cover outstanding water bills. She noted that they stayed on top of shutting people off but by the time the service is discontinued because of a current past due water bill, a new bill is about ready to be generated, therefore the final bills usually cover two months usage.
Megan Sexson-not present, but report in packets to the Board.
The Board discussed the bills including transfers in the amount of $32,242.62. Ald. Wilson moved to approve the bills including transfers in the amount of $32,242.62. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Kohley, Kezar, Wilson and Coe voted aye with 0 nays.
Ald. Kohley moved to adjourn. Ald. Wilson seconded. Ald. Kohley, Kezar, Wilson and Coe voted aye with 0 nays.