The Board of Aldermen held a meeting on Tuesday night February 7, 2012 at 7:00 PM. Those present included Aldermen Kristin Lett, Keith Kohley and Bill Hess. Also present were City Supervisor David Brodie, City Clerk Paula Brodie, Chief of Police Tom West, Municipal Judge Clyde Davidson and Denis Kolb Emergency Management Director. Guests included Crystal Vaughan, Brook Henson, Steve Wimpey, Lois Kolb, J.R. Fisher, Calvin Wilson, Jesse Ruby, Daniel Davidson and Greg Hammon.
Mayor Richmond was not present. It was noted that the Board did have a quorum as three aldermen were present.
Acting President Lett called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
The Board of Aldermen discussed the minutes from the meeting on January 17, 2012. Ald. Kohley moved to approve the minutes. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Lett stated that the minutes reflected the name Kay Dinolfo and that she did not know who that was. The Clerk stated that Kay Dinolfo was the lady who had sent the email to the Tax Collector that was mentioned in the minutes. Ald. Kohley, Hess and Lett voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board discussed filling the open Northward Alderman position. Ald Kohley stated that he would like to just leave the position open since the election was at the beginning of April. He stated that as Ald. Hess said in the last meeting he would not like for the citizens to think that the Board was partial to one candidate over any of the others.
There was discussion from the audience regarding how the Board could fill the position. Some agreed that the Board should appoint someone who had already been on the Board; some thought that the Board should have interested people sign up at the city hall before the next Board meeting; others thought that the Board should not pick any of the official candidates, and some felt that wasn’t fair either. Other points made were does the Board have to appoint someone; can the Board function with only Three Aldermen; was there a problem leaving the position open and what were the qualifications to be an Alderman.
After the discussion the Board first agreed to let interested people sign up before the next meeting and then after further discussion they agreed to leave the position open until the April election.
The Board discussed the need to appoint an additional check signer. Ald. Kohley moved to approve Ald. Hess as check signer. Acting President Lett seconded. Ald. Kohley and Acting President Lett voted aye with Ald. Hess abstaining.
Acting President Lett acknowledged Brook Henson regarding his contract which is up on March 3, 2012. Mr. Henson stated that his three (3) year contract would be up the first of March. He said that there would be no price increase and that he would like the Board to renew his contract. Steve Wimpey and several of the other citizens present thanked Mr. Henson for doing a wonderful job. Ald. Hess moved to approve renewing the 3 year contract. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald Hess, Kohley, and Lett voted aye with 0 nays.
Acting President Lett stated that the Board needed to discuss Chapter 230: Solid Waste Section 230.030 Section L. The Clerk noted that the board had received a complaint about the trash truck running during the middle of the night. She noted that while researching the complaint she had discovered that the ordinance does states that the trash in town cannot be picked up between 9:00pm and 7:00am.
Brook Henson stated that back when they started hauling trash in the 80’s they would start picking up around 4:00AM. He said the problem with starting that late put the trash truck on the street during the time that the kids are going to school, the busses are running and there is a lot more traffic. He said that he had been scared one time because a child had ran out to his trash truck one morning and that he was afraid the child could have been injured. He said that he decided to start hauling earlier to keep anyone from being hurt. He asked the Board to remove the hours that he is allowed to haul from the city ordinance.
Acting President asked the Board if they would like to remove section L. Ald. Hess moved to eliminate Section L from the City Code. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Hess, Kohley and Lett voted aye with 0 nays.
The Clerk noted that the City’s 6 month financial statement needs to be published in the paper per Missouri State Statutes. She noted that she had received a bid from the McDonald County Press in the amount of $438.60 and from the Neosho Daily News in the amount of $866.25.
Ald. Kohley moved to accept the bid from McDonald County Press in the amount of $438.60. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Hess, Kohley and Lett voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board discussed renewing the city’s health insurance from Anthem effective March 15, 2012. The Clerk noted that the health insurance had increased by 2.9% this year. She noted that the increase last year had been 24.3% and that the Board had changed the city’s policy to one were the employees pay a higher deductible and co-pays. She stated that the cost to each fund would be General Fund $681.24, Water $201.62, Sewer $201.62 and Street $201.62. All increases would be the complete amount for the rest of the 10 months of 2012.
Ald. Hess moved to renew the City’s health insurance with Anthem. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Kohley, Hess, and Lett voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board discussed whether or not to join Harry S Truman Coordinating Council.
Ald. Hess moved to approve renewing the membership with Harry S Truman Coordinating Council in the amount of $374.40. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Kohley, Ald. Lett and Ald. Hess voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board discussed a request from Raymond Grassold to average his water bill. David reported that Mr. Grassold did have a broken water line, but that it had been fixed. His bill was $161.97 but would be $49.21 if the Board averaged it. Ald. Hess moved to average Mr. Grassold’s bill. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Hess, Kohley and Lett voted aye with 0 nays.
The Department heads gave the following reports:
Tom West- reported that he had completed the racial profiling report.
David Brodie- Empire is replacing poles.
Denis Kolb- . No reports.
Dawn Bunch – report in packet.
Paula Brodie – noted that the Board received copies of the yearly reports to the Missouri State Auditor, and Rural Development in their packets. Any questions?
There was no old business discussed.
The Board discussed the following new business:
JR Fisher stated that he understood that an Alderman had been telling people that he is running illegally for the Alderman position on the Southward. Ald Kohley stated that per the Missouri State Statutes an Aldermen must reside in the ward he is running for and that he did not think that Mr. Fisher resided on the Southward. Mr. Fisher asked him if he had checked with the MML. Ald Kohley said he did not care what the MML said; he was stating the Missouri State Statute.
Acting President Lett asked if Crystal Nix had been evaluated and received her promised pay raise. It was noted that Crystal did receive her increase after her 90 day probation was approved. Acting President Lett stated that the Board had discussed pay raises for the other employees but that they had never made any decisions during budget discussions. She said she would like for the Board to consider going over the budget to see if they could give raises. The Board agreed to place on the agenda for next meeting to decide on a date for a special meeting to go over the 2012 Budget.
Crystal Vaughan asked if there was a law that said something to the effect that if a board member misses more than three meetings they could be removed. The Clerk noted that in the past there was a Statute that was if a member missed three meetings they could be removed, but that she thought that law had been changed. She noted that the Board with or without the Mayor could remove an alderperson or the Mayor for cause. She noted that the person that was being removed had to be given the opportunity to address the Board and give reasons why they should not be removed.
The Board discussed the bills for February 7, 2012 for $38,706.65 including transfers. Ald. Kohley moved to approve the bills in the amount of $38,706.65. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Kohley, Hess and Lett voted aye 0 nays.
Ald. Kohley moved to adjourn. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Hess, Kohley and Lett voted aye with 0 nays.
__________________________
Greg Richmond, Mayor
Attest:
______________________________
Paula W Brodie, MRCC, City Clerk
Approved: ____________________
Date: ________________