The Board of Aldermen held a meeting on Tuesday night August 7 2012 at 7:00 PM. Those present included Mayor Greg Richmond Alderpersons Kristen Lett, Keith Kohley, Calvin Wilson and Bill Hess. Also present were City Supervisor David Brodie, City Clerk Paula Brodie, Chief Tom West and Officer Curt Drake. Guests included Valerie and Fred Branstetter, Doug Williams, Crystal Vaughan, Steve Wimpey, J.R. Fisher, Joyce Haynes from McDonald County Press.
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
The Board of Aldermen discussed the minutes from the meeting on July 17, 2012. Ald. Calvin Wilson moved to approve the minutes. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Wilson, Lett, Hess and Kohley voted aye with 0 nays.
The Mayor acknowledged Mr. and Mrs. Fred Branstetter and Doug Williams regarding the Sawmill Mobile Home Park. Doug Williams, the past owner of the trailer park was present to talk to the Board in behalf of the Branstetters, the new owners of the park. He stated that 20 years ago the Board of Aldermen had passed a set of rules for mobile home parks in the city. He said at the time the Board did that his park was not in compliance to the new rules but was given 20 years to comply. He said that he felt the Sawmill Mobile Home Park should have been grandfathered in because he thought that the ordinance was really written for new Mobile Home Parks not existing ones. He said over the years he owned the park he had made several improvements. He has run the sewer line from the parks property line to the city’s main but not connected the trailers yet. He said he has gotten all of the septic tanks working correctly. He said until the trailers are individually connected to the city’s sewer line he didn’t think that they should be expected to black top the streets. He said he would really like the Board to give the Branstetters a variance from the existing ordinance, and grandfather it in. David stated that the park is operational, that Doug put in septic tanks, keeps it well groomed, the road is less than to be desired, has 16 pole lights, electric for them paid by the owner of the trailer park, but the park is still not quite up to the specifications of the ordinance. It was noted that most of the old trailers have been replaced with newer ones and the Branstetters own all but three. Fred Branstetters said to black top now would not be feasible if they have to install new sewer lines throughout the park.
The Mayor stated that he always felt the ordinance was written for new parks, not existing parks.
David said the setbacks are close, there is tie downs per the ordinance.
Doug Williams stated that they have tried to make the park a good and safe place for people to live, that they were very careful about who they rent to, they do not allow any people with drug records, or sex offences to rent from them.
Ald. Wilson stated that they had 20 years to bring the park into compliance with the ordinance.
Doug said that he hadn’t wanted to put in the streets until the sewer lines were installed.
Ald. Hess stated that he is not so concerned about the Branstetters not taking care of the park but what if they sell it in the future. The Board would not know if the next owners would maintain it as they should. He said if the Board approved grandfathering the park in there would be no control over changes needed in the park.
Doug asked if the Board would give the Branstetters 5 years to run sewer lines and hook up the trailers and then another 5 years to complete the streets. Mrs. Branstetter stated one of her concerns about blacktopping the streets in the park was that people would speed through the park.
Ald. Lett said that she was concerned about the Board giving them a variance for the whole ordinance.
It was suggested that the Branstetters write out a variance request so the Board would actually know what they were requesting. Ald. Hess stated that he thought the Board needed to get something in writing, so what has happened in other trailer parks in other cities would not become a problem in Goodman.
Mayor Richmond stated that maybe the Board could draw one up an ordinance for new mobile home parks and one for existing mobile home parks.
Ald. Wilson made the motion to extend the compliance to the ordinance for 60 days to allow the Branstetters to draw up a list of variances that they would like the board to consider. Ald. Lett second. Ald. Lett, Kohley, Hess and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays. The Board will discuss the variance requests at the meeting on October 2, 2012.
The Mayor opened the bids for the street repairs. They were as follows, Swift Constructions $61,625.00 which included leveling layers and a 2” overlay and APAC in the amount of $52,050.0 for a 2 inch overlay of the 8 areas. It was noted that the city would provide the manhole risers. Steve Wimpey said that in the past the Board had talked about the need to dig up the streets and put in new base rock first. David said the Board had discussed that, but the cost was more than the city could afford. He said that this street project included 8 manholes and 1700 feet by 22 feet wide in 8 places throughout the city. Steve Wimpey asked if the city would then in the future put down chip and seal on all the streets. The Board said they had not made any decisions for future repairs and any decisions would rely on funding. Ald. Wilson stated that he felt APAC was leaving their bid open to not cover a lot of things.
The Board discussed what Swift meant by charging an additional $1200.00 for each mobilization. They decided that they needed to get clarification from Swift.
The Mayor stated that the Board was tabling any decisions on the bids to get clarification on the wording of the bids.
The Mayor reported on the needed repairs to the city’s tornado siren. He said that Marshall Long had talked to a representative from Blue Valley and that his suggestion was to repair the existing siren instead of purchasing a new one. He said the representative said that the city would actually have a better siren once it was repaired then purchasing a new one. He said that there quote was for repairs and to bring the Siren up to FCC standards for narrow band by the end of 2012. He said that since Blue Valley was going to be in Neosho working on their sirens he had gone ahead and approved them fixing the City’s at the same time. He said he had talked with Board members about the quote and that they verbally agreed to approve the bill when it was placed on the bill sheet.
The Board discussed whether or not to change the date of the City Wide Yard Sale for 2013. The Mayor stated that people had voiced a concern about having the sale at the end of the month because people didn’t have as much money as they do at the first of the month. The Board noted that some people complained that it is too hot. Crystal Vaughan suggested making it the first Saturday in September. The mayor said that he understood people liked it before School starts so that they can purchase school clothes. It was noted that whatever date the Board would choose would not be convenient to everyone. Ald. Wilson moved to change the City Wide Yard Sale to the first Saturday in August. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Lett, Wilson, Kohley and Hess voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board discussed setting a public hearing for the 2012 Tax Levy. The clerk noted that the rate this year is the same as last year. It is $0.6332 per every $100.00 assessed valuation.
Ald. Wilson moved to set 6:50PM on August 21, 2012 for the public hearing. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Kohley, Lett, Hess and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board discussed changing the wording on Section 210.690 of the City’s Code regarding junk, salvage trash and industrial debris. The Mayor reported that there had been complaints about peoples junk in the front and back yards. He also noted that the existing Ordinance allowed junk and debris in the front and back yard as long as it is covered with a tarp. Chief West stated that several places have stuff covered with tarps.
Ald. Wilson moved to delete the part of Section 201.690 that says that items can be placed under cover Ald. Lett seconded. Ald. Lett, Kohley, Hess and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
The Mayor noted that Assistant City Clerk Karla McNorton will be completing her 90 day probationary period on August 14, 2012. Ald. Lett moved to approve the 90 day probationary and to give Karla McNorton a 50 cent raise starting on the 16th of August. Ald. Wilson seconded. Ald. Lett, Wilson, Kohley and Hess voted aye with 0 nays.
The following reports were given by department heads:
Tom West- Gilliam Electric was scheduled to install the transfer switches at the Police department on Thursday August 9th. He also reported that the air conditioner went out on the white car and would cost $500.00 to repair. He said Curt was just going to drive the black car until the new police vehicle arrived in about 6 weeks.
David Brodie reported that the ultraviolent disinfection unit at the treatment plant is obsolete. He said one of the ballasts went out and he was not able to find a replacement. He said that the bulbs were designed to work with specific ballasts. He stated that they were going to have to look into redoing the whole system so that replacement parts can be found in the future. He said that there might need to be some changes to the electrical. He reported that 5 out of the 6 bays were working properly at this time. He noted that the ultraviolent disinfection system is the last step on the treating of the city’s sewer. The Board told him to get pricing and suggestions on how to replace them.
David reported that the check valve at the lift station was leaking back. He noted that this was another part that he cannot find replacements for. He said the lift stations were going to need to be re-plumbed. He said that even the ductile iron is flacking off like sheets of rust. He stated that while the lift stations are being re-plumbed the sewage will need to be hauled manually to the treatment plant. The Board told him to look into the cost of doing the re-plumbing.
Denis Kolb- not present.
Dawn Bunch – not present but monthly report in Boards packets1.
Paula Brodie – Noted that the annual fall training for City Clerks is September 16th and 17th at Osage Beach. This year it is in conjunction with the annual MML Conference, which causes one of the training days to be on Sunday. She asked the Board to approve for two night’s motel expense and seminar cost of $125.00. The Board agreed for her to attend.
The following old business was discussed:
Crystal Vaughan asked about the speeders on Janice noting that even Officer Drake who was in the black car was speeding too. The Mayor stated that he would get together with Tom and Curt about stopping the speeders. She said that the speeding was an ongoing problem on Janice Street.
JR Fisher said that he talked to Swift about doing street repairs when he was on the Board and that he had received a quote from Swift of $18,000.00 per lineal 1,000 feet for a 2 inch overlay. He said he was told then that the street couldn’t be done without doing a base coat. He asked why couldn’t the city employees fill in the pot holes and then have Swift do an overlay. The Mayor stated that the Board realized that they could not do complete streets because of the cost so they had decided to have the worst spots repaired first.
David stated that Swift had told him that to do Garner from 59 Hwy to School St would cost the same amount as the whole job that the city was asking bids for.
The following new business was discussed:
Steve Wimpey reported that the sidewalk from in front of Roger Coe’s to the Corner of C Hwy and School Street is in much needed repair. The Board tabled to look into who is responsible to do the repairs and to see what actually needs done.
The Board discussed allowing people to use the ball park. They discussed whether or not to charge for the use of the park, how much to charge for the lights, and whether or not to charge a security deposits. There were voiced concerns about the hours that the lights could be on, whether or not the people using the park would clean it up, the need to clean and maintain the bathrooms.
Ald. Wilson suggested charging a hundred dollar rental fee and a $100.00 fee for clean-up. He said if they failed to clean up the park the $100.00 would be kept to use to clean up the park. It was suggested that some people would pay $100.00 just so they wouldn’t have to cleanup and if that happened who would be responsible to do the cleanup.
It was decided that the park could be used this coming weekend but not the lights as the Board needs to figure out what to charge for the park lights. At this time there is no deposit required.
Mayor Richmond stated that Jill Breashers had called and asked him to meet with her and the Chairmen of the First Community Bank about the Goodman State Bank building.
The Board discussed the bills in the amount of $26,405.99 including transfers. Ald. Wilson moved to approve the bills in the amount of $26,405.99. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Lett, Wilson, Kohley and Hess voted aye with 0 nays.
Ald. Kohley moved to adjourn. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Hess, Kohley, Lett and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.