COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday October 7, 2014 at 7:00 PM at the
Goodman City Hall
October 7, 2014
Regular Board Meeting
The Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting on Tuesday night October 7, 2014 at 7:00 PM. Those present included Mayor Greg Richmond, Alderpersons Calvin Wilson, Alice Kezar and Bill Hess. Also present were City Supervisor David Brodie, Emergency Management Director Denis Kolb and City Clerk Paula Brodie. Guests included Harry Rogers, Jason Ray Rita Green, Bud Richmond, Lois Kolb, Jimmie Morgan, Jennifer Lantz and Rita Green from the McDonald County Press. Ald. Keith Kohley was absent due to illness.
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
The Board of Aldermen discussed the minutes from the regular meeting on September 16, 2014. Ald. Wilson moved to approve the minutes from the regular meeting on September 16, 2014. Ald. Kezar seconded. Ald. Kezar, Hess and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
The Mayor acknowledged Harry Rogers and Jason Ray from Harry S. Truman Coordinating Council (HSTCC) to discuss assisting the City in drawing up a comprehensive plan. Mr. Rogers stated that the City had been a member of the committee involved with the Joint land Use Study that H.S.T.C.C. helped draw up for Camp Crowder. He noted that the City should be of the findings of the committee. Mr. Rogers stated that Jason Ray would be involved with applying for funding through the Department of Defense to help the communities around Crowder that would be impacted by the Base.
Jason Ray then went over the results of the Joint Land Use Study and talked with the Board about what suggestions were made by the committee. He noted that the Base is very interested in going ahead with the suggestions made by the committee, one of them being setting up a Joint Land Use Working Group. He said that he was sure that the Board would want to be active on the committee because the Crowder Base affected the City of Goodman because of its close proximity. Mr. Ray informed the Board that since the Department of Defense (D.O.D.) was interested in maintaining the integrity of the Base there was funding to help the surrounding communities to draw up policies regarding the Base.
Jason stated that he understood that the City of Goodman had Zoning in place, but not a comprehensive plan. He noted that per Missouri State Statutes the City should have an active comprehensive plan in place. Because of the Department of Defense’s interest in the surrounding communities and how they are affected by the Base there is funding available to help the City draw up their comprehensive plan. He noted that H.S.T.C.C. would be working on a grant application from the D.O.D for the communities surrounding the base to help them draw up policy’s regarding land use and how it affects the area and the Camp. He stated that the cost of the City drawing up their comprehensive plan could be funded through that same grant application and H.S.T.C.C. would help the City through the process of drawing up the plan. He stated that the cost would be around $35,000.00 with D.O.D./OEA funding $31,500.00 and$3,500.00 would be funded by the City.
Harry Rogers stated that the Board could give them a verbal agreement at this time and as they came closer to actually completing the application he would draw up a contract for the Board of Aldermen to sign. Jason stated that the D.O.D. grant would pay for 90% and the City would be responsible for the other 10%. The time frame to draw up the plan would be around 6 months, however from the time the City received the grant they would have 18 months to complete it. The applications need to be completed within the next month. The Board of Alderman agreed to being included in the grant application. Mr. Rogers stated that the Board could withdraw from the application prior to the signing of the contract if they needed to.
Citizens Business:
Jim Morgan noted that he and Bud Richmond were representing the Goodman Area Fire Protection District and the Goodman Betterment Club. He reported that the Gazebo has been installed at the ball park. Mr. Morgan stated that he would donate a couple of loads of black dirt if the city would help spread it around the Gazebo to make the ground more level. The Board agreed.
Mr. Morgan stated that they have been having trouble with the railroad project that is going through town. He stated that the problem is that KCS has not been notifying the emergency responders that they will be closing crossings. He said he did talk with the KCS representative on the job whose name is Ronnie Martin. Mr. Morgan stated that he told Mr. Martin that KCS needs to notify the Police and Fire Department when the crossings are going to be closed. He stated that he understood that they will be working on the Whitmore, School Street and C Highway crossing. He stated it will be extremely difficult if all 3 crossings are closed at one time. He said that he had Mr. Martin’s phone number and that he would give the number to the City Hall.
Mr. Morgan stated that he had talked with Lisa McCool from 911 about the situation. He said that she had a name and number for someone at KCS that she can contact about the situation.
The Mayor noted that the City employees were working on the picnic tables that go back out at the Gazebo.
The Board discussed Bill No. 2014-454 for Ord. No. 2014-464 which deletes the penalty section from Section 505.080.
The Mayor read by title only Bill No. 2014-454 for Ord. No. 2014-464 for the second reading.
Ald. Wilson moved to approve the first reading of Bill No. 2014-454 for Ord. No. 2014-464 which deletes the penalty section from Section 505-080. Ald. Hess second. Ald. Hess, Wilson and Kezar voted aye with 0 nays.
The Board discussed the following old business.
1. Discussed setting a ceiling on the amount to average water/sewer bills. The Mayor noted that a couple of very high bills had brought this to light. He asked the Board if they were interested in doing something about limiting the amount that is averaged. Curt said he and Karla had discussed what could be done and they suggested averaging the bill and adding 20%. The Clerk is to ask the other Clerks from the Southwest Division for input on how they handle averaging the bills.
2. Discuss the future project of putting an awning over the sidewalk at the City Hall. The Mayor noted that the Board had budgeted $1,000.00 for the project and the projected cost was higher than that. Calvin stated that the Board could discuss it at the next budget meeting. It was noted that the project had not been put out for bid yet. The Board agreed to discuss it during the next budget meeting.
3. The Board discussed joining the McDonald County Chamber of Commerce. The Mayor read through the benefits for the City to join and noted that the cost to the City would be $200.00. Ald. Hess stated because the City is in the north end of the county and in a different school district people tend think Goodman is not in McDonald County. Ald. Wilson stated that he felt the Chamber of Commerce was very good at getting out information on events out to the community and it would be beneficial to the City to join. Ald. Hess moved to have the City join the McDonald County Chamber of Commerce. Ald. Kezar seconded. Ald. Wilson, Kezar and Hess voted aye with 0 nays.
4. The Mayor noted that the Board was to discuss setting up equipment for video conferencing with Michael Keels however Mr. Keels had been exceedingly busy and could not attend a meeting. The Mayor stated he would contact him and get the particulars on what the cost would be and what equipment he would suggest. He noted that video conferencing had been approved by the State Legislature and was now included in the Missouri State Statutes so the City needed to prepare for future request to allow video conferencing of the Board meetings. The Board agreed to table until the Mayor contacts Michael Keels.
The Board discussed the following new business:
Noted that the City Hall will be closed on October 13, 2014 for Columbus Day.
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The Mayor noted that the City does have a recycling program. He stated he would like to see more people use it. Anyone interested should call City Hall so that they can notify the trash collector.
The Department heads gave the following reports:
Curt Drake-. gave the Board two months reports. He noted that Zack is definitely stepping up to the plate in helping the Police Dept. while Bill is out on medical leave. The SUV might be doing the same thing as it was when it seemed like it was overheating. The sensor was replaced but seems to be acting up again. He noted it was under warranty and if it happened again they would take it back down to Smith Auto Group.
Denis Kolb- had nothing report.
David Brodie- reported that he would be attending a wastewater class in Carthage and noted that it was paid for with vouchers. That the City employees had mowed the ballpark the last three times. Ald. Wilson stated that the Director always kept the ball park mowed up to the end of summer. David stated that they have been working on the tables and had finished the tax collector’s office. Paula told the Board that Dawn was very happy with her office. David noted that they will have to keep a check on the Railroad. He also noted that the chlorinator for the Barlow Street well has been ordered and has been shipped. He asked when the Board wanted him to winterize the ballpark noting that the awards program has not been held yet. The Mayor said he would look into if and when the awards program will be held. He also noted that the phone had been turned off in the concession stand to save the expense of the phone bill. David noted that the water pump went out of the older city truck.
Dawn Bunch –Report in packets.
Paula Brodie- note that her annual Missouri City Clerks and Finance Officers Regional Training is in Republic on October 16th and 17th. She stated that she had received a scholarship from the state board that paid the registration fees, ½ hotel costs for one night and $50.00 mileage. She asked the Board if they would be willing to pay the other ½ of her hotel costs. The Board agreed. She also informed the Board that Bill Cagle was still having trouble with his wrist, that the Occumed Doctor has sent him on to an orthopedic specialist, that can’t see him until October 22nd. She noted she had been talking with the City’s workmen’s comp. people and that they have been kept in the loop. She noted that Bill is receiving checks from workmen’s comp.
The Board discussed the bills including transfers in the amount of $34,212.36. Ald. Wilson’s moved to approve the bills including transfers in the amount of $34,212.36. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Hess, Kezar and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
Ald. Hess moved to adjourn. Ald. Wilson seconded. Ald. Hess, Wilson and Kezar voted aye with 0 nays.