COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday November 4, 2014 at 7:00 PM at the
Goodman City Hall
November 4, 2014
Regular Board Meeting
The Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting on Tuesday night November 4, 2014 at 7:00 PM. Those present included Mayor Greg Richmond, Alderpersons Calvin Wilson, Bill Hess, Keith Kohley and Alice Kezar. Also present were City Supervisor David Brodie, Tax Collector Dawn Bunch, Emergency Management Director Denis Kolb and City Clerk Paula Brodie. Guests included Rita Green from the McDonald County Press, Lois Kolb, and Jimmie Morgan.
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
The Board of Aldermen discussed the minutes from the regular meeting on October 21, 2014. Ald. Wilson moved to approve the minutes from the regular meeting on October 21. Ald. Kohley seconded. Ald. Kohley, Hess, Wilson and Kezar voted aye with 0 nays.
Citizens Business: None
The Mayor acknowledged Jimmie Morgan from the Goodman Betterment Club. Jimmie noted that the Betterment Club had picked Johnny Bill Newell to be this years’ Grand Marshall for the Christmas Parade. Mr. Morgan then asked the Board to make a donation towards the expenditure of the candy that is given out during the parade. Ald. Wilson moved to donate $200.00 for Christmas candy for the Annual Christmas Parade. Ald. Kezar second. Ald. Kezar, Kohley, Wilson and Hess voted aye with 0 nays.
The Mayor stated that there was a lady who had contacted the City Hall to see if she could set up a table to sell purchases during the Christmas Parade. The Board stated that they had no objections.
The Board discussed the following old business.
1. The Mayor noted that he had tried to contact the two people the William Mosby had suggested as a replacement for his job. He noted that one of the people he had not heard from and the other a Marcus Pratt had seemed very interested and willing to become the City’s building inspector. The Mayor noted that there were not very many new buildings to be inspected throughout the year. It was noted that there is one house being built at this time and would need an inspector to sign off on it. The Mayor suggested that the Board hire Marcus Pratt. Ald. Wilson moved to hire Marcus Pratt as the City’s Building Inspector. Ald. Hess seconded. Ald. Wilson, Hess, Kohley and Kezar voted aye with 0 nays.
2. The Board discussed setting up equipment for video conferencing and a policy regarding the use of video equipment. The Mayor stated that Michael Keels had given him a price of $500.00. The Clerk suggested moving the computer from the Mayor’s office to the waste water treatment plant so that in case of an emergency there would be a computer set up with all the City’s programs on them. Ald. Wilson stated that he thought the policy could be drawn up after the Board was ready to allow video conferencing. The Mayor is going to talk with Michael Keels about which would be best a laptop or a big screen TV and the possibility of moving the computer to the treatment plant. The Mayor noted that the City would only have to provide the receiving end of the video conferencing; it would be up to the other person to provide their side.
The Board discussed the following new business:
1.Discussed purchasing name tags for the Board. The Mayor noted that Alice had suggested the purchasing of name tags for employees and Board Members. The Mayor noted that it would be nice to have name tags for the members to wear while attending various meetings. The name tags would reflect who they were representing and their names. Alice explained that the name tag she had comes apart and a card about the size of a business card could be inserted in the name tag. They would be able to be change out and another name could be inserted in its place. The Board agreed that the employees and Board Members should all have one.
The Mayor stated that he had also talked with some of the employees about getting shirts with a City logo or the City of Goodman and their names on them. They could be worn daily or just for meetings. Ald. Kohley stated that the Emergency Management people already have T Shirts. The Board agreed to think about it.
2. It was noted the City Hall will be closed on November 11 in honor of Veterans Day.
3. It was noted the first budget meeting is scheduled for November 10th at 6:00PM.
The Department heads gave the following reports:
Curt Drake-had nothing
Denis Kolb-.had nothing
David Brodie- noted that someone wanted to build a house facing Harold Street and their garage facing Pearl Street. He said that it will comply with the City’s Codes on setbacks. He asked the Board if there were any objections to the house facing one way and the garage another. The Board did not have any problem with it as long as it fell within the guidelines of the City’s Codes.
– noted that representatives from DNR were at the plant on last Monday. He said they were present to discuss with him the dissolved oxygen problems at the treatment plant. He stated that they felt that the plant needed new fine bubble diffusers (bladders) installed in the oxidation ditches. He said to replace them the oxidation ditches have to be empty. He said while they were empty he thought it would be good to have them cleaned. He noted that they had been cleaned two times since the plant was put on line in 1991. He said he had contacted a company in Springfield who thought it might be around $3500.00 each. He stated that Haynes Equipment had supplied the original bubble diffusers and was still able to supply new ones. He noted that he had contacted them for prices. David said he wanted to make it clear the doing this might not solve the problem with the DO but that the gentlemen from DNR had stated that it was a good place to start and they thought it would help.
– David noted that the DNR Permit limitations have been changed for the Treatment Plant. Some of the changes need to be incompliance by the end of next year. He noted that the DO, Ammonia and PH limits have been changed on the new permit. Ald. Wilson stated that the treatment plant needs to be maintained no matter what it costs, the Board agreed. David said that if they do replace the bladders, it would show DNR that the Board is working on trying to keep the plant in compliance with the new permit numbers.
-David stated that he was also going to get a quote from the people who cleaned the tanks last time. He asked the Board if he could get prices and present them to the Board at the next meeting. The Board gave him permission to get final prices by the next meeting.
Dawn Bunch –had nothing.
Paula Brodie-had nothing.
The Board discussed the bills including transfers in the amount of $18,853.69. Ald. Hess moved to approve the bills including transfers in the amount of $18,853.69. Ald. Kezar seconded. Ald. Hess, Kohley, Kezar and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.
Ald. Kohley moved to adjourn. Ald. Wilson seconded. Ald. Hess, Kohley, Wilson and Kezar voted aye with 0 nays. ____________________________