Board of Alderman Regular Meeting

BOARD OF ALDERMEN Meeting Minutes MARCH 24, 2025 7:00 PM 1 GOVERNMENT CTR. BALLWIN, MO 63011 THE MINUTES ARE PREPARED IN SUMMARY TO REFLECT THE OVERALL DISCUSSIONS, NOT VERBATIM QUOTES. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pogue at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Present​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Absent Mayor Tim Pogue Alderman Mike Utt Alderman Michael Finley Alderman Pamela Haug Alderman Mark Stallmann Alderman Frank Fleming Alderman Mark Weaver Alderman David Siegel Alderman Jim Lehmkuhl City Administrator Eric Sterman City Attorney Robert Jones The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. MINUTES The minutes from the March 10, 2025 Board of Aldermen meeting were submitted for approval. A motion to approve as submitted was made by Alderman Frank Fleming and seconded by Alderman Michael Finley. A voice vote was taken with unanimous affirmative result and the motion passed. The minutes from the March 10, 2025 Board of Aldermen Closed Session meeting were submitted for approval. A motion to approve as submitted was made by Alderman Frank Fleming and seconded by Alderman Michael Finley. A voice vote was taken with unanimous affirmative result and the motion passed. City of Ballwin- Board of Aldermen Meeting Minutes​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ March 25, 2025​ ​ 1  BOARD OF ALDERMEN Meeting Minutes MARCH 24, 2025 7:00 PM 1 GOVERNMENT CTR. BALLWIN, MO 63011 CITIZEN COMMENTS________________________________________________________ Sarah Boyer, of 100 Caybeth Drive in Ballwin, spoke to the Board of Aldermen about her running for the Rockwood School Board and wanted to remind everyone to vote. LeeAnne Ravens, of 210 Huntleigh Drive in Ballwin, spoke to the Board of Aldermen about issues she’s having with her insurance company. Her house was damaged in a fire and subsequently torn down and now insurance won’t pay for it. City Attorney Bob Jones told her he would try and help. LEGISLATION_______________________________________________________________ Bill 5016- AN ORDINANCE SETTING THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE OF ZERO (0%) PERCENT IN THE CITY OF BALLWIN FOR THE FISCAL PERIOD BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2025 AND ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2025. A motion was made by Alderman Frank Fleming and seconded by Alderman Michael Finley for a first reading of Bill 5016, title only. A voice vote was taken with unanimous affirmative result and the motion passed. Alderman Fleming read Bill 5016, title only.​ ​ Discussion:​ Alderman Mark Stallmann noted this is the 38th year that Ballwin has not had any personal property taxes for residents and the City is one of only a few cities in St. Louis County where homeowners don’t pay property taxes to the City. A motion was made by Alderman Mark Stallmann and seconded by Alderman Michael Finley for a second reading of Bill 5016, title only. A voice vote was taken with unanimous affirmative result and the motion passed. Alderman Mark Stallmann read Bill 5016, title only. A roll call vote was taken for passage and approval of Bill 5016 with the following results: Aye: Aldermen Utt, Finley, Haug, Stallmann, Fleming, Weaver, Lehmkuhl Nay: None Bill No. 5016 was approved and became Ordinance No. 25-06. City of Ballwin- Board of Aldermen Meeting Minutes​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ March 25, 2025​ ​ 2  BOARD OF ALDERMEN Meeting Minutes MARCH 24, 2025 7:00 PM 1 GOVERNMENT CTR. BALLWIN, MO 63011 CONSENT ITEMS____________________________________________________________ Parks & Recreation – 2025 Fitness Equipment Purchase Staff recommends the Board approve the purchase for a Life Fitness functional trainer for $22,264.23 from Advance Exercise and two AMTs for $18,484 (includes credit for trade in of $800 for the two existing AMTs) from Push Pedal Pull totaling $40,748.23. Discussion: Parks & Recreation Director Chris Conway noted there are two sets of aerobic equipment being purchased. A motion was made by Alderman Frank Fleming and seconded by Alderman Michael Finley to accept staff’s recommendation. A voice vote was taken with unanimous affirmative result and the motion passed. MAYOR’S REPORT__________________________________________________________ None.​ CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT__________________________________________________ City Administrator Eric Sterman noted the City is still working with insurance on replacing the sign that was destroyed by a motorist. City Administrator Sterman also noted the fence along Ballwin Commons Drive opposite of the Pointe will be replaced by the City after it was damaged in the recent storms. It is a non-budgeted emergency purchase that will potentially cost around $50,000. The City will also send a letter to neighbors to let them know if the fence needs to be replaced in the future it will be their responsibility to pay. City Administrator Sterman also noted the City solicited vendors and received four bids for the A/V system at the Golf Course & Event Center after being refunded for the previous A/V system. The City chose ModComm as the vendor at a cost of $28,165. City Administrator Sterman noted at the last Planning & Zoning meeting during approval for a new restaurant, the commission expressed interest in potentially looking into requirements for screening A/C units. Mayor Tim Pogue noted he would like to see legislation on that and Alderman Mark Stallmann agreed. City Administrator Sterman noted he was still waiting on the bill for front yard fences and the two bills could be in concert. City Administrator Sterman also noted the City was doing one special round of brush pickup from the storm and there weren’t that many houses with debris so far. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT_________________________________________________ None. City of Ballwin- Board of Aldermen Meeting Minutes​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ March 25, 2025​ ​ 3  BOARD OF ALDERMEN Meeting Minutes MARCH 24, 2025 7:00 PM 1 GOVERNMENT CTR. BALLWIN, MO 63011 ALDERMANIC COMMENTS__________________________________________________ Alderman Pamela Haug acknowledged the tragic event that happened this past week in Vlasis Park and asked about potentially putting something up around the pond. Parks & Recreation Director Chris Conway acknowledged the tragedy and said the City’s number one priority is to ensure public safety is top of mind. He also noted the City is already bidding out the fence for the toddler portion of the playground. He noted the pond is on the list of projects to be completed in the future and any safety measures will be looked into. Alderman Haug also asked about Ameren power outages that had happened during the recent storms and asked if there was anything the City could do. Public Works Director Jim Link noted they’re exhausting all crews and Ameren is working on cutting trees in the area. Alderman Mark Stallmann asked about the upcoming electronic recycling event. Parks & Recreation Director Chris Conway noted it is on Thursday, March 27th from 12 - 5 p.m. and the County covers up to two items per person. Alderman Stallmann also complimented the Pointe’s team and noted he’s never seen that pool as crowded as it was on Sunday. He also asked if the City could have someone take a look at the awning at Benjamin Moore. City Administrator Sterman noted he would have a code officer sent out. Alderman Frank Fleming noted he would like to review the safety measures of the pond at a more formal level and would like it to go before the Board of Aldermen or the Parks & Recreation Citizen Advisory Committee. City Administrator Sterman noted this is something that is in the Vlasis Park improvements for the pond and that would allow the City an opportunity to respond in the future. He also noted the project has already been submitted to the state for funding approval. Parks & Recreation Director Chris Conway noted this would be a topic of discussion for the next Parks & Recreation Citizen Advisory Committee on April 21.​ ADJOURNMENT____________________________________________________________ A motion was made by Alderman Frank Fleming and seconded by Alderman Michael Finley to adjourn. The motion was passed by unanimous affirmative voice vote and the meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m. ______________________________ TIM POGUE, MAYOR ATTEST: ____________________________________ MEGAN FREEMAN, CITY CLERK City of Ballwin- Board of Aldermen Meeting Minutes​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ March 25, 2025​ ​ 4