Board of Aldermen Meeting

CITY OF WILLARD BOARD OF ALDERMEN JANUARY 14TH, 2008 8:00 P.M. Board present: Mayor Jamie Schoolcraft; Aldermen Paul Hood; Aldermen Gordon O’Quinn; and Aldermen Louie Amodeo. Aldermen Charlie Gugel was not present. Also in attendance: City Clerk, Kathy Blakemore; CFO, Karen Robson; Municipal Court Clerk, Linda Murray; Director of Development, Randy Brown; Director of Public Works, Charlie Jones; Director of Parks and Recreations, Kerri Gates; Chief of Police, Tom McClain; Phone Operator, Tami Cobb; Parks Receptionist, Sherry Bowen; Planning & Zoning Vice Chairmen, Valorie Simpson; Planning & Zoning Executive Secretary, Lucille Murray; Park Board Member, Pat Lloyd; and City Attorney, Doug Harpool. Guest present: See attached sign in sheet. Mayor Jamie Schoolcraft led the Pledge of Allegiance. Special Recognition (Awards, Certificates and Honors) Chief of Police, Tom McClain presented Ashton Gray with a certificate for “Good Attitude”. Ashton is a 5th grade student at Willard Intermediate School. Mayor Jamie Schoolcraft called the meeting to order. Roll Call City Clerk, Kathy Blakemore called the roll call, Aldermen Gugel------, Aldermen Hood- present; Mayor Schoolcraft-present; Aldermen O’Quinn-present; and Aldermen Amodeo- present. Aldermen Charlie Gugel was not present. Agenda Amendments/Approval of agenda Mayor Jamie Schoolcraft requested that item #12 be moved to item #6 on the agenda. Motion made by Louie Amodeo with second by Gordon O’Quinn to approve the agenda with the amendment to move item #12 to item #6. All votes yes. Motion carried. Minutes 12/27/07 Motion made by Gordon O’Quinn with second by Paul Hood to approve the minutes of the regular meeting on December 27th, 2007. All votes yes. Motion carried. Citizens Input Mayor thanked everyone for attending the meeting. Mayor stated that at no point was there a discussion of charging the senior citizens for use of the Community Building. The discussion was that the ordinance was very vague on how it was regulated and we had looked at what the ordinance allowed for each group, and what a civic group was. Mayor stated that the seniors were never part of that discussion and nothing was going to Board of Aldermen Minutes Page 1 of 4 January 14th, 2008 change in the way that the seniors function at the Community Building. Mayor asked if anyone wished to speak on this issue. Glen Franklin, Jennette Smith, Joe Cosby, Dave Ward, C. McDonald, Betty Cummings, and Bill Smith spoke on behalf of the senior citizens. Dwayne Parker spoke on behalf of the Lions Club. Dwayne Parker asked if the Lions Club would have to pay for the use of the Community Building. Mayor explained that the proposal was that the city groups and the founding organizations would not be charged. Community Building Rentals Mayor Jamie Schoolcraft presented the proposal for the rental of the Community Building. The city organizations that include Chamber of Commerce, the Willard Schools, all city entities such as Police Department, Fire Department, and governing bodies, and the founding groups which are the Willard Senior Citizens and the Lions Club will have use of the Community Building free of charge. All other groups will have to pay for the use of the Community Building. Motion made by Paul Hood with second by Louie Amodeo to approve the Mayor’s proposal for the Community Building Fees listed above. All votes yes. Motion carried. Mayor stated at the next meeting an ordinance will be presented will this proposal for the Community Building Fees. Board took a five minute break to allow the citizens to have the opportunity to leave the meeting if they wish. Financial Report Motion made by Gordon O’Quinn with second by Louie Amodeo to approve to pay the outstanding bills. All votes yes. Motion carried. Karen Robson CFO stated that effective January 1st the IRS is increasing the mileage reimbursement rate to 50.5 cent per mile. Karen requested to raise the city’s mileage rate accordingly. Motion made by Louie Amodeo with second by Paul Hood to approve the increase of the mileage reimbursement rate to 50.5 cents per mile. All votes yes. Motion carried. Karen presented three bids concerning the 2007 Police car that was damaged with hail in the recent tornados. This fee will be reimbursed by insurance. Pearl Auto Works- $3911.00; R&R Body Shop-$4087.00; and Hammers Auto Works-$3857.00. Mayor suggested that we use the local business since the bids are within $200. Motion made by Louie Amodeo with second by Gordon O’Quinn to approve the bid with R&R Body Shop in the amount of $4087.00. All votes yes. Motion carried. Karen presented the bid information on the soft starts and well monitoring for the wells. No motion is needed on this issue due to it being a budgeted item and was approved on the 2008 budget. Karen stated that the bids that were received for the Beam Street waterline replacement were very high. Staff recommends that the board reject all bids, and the work will be done in house. Motion made by Gordon O’Quinn with second by Paul Hood to reject all bids for the Beam Street waterline replacement. All votes yes. Motion carried. Board of Aldermen Minutes Page 2 of 4 January 14th, 2008 Police Report Chief of Police, Tom McClain discussed the Mobile Data Terminals and Record Management System with the Greene County Sheriff’s office. This system would enable the Willard Police Department to network with the surrounding cities. For five (5) terminals and maintenance the cost would be $2100.00. Motion made by Louie Amodeo with second by Paul Hood to approve the Mobile Data Terminals and Record Management System in the amount of $2100.00. Paul Hood-yes. Louie Amodeo-yes. Gordon O’Quinn-no. Motion carried. Chief stated that the city has received a resignation letter from Officer Nathan Kelley. Nathan last day was December 31st. Chief said it is being more difficult to find good police officers with our starting salary. Ozark Police Department starting salary is $27,800; Stafford Police Department, $28,000; Republic Police Department, $26,000; and Willard’s starting salary is $23,000. The system that the city uses is to start the Police salary at $23,000, at the end of their first year anniversary they receive another $1000, second anniversary $2000, and third anniversary $3000. Chief recommended that we increase the starting salary to $26,000 and do away with the step increase. Mayor agreed with the proposal. Motion made by Louie Amodeo with second by Paul Hood to approve the increase of the Police Officers starting salary to $26,000 and not have a step increase. Paul Hood-yes. Louie Amodeo-yes. Gordon O’Quinn-no. Motion carried. Development Report Director of Development, Randy Brown stated that the flow meter is on order. Also on January 28th at 1:30 there will be a Wellhead Protection Plan Committee Meeting at City Hall. This meeting they will be discussing the draft for the Wellhead Protection Plan. The City Hall addition is on schedule and should be completed in time for the next council meeting. Public Works Director of Public Works, Charlie Jones stated that Public Works has been very busy with the installation of the chlorine pumps. Charlie said that Rick House is responsible for overseeing the regulation of the chlorine and is doing a great job. Engineers are working on the permanent system that will be installed. The city is currently using liquid chlorine. The permanent system will be a gas chlorinated system. Public Works installed a crosswalk from the Willard Retirement Village to the east center across Knight Street. The new truck is now equipped with the dump bed. The new backhoe has been delivered. Charlie thanked the Police Department for helping with a dog that needed to be detained. Emergency Management Report Mayor stated that Emergency Management Director Stacy Winters was not present, and his report was in the board packets and if the board had any questions they could call Stacy. Board of Aldermen Minutes Page 3 of 4 January 14th, 2008 Community Services Report Director of Parks and Recreations, Kerri Gates stated that the calendar for the 2008 year is complete and a lot of new things have been added this year. Basketball and Cheerleading is going on at this time. Dance is starting tomorrow, and adult basketball is starting Saturday. Chief and Major Thomas are still doing the personal safety seminar. There are sixteen or eighteen people participating. Intramural basketball is new and is for junior high and high school kids from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. for an after school program. A new program in the works is a “Parent/Child Valentine Dance” on February 9th. Kerri thanked Randy and Charlie and the Public Works Employees for helping with the concession stand at the new soccer fields. Old Business Randy Brown Director of Development stated that the city has a meeting scheduled with MoDot to discuss the change of Business 160 and Farmer St. They will also be discussing the traffic study through town. Mayor stated that there are now turn signals on Miller and 160 as a result of the city’s letter to MoDot. Mayor stated that the board will be going into closed session (Chapter 610.021 #3) to discuss a personnel matter. Motion made by Louie Amodeo with second by Gordon O’Quinn to close the open session and go into closed session. All votes yes. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned. __________________________ Kathy Blakemore, City Clerk Board of Aldermen Minutes Page 4 of 4 January 14th, 2008