Board of Aldermen Meeting

CITY OF WILLARD BOARD OF ALDERMEN SPECIAL MEETING AUGUST 18th, 2008 7:00 P.M. Board Present: Mayor Jamie Schoolcraft; Aldermen Richard Simpson; Aldermen Joe Cosby; Aldermen Louie Amodeo; Aldermen Paul C. Hood; Aldermen Dale Duvall; Aldermen Bryan Vincent. Also in attendance: Deputy City Clerk, Kate Gould; CFO, Karen Robson; Director of Development, Randy Brown; Kerri Gates, Parks and Recreation Director; Tami Cobb, Accounts Payable Clerk; Tom McClain, Chief of Police; Police Officer, Bob Bell; Police Officer, David Richardson; City Attorney Representative, Sativa Boatman-Sloan; and City Attorney, Doug Harpool. Guest Present: Ruth Hunter, Willard Cross-Country Times; Sarah Overstreet, Springfield News- Leader; Wilma and Evans Ross; Jerry Jones; Melissa Smith; Samantha Smith; Kaci Smith; Anthony Smith; Marcia and Gunter Kellotat; Toni and Corky Borgman; Hannah Barhem, Beau Simpson; Martin and Nancy Simpson; Jeff and Chris Volkmer; Valorie Simpson; Roger and Jana Copeland; Jon and Nancy Wescott; Barbara Cosby; Stacia Buffington; Dave Helton; Charles Amodeo; Kathleen Herr; Stan Herr; Curtis and Bethany Schulz; B.J. Vernon; and Lois Vernon. Mayor Jamie Schoolcraft led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Jamie Schoolcraft called the meeting to order. Roll Call Aldermen Simpson-present; Aldermen Cosby-present; Aldermen Amodeo-present; Mayor Schoolcraft-present; Aldermen Hood-present, Aldermen Duvall-present; and Aldermen Vincent- present. Concerned Citizens Group Mayor Schoolcraft invited Melissa Smith, Co-Chair of the Willard Concerned Citizens, to speak to the Board of Aldermen about the concerns the group has regarding Conco Quarries. Mrs. Smith spoke about a good neighbor policy with Conco Quarries that would include “cooperation, coordination, and communication”. Mrs. Smith also spoke about examples of other quarries and presented to the Board of Aldermen a number of pictures from Conco Quarries and the neighborhood around Conco Quarries to illustrate their concerns. Other citizens were invited to give their input on what they felt would constitute a good neighbor policy and concerns they had about the quarry. Mr. Corky Borgman stated that his property line is 900 feet from the pit. He said that he had been told by the quarry manager, 15 years ago when he moved into his home, that the land between his property and the pit was a buffer. Mr. Borgman would like for Conco to maintain Willard Board of Aldermen Minutes Special Meeting on August 18, 2008 Page 1 of 3 the land between his home and the pit as a buffer. He is also concerned about the effect of the quarry on his well, the hours of operation and the dust. Mrs. Wilma Ross spoke about her concerns and experience with blasting from the quarry. She stated that she and her husband were also worried about the dust from the quarry at their home and the hours of operation. She also hoped that there would be no more talk of closing the road by their home. Mrs. Ross was also wanted to urge the Board of Aldermen to make sure that the reclamation plan for the quarry was sufficient. Ms. Kathleen Herr lives on New Melville road. She says that she is most concerned about the dust. She passed around to the Aldermen samples of the dust collected from around her home that she believes is from Conco Quarries. She would like to see Conco Quarries use enclosures on conveyers, crushers and shoots to control noise and dust. She would also like to see the wooded areas currently in front of her home remain as a natural buffer. Ms. Herr is also bothered by the smell from the asphalt plant. Mr. Charles Amodeo is concerned about the effect that the quarry could have on water and air quality. He would like for the area north of his home, that he believes is owned by Conco, to remain a wooded area. If Conco Quarries mines that area, he would like to see a setback of at least 300 ft from New Melville Road and a berm that is at least 100 ft wide at the base and 40 ft high. Mr. Amodeo believes the berm should be made of dirt so that it can be covered with grass, shrubs, and trees. He would also like to see the area west of his home have the same setback of at least 300 ft and a dirt berm at least 100 ft wide at the base and 40 ft high with grass, shrubs, and trees. Mr. Jeff Volkmer was concerned about the quarry coming any closer to his home. He was also concerned about the noise and hours of operation. Mr. Volkmer would like to see some sort of cover and erosion control for the piles of lime around the quarry because he believes that they contribute to the dust problem and that it can also affect water quality. He would also like to see buffers and berms that are not made out of piles of limestone. Mr. Volkmer also believes that the reclamation plan is very important to the future of Willard. Mr. Curtis Schulz who used to live on Farm Road 94 said that dust and noise were a problem when he lived at that location. Ms. Stacia Buffington feels like there is not a problem with dust or noise at her home. She also feels like there is no issue with hours of operation. Mr. B.J. Vernon, who has a well at a depth of 450 ft is concerned about how it could be affected as the quarry continues to dig deeper. He is concerned about the dust and noise some. Mayor Schoolcraft thanked the citizens for their input. Contractor for new Aquatics Center Motion made by Aldermen Vincent to select Carrothers Construction Company as the general contractor for the new Willard Aquatics Center with second made by Aldermen Cosby. Aldermen Simpson-I, Aldermen Cosby-I, Aldermen Amodeo-I, Aldermen Hood-I, Aldermen Duvall-I, Aldermen Vincent-I. All votes yes. Motion carried. Willard Board of Aldermen Minutes Special Meeting on August 18, 2008 Page 2 of 3 Mayor Jamie Schoolcraft stated that the board would be going into closed session to discuss Charpter 610.21 #3-Personnel issues. Motion made by Aldermen Duvall and seconded by Aldermen Simpson to close the open session and go into closed session. Aldermen Simpson-I, Aldermen Cosby-I, Aldermen Amodeo- I, Aldermen Hood-I, Aldermen Duvall-I, Aldermen Vincent-I. All votes yes. Motion carried. Closed Session Motion made by Aldermen Cosby to Adjourn Meeting with a second by Aldermen Duvall. Aldermen Simpson-I, Aldermen Cosby-I, Aldermen Amodeo-I, Aldermen Hood-I, Aldermen Duvall-I, Aldermen Vincent-I. All votes yes. Motion carried. ____________________________ Kate Gould, Deputy City Clerk Willard Board of Aldermen Minutes Special Meeting on August 18, 2008 Page 3 of 3