Board of Aldermen Meeting

CITY OF WILLARD BOARD OF ALDERMEN REGULAR MEETING APRIL 22, 2024 6:00 p.m. Staff present: Interim City Administrator Donna Stewart, Director of Finance Carolyn Halverson, Police Officer J.D. Landon, Planning and Development Director Mike Ruesch, Director of Parks and Rec Jason Knight, Director of Public Works Justin Sorgen, City Clerk Dona Slater, and City Attorney Holly Dodge. Attendees: Debbie Ihrig, Steve Cobb, Ed Simmons, Larry Jones, Larry Whitman, Mark Lancaster, and Angie Wilson Call to Order Mayor Sam Baird called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Baird led the Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call The City Clerk conducted the Roll Call. Present: Alderman Troy Smith, Alderman Casey Biellier, Alderman David Keene, Alderman Joyce Lancaster, Alderman Scott Swatosh, Alderman Carol Wilson, and Mayor Sam Baird Agenda Amendments/Agenda Approval Motion was made by Alderman Smith and seconded by Alderman Keene to approve the agenda as written. Motion carried with a vote of 6-0. Voting aye: Aldermen Smith, Biellier, Lancaster, Keene, Wilson, and Swatosh. Consent Agenda Motion was made by Alderman Smith and seconded by Alderman Biellier to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion carried with a vote of 6-0. Voting aye: Aldermen Smith, Biellier, Wilson, Lancaster, Keene, and Swatosh. Current Outstanding invoices, and draft and check paid invoices for March/April 2024. Discussion/Vote Ms. Stewart said the invoice for Letts, Van Kirk and Associates will be discussed as agenda item #9 later in this meeting. Motion was made by Alderman Biellier and seconded by Alderman Keene to approve the current outstanding invoices, and draft and check paid invoices for March/April 2024 minus the invoice for Letts, Van Kirk and Associates. Motion carried with a vote of 6-0. Voting aye: Aldermen Smith, Biellier, Keene, Lancaster, Swatosh, and Wilson. Citizen Input None. Re-appoint members to the Park Board for three-year (3) terms. Discussion/Vote a. Fred Burk – term expired February 2024 b. Brooke Jarvis – term expired February 2024 04/22/2024 BOA Meeting Minutes Page 1 Mr. Knight said these members’ terms have expired. This will be the second re-appointment for Mr. Burks and the first re-appointment for Ms. Jarvis. Motion was made by Alderman Smith and seconded by Alderman Swatosh to re-appoint Mr. Burks and Ms. Jarvis to three-year (3) terms on the Park Board. Motion carried with a vote of 6-0. Voting aye: Aldermen Smith, Biellier, Keene, Lancaster, Swatosh, and Wilson. Appoint Gary Walker Jr. to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a four-year (4) term. Discussion/Vote Mr. Ruesch said the Planning and Zoning Commission is looking to add a couple of new members. The Commission has voted to have two meetings per month on the first and third Tuesdays if needed. Motion was made by Alderman Keene and seconded by Alderman Biellier to appoint Gary Walker Jr. to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a four-year (4) term. Motion carried with a vote of 6-0. Voting aye: Aldermen Smith, Biellier, Keene, Lancaster, Swatosh, and Wilson. Special Run-off Election for Mayor. Discussion Ms. Stewart said that since the April election resulted in a tie for mayor we will have a special election on June 18, 2024. The estimated cost of this election will be a little over twenty-three thousand ($23,000) dollars. She stated that Mr. Smith said he was fine with a coin toss, but Mr. Snider wanted another election. Mission Communications Legacy Upgrades proposal. Discussion/Vote Mr. Sorgen said the Missions system is our call out system for all wells and lift stations. It is the brain of our entire system. It notifies us if something isn’t correct. Missions has decided that the current equipment is obsolete. We need to upgrade to new equipment. We have to go thru Letts, Van Kirk and Associates for the equipment. This is a quote for the new equipment. Motion was made by Alderman Biellier and seconded by Alderman Smith to approve the expenditure proposal from Letts, Van Kirk and Associates for equipment to upgrade the Mission Communications Legacy system. Motion carried with a vote of 6-0. Voting aye: Aldermen Smith, Biellier, Keene, Lancaster, Swatosh, and Wilson. Proposed Inflow and Infiltration Section 710.095. Discussion Mr. Ruesch said per our contract with Springfield we are required to have Inflow and Infiltration in our City Code. This is a revision of the original proposed code. Some houses have their sump pumps draining directly into the sewer line. This is against code and must be corrected. If citizens do not comply with this code, they will have their water shut off until they come into compliance. Alderman Biellier asked if there was anything less invasive the city can do. Mr. Ruesch said we will work with the property owners to come to an agreement to get this fixed. Attorney Dodge said you can’t spend city funds on personal property as this creates liability for the city. Mr. Ruesch said the city will try to be flexible on this. New Business None. Unfinished Business None. Recess Open Session Motion was made by Alderman Smith and seconded by Alderman Lancaster to recess the Open Session and to adjourn into Closed Session pursuant to RSMO Section 610.021 sub #1 for Legal, sub #2 Real Estate, and sub #3 for Personnel and sub #13 for Personnel. Motion carried with a vote of 6-0. Voting aye: Aldermen Wilson, Keene, Biellier, Lancaster, Smith, and Swatosh. 04/22/2024 BOA Meeting Minutes Page 2 The Open Session was recessed at 6:28 p.m. Open the Closed Session Motion was made by Alderman Biellier and seconded by Alderman Lancaster to Open the Closed Session pursuant to RSMO Section 610.021 sub #1 for Legal, sub #2 Real Estate, sub #3 and #13 for Personnel. Motion carried with a vote of 6-0. Voting aye: Aldermen Biellier, Swatosh, Keene, Wilson, Smith, and Lancaster. The Closed Session convened at 6:33 p.m. Close the Closed Session and Reconvene the Open Session Motion was made by Alderman Smith and seconded by Alderman Biellier to Close the Closed Session and to Reconvene the Open Session. Motion carried with a vote of 6-0. Voting aye: Aldermen Swatosh, Keene, Biellier, Lancaster, Wilson, and Smith. The Open Session reconvened at 7:06 p.m. Adjourn Meeting Motion was made by Alderman Lancaster and seconded by Alderman Biellier to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried with a vote of 6-0. Voting aye: Aldermen Lancaster, Biellier, Keene, Swatosh, Smith, and Wilson. The meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m. __________________________ ____________________________ Dona Slater, City Clerk Sam Baird, Mayor 04/22/2024 BOA Meeting Minutes Page 3