The Fredericktown City Council held a work session and Full Council meeting Monday evening.

At the work session, the aldermen considered creating a policy to require any contractors working for the city to be in good standing with their city utilities and taxes and such. Further research on the matter will be done by City Attorney Kim Moore.

They also talked about the city ordinance currently in force that pertains to shutting off power to any residence or business in town. City officials said a ten day written notice is given to the responsible party on residential accounts, at which time, if they haven’t paid their balance due the city, a utility will be shut off. Mitigating factors in the ordinance included extreme weather conditions postponing the shut-off for no more than ten days where it appears the health and safety of the customer or any resident of the household is endangered  due to extreme hot or cold weather conditions and the utility is necessary to the health and safety of said person. (Medical documentation required). No further action was taken at the work session.

Alderman Brandon Hale suggested the city adopt a tiered electric rate structure which would charge less money for customers who use more electricity. The idea will be discussed at an upcoming MoPEP meeting. The aldermen also discussed demand charges when electricity is reinstated after a power failure. They said they would consider reducing a higher than normal demand charge from a business when  the charge is due to something the city did; such as shutting off an electrical grid for repair. No formal action was taken.

A closed session followed for one real estate matter, two personnel matters and one contract matter.

At Full Council;

Gregory L Shinn, CPA presented an update of the General Fund and a budget comparison to the City. He said, although some areas show a deficit at this time on the report, it is more of an accounting issue, than funding. He pointed out the electric fund checking had a balance of $649,647 plus a CD for $100,000 making a total of $749,647 in October of 2008 and a balance of $458,883 as of 1-31-09. Along with the CD, the funds balance was $558,883. The difference of $190,764 was attributed to a purchase of power. Shinn expected all the fund balances to improve as customer electric, water and other utility accounts are paid up. Shinn advised the council to monitor the electric fund and the power purchases closely as the money in the fund could be “eaten up” quickly. The General Fund had a balance of $166,177 as of 1-31-09 according to the cash and debt reserve balances report. Meetings with the city’s budget committee and Shinn to discuss the budget and possibly some cross training on procedures for the utility department  have been arranged.

Ward II Alderman Sie Merriman Sr. has been recommended for and appointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Mayor Danny Kemp asked for an update on the status of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) training each alderman must complete.

“The National Incident Management System provides a consistent nationwide template to establish Federal, State, tribal and local governments and private sector and nongovernmental organizations to work together effectively and efficiently to prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size or complexity, including acts of catastrophic terrorism.  NIMS benefits include a unified approach to incident management; standard command and management structures; and emphasis on preparedness, mutual aid and resource management.”

http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/faq/compliance.shtm

Marshal John Wright said his department has applied for a COPS grant;

“CHRP grants will provide 100 percent funding for approved entry-level salaries and benefits for 3 years (36 months) for newly-hired, full-time sworn officer positions (including filling existing unfunded vacancies) or for rehired officers who have been laid off, or are scheduled to be laid off on a future date, as a result of local budget cuts. In addition, there is no cap on the number of positions an agency may request, but awards will be limited to available funding.”

http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=2108

Wright said his department is still in need of two more reserve officers and will check a list of potential candidates.

The aldermen returned a recommendation  from Planning and Zoning for the second time asking “where the easement should be” after development; before they vacate the roadway near the Business Park.

The ordinance approving the final plat of Madison Village was tabled until the plans with corrections was received and approved by City Engineer Tim Baer. Ward III Alderman Mark Tripp said he wanted more details regarding where the roadway easement will be. The plans involve the construction of the area by the Round-about for the McDonalds Restaurant.

The ordinance approving the Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday in Fredericktown was approved. The sales tax holiday runs from April 19, 2009 to April 25, 2009 and applies to new appliance purchases or any Energy Star certified appliance made during that specific week. That includes: clothes washers and dryers, water heaters, trash compactors, dishwashers, conventional ovens, ranges, stoves, air conditioners, furnaces, refrigerators and freezers and any Energy Star certified appliance.

The contract with Ray Blakely and Associates to rebuild the downtown electrical substation was approved with one amendment; the length of time to complete the project was reduced from 180 days to 120 days. Council said they did not want to go into the hotter summer months with the downtown sub station off line.

Tripp discussed a new law (RSMO 285.530) that could impact employees of contractors who work with the City. He said the new law requires a signed affidavit attesting to the fact no illegal immigrants are employed by the city or any contractor working in agreement with the city. Moore said he believed the law could be interpreted  as to include the affidavit, but not be the only way to  be in compliance with the new law.

The aldermen discussed the salary and job description of the Marshal’s office. They want to have a set amount in place before the next filing opens for election to the office. Hale and Tripp said they wanted to wait on any formal decisions since a new council will be on board in April. A motion was made to create an ordinance regarding the salary with one abstention heard from Ward III Alderwoman Karen Wright. The council would then vote on the passage of the new ordinance when needed.

The Council has approved a hike in the deposit fees charged to new occupants of a residence or apartment; a flat $200, up from $75 (or an estimated deposit).

A recommendation from Planning and Zoning was heard by the aldermen. The recommendation would allow for special use permits in R-1 zones for daycare’s. with state licensing Moore said the statutes have strong wording against the use of special use permits in R-1 zones for daycare’s, although Moore could not address the reasons why. The issue was sent to the Council’s ordinance committee for more research and review.

Bills were presented for review and approved for payment.

Under Remarks of Personal Privilege;

Mark Tripp said a public forum will be held at 6 PM on March 12 at the Middle School for candidates running for City, School or the Hospital boards. Tripp said specific questions for the candidates must be submitted to the moderators through the Fredericktown-Madison County Chamber of Commerce either by phone, in writing or at there website:

http://fredericktownmissouri.net/

Closed session followed for one contract matter.