Spring Clean-up week set for Monday, March 30 through Saturday April 4, 2009. Call city hall for further details or look for the ad in next weeks Democrat News.

The City Council held a work session and Full Council meeting on Monday, March 9, 2009. The next meeting is scheduled for March 23 and the public is invited to the open sessions.

The aldermen discussed four issues at work session including: The state requirement to provide the county with an estimated property tax rate by April 8 of each year.

A draft version of an Affidavit of Work Authorization to be in compliance with the immigration law that requires such documents.

The aldermen entered a lengthy discussion on the creation of an ordinance providing policy for requests for memorial street designations. One request was under consideration identifying a street in town as John Paul Skaggs St. The designation would not change the street name or any 911 addresses. Further preparation was needed before making any decisions on the request. The consensus was to only allow a person who is deceased to be memorialized, have at least one alderman sponsor the request and have two signs at either end of the street. Further details were being worked out such as sign color, maintenance, Etc.

And, according to the Public Works Director, the Park Board and the Azalea Board have agreed to help fund the paving of half the semi-circle at Jaycee Park behind the stage area where consessionaires usually set-up. The paving would be done to help the disabled and others walk in the area more freely during events. Ward III Alderman Mark Tripp said he had been stuck in the rocks in his wheelchair at one time and needed someone to help pull him. The aldermen also considered problems with heavy rains, electrical cords and other potential hazards. A motion was made and passed to go ahead with the work.

The work session adjourned.

At Full Council,

Vista workers Kate Cox and Shanna Sorg asked the council for permission to close west Main St. from the courtsquare to Park St.   (including the city hall parking lot)  from Noon to 2 PM on Saturday, May 2, 2009 for a “Parade on Wheels.” According to Cox, the parade will be made up of children’s decorated bikes, skate boards, six wheelers and any other mode of transportation. (and adults too if they choose). Aldermen approved the request.

Mayor Danny Kemp said the city will be attending a meeting with MoPEP on Thursday. A news release following that meeting may be forth-coming. Kemp also said he has been asked to allow “Pickin” to be held on Saturday, but not have the street closed off. Simply have the musicians at the four corners by the benches. No objection was heard from the aldermen.

City Administrator Jim Dismuke said he is looking at grants to help repair/replace the sidewalks in downtown Fredericktown. He talked about a MoDOT grant called “Safe Routes to Schools” program;

“The Highway Safety Division is responsible for administration of Missouri's Safe Routes to School federal funds. The funding is used to provide safer biking and walking accommodations for children in grades K-8, including those with disabilities.

There are two areas eligible for funding, behavioral and infrastructure. Behavioral activities may be used for public awareness and outreach campaigns, traffic education, and enforcement efforts. Infrastructure projects include engineering and construction efforts.

State, local, and regional agencies, schools, and non-profit organizations may submit applications to MoDOT to receive a grant from federal safe routes to school funds.”

http://www.modot.mo.gov/safety/SRTSGrants.htm

Dismuke also complimented Safety Director  and Deputy City Clerk Teresa Harbison for her help with an injury at the Water department. Dismuke said safety training for employees was being arranged at quarterly intervals and on a monthly basis for department heads. A motion was passed to send two employees to safety training in Columbia. Dismuke said he thought City Marshal John Wright should be congratulated for the improvements to the Municipal Court receivables.  The Council had been told by Gregg Shinn, CPA the receivables had been significantly lower at last report.

Council is in the process of creating a Utility Board. A meeting with the Personnel, Budget and Ordinances committee will be held Monday to discuss the matter further.

The aldermen approved a restaurant liquor license for Bozlee’s LLC. One nay vote was heard from Alderman Tripp.

An ordinance creating an agreement to have Ray Blakely and Associates as consulting electrical engineers was passed.

Dismuke told the aldermen the lease/purchase financing for the new dump truck, bucket truck and fire engine pumper truck had come in at five years with interest rates at 3 to 3.5 percent. The aldermen said they expected the financing to be a ten or fifteen year loan, not five.  The five year loan also has an APR cap of ten percent. The city has already taken possession of the dump truck and the electrical department bucket truck. Ward I Alderman Brandon Hale said if his calculations were right, the costs in interest to the city would be $700,000 over the life of the loan if the cap were to be implemented. An ordinance accepting the lease-purchase transaction was passed with four votes yes; Wright, Thomas, Merriman and Polete and two vote no; Hale and Tripp.

An ordinance was approved entering into a contract with UV Doctor in Las Vegas, Nevada to be sure the wastewater disinfection process at the Fredericktown Waste Water Treatment Plant is in compliance with EPA requirements by April. The contract will cost the city about $65,000. One unit (of two) is currently down according to Department Manager Vince Grieshaber. The units have seen several years of service, have been flooded twice and been through fires.

The aldermen are interested in allowing MoPEP to place at least one (if not two) gas turbine powered electrical substations at the Business Park.

Council went into closed session for one litigation matter.