Dismuke Calls McCaskill's Office Regarding FEMA Declaration
By Robert Vanderbrugen/Democrat News Staff Writer
Jun 10, 2009 - 12:04:53 CDT
The City Council held its usual work session and full council meetings on Monday June 8, 2009. Ward I Alderman Paul Brown was absent.
City Administrator Jim Dismuke said he had called Senator Claire McCaskill’s office regarding the possible Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA) declaration regarding the May 8 storm. Dismuke said he had been directed to another phone number and had left a message at that number; but had no response to his call as of Tuesday morning. Mayor Danny Kemp said the city needs to “play it by ear” as far as the FEMA declaration goes. Ward II Alderman Sie Merriman Sr. said the city should continue their efforts until they hear from FEMA.
http://www.fema.gov/hazard/index.shtm
In other Council actions;
Public Works Director Ken McDowell updated the aldermen about the storm clean-up going on in Fredericktown. McDowell said not all streets had been covered yet. McDowell said he will end the public tire reclamation program on Friday June 19, 2009. He said three trailers have been filled with the old tires. McDowell also told the aldermen many of the trash carts had been lost in the May 8 storm and about 150 need to be replaced. The City gets a small discount by purchasing 150 or more trash carts at a time he said. The aldermen agreed to allow the purchase of 200 trash carts.
The aldermen asked that residents help with clean up efforts by placing their brush at the curbline of the street; between the street and the sidewalks and to have their brush piles out at the curb as soon as possible. Do not place any brush in the street or on their front lawns. Also, no stumps will be picked up, only brush, twigs, and small branches.
The annual 2008 Water Quality report has been released and is posted at City Hall. A precautionary boil water order is in effect for residents around Armory St. due to a main water line break by the Wal-Mart. Call City Hall Thursday as the order is expected to be lifted by then (783-3683). During the Full Council meeting, aldermen discussed various ways to improve notification of boil water orders. Currently, the procedure is to place the boil water order on two local radio stations and on KFVS12 according to Water Department Manager Junior Shell. However, Ward III Alderman Richard Walts pointed out that is not the most efficient way to notify the public. Other possible options discussed included signs at the entrances to Fredericktown (similar to the curfew sign used during the storm), using the One Call system and posting of additional information on the windows at City Hall. No formal action was taken on the matter.
During the work session, the aldermen looked at the three bids received for repairs at Memorial Pool. Only two bids gave a quote on both the roof at city hall and the swimming pool; Finch Construction. City Hall roof was priced at $18,480 and the swimming pool was $5,860. Precision Roofing bid City Hall at $42,682 and $8,276 for the pool. The special transformer for the pool will be here in about one week according to Electric Department Manager Don Wasson. Motion to accept the Finch Construction bid was approved.
A bid for repair of the concrete steps at Jaycee Park was tabled until an updated bid could be made which included the hand rails.
Dismuke said he would like the city to work together with the county in collecting city taxes. Dismuke said the public would then have only one place to go to pay their taxes; the County Collector’s office. Dismuke said the county would charge a 3 percent fee for the service. He pointed out the city collector was getting married and moving out of the city limits. He said he believed the arrangement with the county was a good deal for both the city and the county.
The city ordinance under consideration regarding disorderly conduct was tabled.
Theodore Brown spoke to the aldermen at the work session saying he was complying by no longer dumping wood stumps on his property along Buford. Brown said the wood chips he was dumping on his property violated no city ordinances he knew of and the chips were being used as erosion control. The wood processor he used for the work was not used for business purposes and nothing was being sold. Brown said he expected to have the area cleaned up by this winter season. Mayor Kemp will follow up on the matter.
The mayor’s recommendations for the Parks and Recreation Board were approved by the aldermen. Billy Flanagan, Dave Ward, Shea Davis, and Paul Fritch. One appointment for the Transportation Tax Committee was approved; Keith Settle from Ward II.
Kemp said he wanted to compliment the employees for all the work they have been doing. He said they are doing a “fantastic job.” He pointed out may of them were getting worn out, but asked them to continue their efforts. Kemp said, “One day we’ll get there.”
The Police Report showed the department answered 258 calls and drove 1700 miles between May 21, and June 3, 2009. There were three vehicle accidents, 11 speeding citations, 12 stop sign citations, three failure to maintain insurance summons, one driving while revoked, two no valid plates, one business without a license, one for disturbing the peace, one assault, one for property damage, one for careless and reckless driving, one for failure to keep to the right half of the road and one for driving while intoxicated.
The City Marshal Report showed 28 complaints of tall grass, two vehicle nuisances, two trash and junk in yards and one for restricted parking. Marshall Wright pointed out that some property owners who have tall grass on their properties could not be reached. The alternative was to have the city cut the grass and apply the costs of the mowing to the property taxes in that case.
A liquor license was approved for Lana and Brian Stephens and the Half-Time Grill opening up at 603 N. Mine La Motte (The former Dumplin’ Pot). The Grill is expected to open Wednesday, June 10, 2009. The Ole Times building is expected to be demolished as a total loss from the May 8 storm.
An ordinance and agreement between Lisa Bradford and the City for concessions this summer at Jaycee park was approved.
An ordinance and agreement for an annexation study with SEMO regional Planning was approved.
Three easement deed ordinances from Kevin Dodd regarding the Highway 72 Bypass project were approved.
The ordinance changing the zoning from R-1 to R-2 in the vicinity of Buford Blvd, Robinson St. and City Lake road was tabled for further information on traffic patterns and more detailed information on the future plans of the land owner requesting the change in zoning. Several residents were on hand at the meeting against the zoning change.
Closed session followed.
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http://www.dailyjournalonline.com/articles/2009/06/15/dn/news/doc4a2fb9fbb9a02883505577.txt
City Administrator Jim Dismuke said he had called Senator Claire McCaskill’s office regarding the possible Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA) declaration regarding the May 8 storm. Dismuke said he had been directed to another phone number and had left a message at that number; but had no response to his call as of Tuesday morning. Mayor Danny Kemp said the city needs to “play it by ear” as far as the FEMA declaration goes. Ward II Alderman Sie Merriman Sr. said the city should continue their efforts until they hear from FEMA.
http://www.fema.gov/hazard/index.shtm
In other Council actions;
Public Works Director Ken McDowell updated the aldermen about the storm clean-up going on in Fredericktown. McDowell said not all streets had been covered yet. McDowell said he will end the public tire reclamation program on Friday June 19, 2009. He said three trailers have been filled with the old tires. McDowell also told the aldermen many of the trash carts had been lost in the May 8 storm and about 150 need to be replaced. The City gets a small discount by purchasing 150 or more trash carts at a time he said. The aldermen agreed to allow the purchase of 200 trash carts.
The aldermen asked that residents help with clean up efforts by placing their brush at the curbline of the street; between the street and the sidewalks and to have their brush piles out at the curb as soon as possible. Do not place any brush in the street or on their front lawns. Also, no stumps will be picked up, only brush, twigs, and small branches.
The annual 2008 Water Quality report has been released and is posted at City Hall. A precautionary boil water order is in effect for residents around Armory St. due to a main water line break by the Wal-Mart. Call City Hall Thursday as the order is expected to be lifted by then (783-3683). During the Full Council meeting, aldermen discussed various ways to improve notification of boil water orders. Currently, the procedure is to place the boil water order on two local radio stations and on KFVS12 according to Water Department Manager Junior Shell. However, Ward III Alderman Richard Walts pointed out that is not the most efficient way to notify the public. Other possible options discussed included signs at the entrances to Fredericktown (similar to the curfew sign used during the storm), using the One Call system and posting of additional information on the windows at City Hall. No formal action was taken on the matter.
During the work session, the aldermen looked at the three bids received for repairs at Memorial Pool. Only two bids gave a quote on both the roof at city hall and the swimming pool; Finch Construction. City Hall roof was priced at $18,480 and the swimming pool was $5,860. Precision Roofing bid City Hall at $42,682 and $8,276 for the pool. The special transformer for the pool will be here in about one week according to Electric Department Manager Don Wasson. Motion to accept the Finch Construction bid was approved.
A bid for repair of the concrete steps at Jaycee Park was tabled until an updated bid could be made which included the hand rails.
Dismuke said he would like the city to work together with the county in collecting city taxes. Dismuke said the public would then have only one place to go to pay their taxes; the County Collector’s office. Dismuke said the county would charge a 3 percent fee for the service. He pointed out the city collector was getting married and moving out of the city limits. He said he believed the arrangement with the county was a good deal for both the city and the county.
The city ordinance under consideration regarding disorderly conduct was tabled.
Theodore Brown spoke to the aldermen at the work session saying he was complying by no longer dumping wood stumps on his property along Buford. Brown said the wood chips he was dumping on his property violated no city ordinances he knew of and the chips were being used as erosion control. The wood processor he used for the work was not used for business purposes and nothing was being sold. Brown said he expected to have the area cleaned up by this winter season. Mayor Kemp will follow up on the matter.
The mayor’s recommendations for the Parks and Recreation Board were approved by the aldermen. Billy Flanagan, Dave Ward, Shea Davis, and Paul Fritch. One appointment for the Transportation Tax Committee was approved; Keith Settle from Ward II.
Kemp said he wanted to compliment the employees for all the work they have been doing. He said they are doing a “fantastic job.” He pointed out may of them were getting worn out, but asked them to continue their efforts. Kemp said, “One day we’ll get there.”
The Police Report showed the department answered 258 calls and drove 1700 miles between May 21, and June 3, 2009. There were three vehicle accidents, 11 speeding citations, 12 stop sign citations, three failure to maintain insurance summons, one driving while revoked, two no valid plates, one business without a license, one for disturbing the peace, one assault, one for property damage, one for careless and reckless driving, one for failure to keep to the right half of the road and one for driving while intoxicated.
The City Marshal Report showed 28 complaints of tall grass, two vehicle nuisances, two trash and junk in yards and one for restricted parking. Marshall Wright pointed out that some property owners who have tall grass on their properties could not be reached. The alternative was to have the city cut the grass and apply the costs of the mowing to the property taxes in that case.
A liquor license was approved for Lana and Brian Stephens and the Half-Time Grill opening up at 603 N. Mine La Motte (The former Dumplin’ Pot). The Grill is expected to open Wednesday, June 10, 2009. The Ole Times building is expected to be demolished as a total loss from the May 8 storm.
An ordinance and agreement between Lisa Bradford and the City for concessions this summer at Jaycee park was approved.
An ordinance and agreement for an annexation study with SEMO regional Planning was approved.
Three easement deed ordinances from Kevin Dodd regarding the Highway 72 Bypass project were approved.
The ordinance changing the zoning from R-1 to R-2 in the vicinity of Buford Blvd, Robinson St. and City Lake road was tabled for further information on traffic patterns and more detailed information on the future plans of the land owner requesting the change in zoning. Several residents were on hand at the meeting against the zoning change.
Closed session followed.