Emergency Management Director Becky Hunt received high praise from some aldermen for her work and organizational skills during the May 8 storm. Ward I Aldermen Thomas-”Big Thanks.”

The City held their regular work session and full council meetings on Monday, June 22.

During the Full Council, the aldermen accepted an ordinance entering into an agreement with Finch Construction of Fredericktown to work on repairing and painting Memorial Pool and roof repairs at City Hall. No completion date was mentioned.

At the work session;

The aldermen discussed  some recommended changes to the Planning and Zoning. The recommendations were made by the Planning and Zoning Committee according to the agenda. The ordinance was tabled until the next meeting to allow more time to look at Special Use Permits.

Jordan’s Concrete of Fredericktown was accepted as the lowest bidder for work on the stars at Jaycee Park concession stand. Their bid was $3,850. Sargent Construction was the only other bid at $3925 plus the handrail.

The ordinance detailing disorderly conduct was moved to the ordinance committee for further review.  Public intoxication was to be added with discussion on the implications regarding police enforcement.

Council discussed the need for reliable communications during disasters. One idea was to assign DSN numbers to the mayor, city administrator and aldermen for use in emergency situations.

(“DSN is an interbase, non-secure or secure C2 telecommunications system that provides end-to-end command use and dedicated telephone service, voice-band data, and dial-up VTC for C2 and non-C2 DoD authorized users in accordance with national security directives. Non-secure dial-up voice (telephone) service is the system's principal requirement.”) http://www.disa.mil/dsn/dsn.html

No further action was taken at this work session regarding DSN radios.

Council agreed to work on rebuilding the hangars at the Fredericktown airport and talk with FEMA about the costs. Insurance requires the 20 hangars that were available before the storm be replaced (no reductions). City’s cost after all is calculated from insurance, the FAA and the state is roughly estimated to be about $100,000 to $125,000 according to Greg Shinn, CPA.

The aldermen are discussing options for removing storm debris. FEMA may cover 75 percent if FEMA requirements are met. Further information to follow in a later edition of the Democrat News.

City Administrator Jim Dismuke recommended Horner-Shifrin, Inc. of St. Louis as environmental engineer consultants for the Water Plant.

Council is moving ahead and creating an ordinance to allow city taxes to be paid at the Madison County Collector’s  office.

Work session adjourned.

At Full Council;

Greg Shinn, CPA gave the council a financial update report for May, 2009.

Mayor Danny Kemp said he is still very thankful for all the work employees have done since the storm. He also said the city met with U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson on June 22, 2009 at the Madison County Courthouse. The FEMA declaration will be very helpful regarding the storm clean up process. “We need to work together to get it done.”

Dismuke said the city is looking at beginning the budget process for the coming fiscal year. He said he would like to see five year capital improvement projects in each department. He also pointed out the FEMA forms and phone numbers are available on the movie sign marquee, and on line. He said  anyone who needs assistance or has a claim to report should call FEMA and allow FEMA to make the determination of qualifications. Or they can call Shanna Sorg through City Hall 783-3683, or Celeste at the Extension office (783-3303) with questions.

The Captain Tomlinson’s police report detailed the need for  a maintenance program for police cars. He included the expenses involved with maintenance and repair of the vehicles for the last ten years. Tomlinson also wrote that he conducted testing and oral interviews and has four candidates eligible to fill positions in the department, pending the “COPS” grant (if approved). The department answered 256 calls between June 4 and June 17, 2009 and drove 1915 miles. Three misdemeanor and three felony arrests were made. Three motor vehicle reports were made. The following summonses were issued:

Three  for speeding

Six for stop sign violations

Four, failure to maintain insurance

One for driving while revoked

One for driving while suspended

Two for no valid operators license

One for failure to keep to the right half of the road

One for prohibited vehicle

Four equipment violations

Two for open containers of alcohol

One for disturbing the peace

One for failure to signal.

The aldermen voted against the rezoning application along Buford Blvd.

A public hearing has been set for 6:00 P.M. on Monday, July 13, 2009 at City Hall to allow for comments on the rezoning 124 Buford (Underriner House) from R-2 to C-2 . The house is currently up for sale. A public hearing is also set for July 13, 2009 regarding a Special Use Permit for 408 W. Main St. (Farm Bureau Agency).

Ward II Alderman Rick Polete said most of the council members were at the meeting with Representative Jo Ann Emerson (R-8th District) on June 22. Polete said approximately 16,000 volunteer work hours had been recorded and he pointed out “What a great community we live in.”  Ward I Alderman Richard Walts said he would like everyone to share the FEMA information with their churches and communities and help get the word out to as many people as possible.

Before the Council went into closed session, a letter from the Chamber of Commerce was presented to the aldermen requesting a payment due of $5,000. The letter was to be addressed at the end of closed session under “Other Business.”