The Fredericktown City Council met Monday evening, July 13, for a work session and full council meeting.

During the full council, the aldermen agreed to end the grace period for dropping off storm debris at the transfer station. As of August 1, the fees will resume. The Council also set the same date as a transition back to normal enforcement of tall grass ordinances; although the enforcement is still currently in effect for non-storm related damage on private properties.

In other actions, the aldermen had a report at their work session regarding an application for a Rights-of Way Facilities Permit from Charter Communications to access some utility poles. The application is to allow an overlash of six count fiber cable on 20 existing poles. This application is for poles located along  S. Maple St. and West College Ave. behind DLB Computers and Network Services. After some discussion about the money the City is owed by Charter and the bankruptcy Charter is in, the aldermen made a motion to accept the application and fee to allow the Right-of-Way.

Council discussed the courtesy car currently in use at the Fredericktown airport. The car is in need of some work and probably needs to be replaced because of the potential expense of that work being costlier than the car’s value. Airport Manager Tina Varnum said, among the things in need of repair, the front windows won’t open and the air conditioning unit shorts on and off. Public Works Manager Kenney McDowell suggested the vehicle be kept in service until the budget could be completed for the following year (about two months) and then budget for a newer vehicle. Ward I Alderman Harold Thomas also asked the council to obtain a repair estimate for the courtesy car.

The ordinance regarding the establishment of policy and guidelines for procuring goods, services and products by the City was returned to the Planning, Development and Ordinance committee (PDO) committee for further clarification on bid procedures at the work session.

The aldermen also discussed allowing the placement of a cell tower from US Cellular by one of the city’s water tanks. After some discussion on fees the city will charge the company, a motion was made and passed to allow the cell tower at the work session.

An ordinance and agreement to allow  engineers at Horner and Shifrin, Inc. to provide professional services related to the waste-water treatment plant was tabled for further discussions on the contract. Although Water department Manager Junior Shell said the company does a good job in his opinion, some issues were brought up by the city attorney regarding the limits of responsibility in the contract and by an alderman regarding the expenses related to  the engineer and related payments to the company.

The work session adjourned.

At Full Council: Mayor Danny Kemp called the public meetings to order. The first meeting regarding the Underriner House (on Buford Blvd) had no comments heard from the public. However, once the ordinance to change the rezoning from  R-2 to C-2 was read,  the ordinance was tabled due to some legal clarifications on what the rezoning area is called,  (Central Commercial District should read Central Business District according to Building Inspector Richard Macke). Carole Magnus said the Underriner House was purchased from the Historic Madison County Organization in 1998 and was opened as a museum in approximately 1999. However,  sufficient volunteers have not been available on a regular basis to help keep the museum open. Therefore, the building will become an Antique Shop (once the area is rezoned) and all the 501 (c) 3 funds from the sale will be placed with another non-profit 501 (c) 3 as required by law. In this case Magnus said, the proceeds will go to the Civil War Museum (another 501 (c) 3 non-profit) .

Aldermen discussed the use of city computers by AmeriCorp Vista workers. Ward II Alderman Sie Merriman Sr. said he was concerned about security on the computers.  City administration assured him the computers were safe. A new cable connection will be provided to the Vista workers to help improve their Internet connections on the one computer the city has provided. The council also discussed replacing the one computer being used with two upgraded computers with a printer interface.

The aldermen are looking at the contract they have with City Administrator Jim Dismuke. A motion was made to ‘clean-up’ the contracts Dismuke has worked under since taking over the position from Michael O’Gara.  Dismuke said he would prefer a contract that identifies him as an independent contractor and not an employee of the city. He said he does not need a compensation package from the city, except for social security payments.

After the discussion of the contract for Dismuke, Merriman brought up an e-mail (dated July 2, 2009) the council received from Dismuke saying Merriman was having unauthorized communications with City Clerk Barbara Stevens by asking the city clerk for certain information. The e-mail also said the Merriman was incurring expenses to the City by requesting Mr. Moore, Mr. Ludwig, Captain Tomlinson and Dismuke at a PDO meeting of July 6 without Dismuke’s prior approval. Merriman responded by referring to the minutes of a meeting the council had in February in which all the aldermen agreed to allow costs involved with the attorney’s attendance at the meeting. Merriman then said the information he wanted (Dismuke’s contract according to Merriman) was not unauthorized communications and providing it was part of the responsibility of the city clerk. Merriman then asked the council for a Resolution stating the complaints Dismuke referred to in the July 2 e-mail were unfounded. Both City Clerk Barbara Stevens and Sie Merriman Sr. were included in the Resolution motion. Dismuke said he had been ill-advised on the e-mail and offered his apology at this meeting. He  had written an apology to both Merriman and Stevens on July 9, but Merriman rejected the written apology in favor of the Resolution. Dismuke said at the meeting it was not his intent to cause disharmony among the council. The aldermen voted and passed the Resolution as follows:

Wright-Aye

Walts-Nay

Polete-Aye

Brown-Nay

Thomas-Aye

Merriman Aye.

Ward III Alderwoman Karen Wright was reviewing the accounts payable when she question the expense of over $400 to provide physicals for potential police officer candidates before they were hired. Wright said she believed the costs should not be incurred until an employee has been hired. If the employee fails the physical, then the City is out the money. She said she had addressed the same issue with Dismuke in the past. Dismuke said he will proceed as the council wishes. Ward III Alderman Richard Walts suggested the Council allow the top candidate in job applications to get the physical and not just all the applicants who were pending. Police Captain Ken Tomlinson said the physicals are required and, in this case, an attempt was being made at hiring three  officers and not just one.  Walts also said the city administrator should have “some latitude” for authorizing purchases of $500 or less, or the Council would have too much of their time tied up with small costs being approved.

Ruth Ann Skaggs appeared before the Council regarding the old train depot which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. She said Macke had told her the depot was unsightly and a danger to the community. Skaggs disagreed and questioned why the downtown buildings were in such poor shape. She said she thought the building code enforcement was a little selective. Macke said he only has four hours a day to do the job and the work is time consuming. He pointed out the downtown buildings being referred to had been condemned at one point, until improvements were made making them structurally safe. The condemnation was then removed. However, Macke said engineers may need to inspect the buildings to determine any further problems.

In Remarks;

Ward I Alderman Harold Thomas said he was glad to see the Memorial Pool open again. Ward II Alderman Rick Polete complimented all the people who worked hard to get the pool open again.

Ward I Alderman Paul Brown said city workers are doing a good job. And the Show Me Missions youth from Calvary Temple had done a “great job” cleaning up parts of the city. A discussion was held about installing cigarette ash containers of some type to help keep the grounds clear of cigarette butts.

Closed Session followed for two personnel matters.