Council hears discussion of TIF District

The Fredericktown City Council met in work and regular session on Monday night.

During the work session, Chauncy Bucheit, executive director of the SEMO Regional Planning Commission, discussed with the council  the basics of Tax Increment Financing districts.

Bucheit had been invited  by City Administrator Greg Stratman. During the discussion, Bucheit told the background of the TIF district located in Madison County. After much discussion, Bucheit explained the district is governed by the County Commission.

In other work session business, the council approved the purchase of a rotating turbine scraper for the wastewater plant. A bid of $3,099.95 from USA Bluebook was the recommended bid.

The council also approved three separate requests pertaining to conferences and training. The first was the registration fee for Municipal Court Judge Wayne Keller. The council also approved a request from Fredericktown Police Captain Eric Hovis to attend the LETSAC Conference in July at a cost of $770 and for three employees of the city’s electric department to attend MPUA Electric Apprentice Training at a total cost of $769.

There was no closed session business on the agenda.

In regular session, the council approved the minutes from a short special council meeting held April 17. The council had approved an ordinace authorizing the mayor to execute a Quit Claim Deed relating to the transfer of real estate. The ordinance relates to the recent sale of Classic Equine to a private equity firm out of St. Louis.

The council congratulated Safety Coordinator Theresa Harbison for her work with the city’s  Missouri Intergovernmental Risk Management Association (MIRMA)  loss control annual evaluation. The city received a 99 percent on its evaluation.

“We’re pretty proud of it,” said Harbison, referring to the city’s department heads. “We all worked together on it.”

The city finance report showed the general revenue fund receiving 53.7 percent of the budgeted revenue for the first six months of the fiscal year.

The council also heard a report from Stratman. The city administrator, along with Ward I Alderman Harold Thomas and Ward III Alderman Jim Miller, traveled to Ladonia, Mo. to see a turbine similar to the one in Fredericktown. Discussion was held around when the turbine in town will be ready to be online for operation.

Don Wasson, Electric Service Manager, said city crews are waiting on Ameren to complete metering and moving lines. Ward II Alderman Rick Polete said he’s had a number of inquiries about the turbine and he lets them know the city is waiting for Ameren.

Stratman also reported the pool is expected to open on May 28. He also reminded the council of the ordinance in place regarding any property with overgrown yards and junk property.

The municipal court docket report showed three alcohol and drug related traffic cases for March, 62 traffic, and 22 non-traffic case dispositions. The court collected a total of $15,503.50. The city marshal report showed four trash and junk and one unlicensed vehicle requests and abatement notices for the month.

In new business, the council approved an ordinance amending gate fees at the city’s lift station. the new ordinance applies to waste from commercial haulers.

Two items on new business were tabled until the next meeting on May 6.

There were no items in closed session. A motion was made to adjourn the meeting with all approving.