City to take over former P.A.T. building

During its regular meeting, Monday, the Fredericktown City Council agreed to adopt a building located at the corner of Benson and Marshall Streets.

The building which formerly housed the Parents as Teachers program was donated by the Fredericktown R-I School District. It has been in need of repairs for quite some time with peeling paint and broken windows; however, future plans for the structure are not clear.

Independent auditors from the accounting firm Van de Ven, LLC. conducted a review of the total Fredericktown budget for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2014.

As a result, council members heard a municipal budget overview presentation by Van de Ven CPA Debbie Johns and attended by Manger and CPA John Boyd of Thurman, Shin, and Company.

“The report shows that compared to last year balances are going up, which is a good thing,” Johns said.

She gave figures for the city’s expenditures and revenues and said, “The biggest expenses are purchases of vehicles and land related to the airport expansion.”

The city’s capital assests include two police vehicles in the amount of $65,655. Debbie outlined the capital budget in detail citing a figure of $6,654,819 for net capital assets for the past fiscal year. Her review of long-term debt included a breakdown of payments and interest for the time period between 2015 and 2022.

Future payments are listed in this section of the budget along with capital leases on police cars, a fire truck, a building at the electric substation, a real estate loan, and a Missouri Association of Municipal Utilities or MAMU lease. Loans on a trash truck, street department Skid Steer, and employee pension items are also included in the section.

Johns provided a review of accounts receivable, payable, and fund transfers. She also reviewed the general fund with a departmental breakdown.

She stated, “Sixty-three percent of the city’s tax revenue comes from seven businesses in the county. Approximately sixty percent of the revenue for the electric department is from these same businesses.”

Debbie concluded stating, “There were no findings; so your audit was a clear opinion. The employees were helpful, didn’t have to ask them twice. So, it is another great year for the city.”

In other business, Fredericktown Mayor Kelly Korokis cautioned city employees to “Be careful in this heat.”

During their work session, council members and attendees discussed neighborhood complaints of excessive noise in a portion of Memorial Park where teens gather at night during warmer weather. Members agreed to let the police department notify city residents of the nuisance and of the city’s curfew, in attempt to quell the issue.

As a part of council new business, members voted to approve an amended plat for Pine Castle Estates – Phase I for owners, Edward and Mary Rau and Donald Tinnin, Jr.

The group heard June reports by the City Administrator, building inspector, and courts administrator, in the regular portion of the meeting.

Other work session matters involved the council’s approval of purchase requests by Wastewater Department Supervisor Vince Greishaber and Electric Department Supervisor Lawson for necessary supplies and equipment.

Members also approved a recommendation for obtaining consulting services for airport projects mandated by MoDOT every five years.

The next work session and regular meeting of the Fredericktown City Council is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., July 27, at city hall and is open to the public.

During the City Council meeting, Monday, the aldermen agreed to take over the former R-I Parents as Teachers building. The building is located at the corner of Benson and Marshall Streets. 

Traci Black is a reporter for the Democrat News and can be reached at 573-783-3366 or tblack@democratnewsonline.com