NEW MELLE BOARD OF ALDERMEN

MEETING

MARCH 26, 2009

 

MINUTES

 

CALL TO ORDER- MAYOR JAN MUSKOPF CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.

ROLL CALL- ALDERMEN PRESENT:  DARLA GREEN, KENNETH GILBERT AND GARY SCHNEIDER AND MAYOR MUSKOPF.  ALSO PRESENT: FINANCIAL DIRECTOR RONNA ALANIZ, CITY ATTORNEY STEPHANIE KARR AND CITY CLERK JO ANN DICKHERBER. CHIEF AARON BURKEMPER ARRIVED AT 7:02.  ALDERMAN BICE WAS ABSENT.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – RECITED.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES – FEBRUARY 5, FEBRUARY 26,  AND MARCH 5, 2009- ALDERWOMAN GREEN MADE A MOTION, SECOND BY ALDERMAN SCHNEIDER TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.  ON A CALL BY THE MAYOR FOR THE AYES AND NAYS, THE MOTION PASSED 3-0.

 

FINANCIAL REPORT – FEBRUARY, 2009 – REVIEWED WITH FINANCIAL DIRECTOR ALANIZ REPORTING ON THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:  SALES TAX IS DOWN.  DISPATCH FEE WITH WENTZVILLE IS UP $150.00 PER QUARTER.  A LOT OF MONEY GOES OUT IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR.  WILL NEED TO KEEP CLOSE EYE ON SALES TAX.

                           

POLICE REPORT – FEBRUARY, 2009- ALDERWOMAN GREEN ASKED THE POLICE CHIEF IF ON THE REPORTS HE TURNED IN IF THEY COULD GET A COMPARISON TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR. CHIEF  BURKEMPER STATED HE WILL GET THAT FOR HIM. 

POLICE CHIEF AARON BURKEMBER REPORTED THE FOLLOWING:              

THE DARE GRADUATION WILL BE HERE SHORTLY.  THIS SECOND YEAR IS GOING SMOOTHER THAN THE FIRST YEAR AND THE KIDS SEEM TO BE HAPPY ABOUT IT.

HE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE SPORTS & RECREATION ON THE FESTIVAL PLANNING.

ALDERMAN SCHNEIDER ASKED CHIEF BURKEMPER IF RADAR GUNS ARE ON ALL THE CARS.  CHIEF BURKEMPER STATED YES.

CHIEF BURKEMPER STATES THE UPSTAIRS NEEDS A/C BUT THE WINDOWS WILL NOT HOLD THE UNITS.   THE BOARD STATED THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE WINDOWS IN CITY HALL AND THE POLICE AREA WHEN THEY WORK ON THE STORAGE AREA AT CITY HALL.

CHIEF BURKEMPER STATED THE CAR PROJECT IS ALMOST FINISHED.  SCHNEIDER GRAPHICS DID THE DETAIL ON THE CARS AT A REASONABLE COST.  THE CAMERA SYSTEM SHOULD BE DONE IN 2 WEEKS ON THE NEWEST CAR.

 

CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER REPORT- MARCH, 2009- MAYOR MUSKOPF STATED THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TOLD HER SYCAMORE CREEK IS LOOKING BETTER EXCEPT FOR ONE LOT WITH MUD RUNNING ON THE ROAD.

              ONE OF THE PUBLIC VISITORS ASKED IF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER COULD ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF THE TREES LIMBS HANGING IN THE STREET ON ST. CHARLES STREET AND COULD ISSUE THE ABANDONED MOBILE HOME DOWN THE STREET.  ALDERWOMAN GREEN STATED THE COUNTY DOES THE MAINTENANCE ALONG THE ROADS SUCH AS TREE TRIMMING.  MAYOR MUSKOPF STATED THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER LOOK INTO THOSE ITEMS.             

  

OLD BUSINESS – EARTH DAY PLANS

              ALDERWOMAN GREEN STATED LATELY THERE IS MORE INTEREST IN THE EARTH DAY.  FRISCELLA NURSERY HAS DONATED A TREE.  A YOUNG MAN FROM AUGUSTA WILL BE VOLUNTEERING FOR EARTH DAY.  TWO SCOUT GROUPS AND TWO CHURCH GROUPS WILL BE DOING REFRESHMENTS. 

              A TEACHER FROM DANIEL BOONE SCHOOL WOULD LIKE SOME KIDS TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PLANTING ON APRIL 22.  THEY WILL BE HERE FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR.  PETE SCHEPIS IS CONCERNED ON THE SAFETY REGARDING THE CHILDREN BEING AROUND HIS LARGE EQUIPMENT.  THE BOARD DECIDED THEY WANT THE CHILDREN HERE BUT THEY MUST MAKE IT SAFE FOR THESE CHILDREN.  THEY WILL TRY TO WORK WITH THE TEACHER AND PETE SCHEPIS TO HAVE THE CHILDREN HERE WHEN THE LARGE EQUIPMENT WORK IS DONE.

              ALDERWOMAN GREEN STATED SHE DOES NOT KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE PETE SCHEPIS HAS ON HIS VOLUNTEER LIST.  PETE IS WORKING WITH A BOY SCOUT ON AN EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT FOR EARTH DAY.

ALDWERWOMAN GREEN STATED THE BIG PROJECTS FOR APRIL 25^TH HAVE NOT COME THROUGH.  THE CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT CAN’T SHOW UP.  MAYOR MUSKOPF STATED SHE WOULD LIKE SOMEONE OR BROCHURES AVAILABLE TO EXPLAIN HOW PEOPLE CAN MAKE THEIR OWN RAIN GARDEN.

THE NEXT BOARD WORK SESSION MEETING WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1^ST AND THIS MEETING WILL BE DEDICATED TO DISCUSSING THE EARTH DAY PLANS, UNLESS THERE IS SOMETHING MORE THAT COMES UP TO DISCUSS AT THAT MEETING.

 

NEW BUSINESS-

CONSENT AGENDA - LIQUOR LICENSES REVIEWED & APPROVED FOR LIZ’S BAR & GRILL, SHORT STOPS CONVENIENCE STORE, BAVARIAN SMOKE HAUS, NEW MELLE LAKES GOLF COURSE AND A FULL LIQUOR LICENSE FOR IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY FOR THE NEW HALL.  ALDERWOMAN GREEN MADE A MOTION, SECOND BY ALDERMAN SCHNEIDER TO APPROVE THESE LIQUOR LICENSES.  A CALL BY THE MAYOR FOR THE AYES AND NAYS, THE MOTION CARRIED 3-0.

 

APPROVAL OF SHARON ORLANDO AS A CITY EMPLOYEE - ALDERWOMAN GREEN ASKED WHY THIS IS BEING DONE.  CITY ATTORNEY KARR EXPLAINED THAT AMOUNT SET UP IN THE CONTRACT WAS INADEQUATE CONSIDERING ALL THE TIME INVOLVED TO GET THINGS STRAIGHTED OUT AND SHARON WOULD LIKE TAXES TAKEN OUT.  ALDERMAN SCHNEIDER MADE A MOTION, SECOND BY ALDERWOMAN GREEN TO APPROVE SHARON ORLANDO AS A CITY EMPLOYEE.  A CALL BY THE MAYOR FOR THE AYES AND NAYS, THE MOTION CARRIED 3-0.

 

TAX RATE RESOLUTION -  MAYOR MUSKOPF EXPLAINED THAT THERE IS A NEW LAW TO ESTIMATE THE TAX RATE NOW AND THE EXACT RATE WILL BE SET IN AUGUST. CITY ATTORNEY KARR EXPLAINED THESE ESTIMATES ARE SO PRELIMINARY AND WILL CHANGE A LOT BEFORE AUGUST BUT STATE LAW REQUIRES THESE ESTIMATES.  ALDERWOMAN GREEN MADE A MOTION, SECOND BY ALDERMAN GILBERT TO HAVE THE FIRST READING OF THE RESOLUTION, SHORT FORM.  ON A CALL BY THE MAYOR FOR THE AYES AND NAYS, THE MOTION PASSED 3-0. 

AFTER THE FIRST READING, ALDERMAN SCHNEIDER MADE A MOTION, SECOND BY ALDERWOMAN GREEN TO ACCEPT THE RESOLUTION FOR PASSAGE.  A CALL BY THE MAYOR FOR THE AYES AND NAYS, THE MOTION CARRIED 3-0.  THE RESOLUTION BECAME NUMBER 2009-001.

 

BILL NO. 300 - REZONING OF 4481 HWY Z & BILL NO. 299 - CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AT 4481 HWY Z – MAYOR MUSKOPF STATED WE RECEIVED A LETTER THIS AFTERNOON FROM OUR ENGINEER REGARDING A LETTER FROM COCHRAN ENGINEERING WHO IS REPRESENTING MR.  KARRENBROCK ASKING FOR THESE APPLICATIONS TO BE TABLED TILL THE APRIL, 2009, BOARD MEETING.    ALDERWOMAN GREEN MADE A MOTION, SECOND BY ALDERMAN SCHNEIDER TO TABLE BILL NO. 300 & 299.  A CALL BY THE MAYOR FOR THE AYES AND NAYS, THE MOTION CARRIED 3-0.

 

OPEN FORUM-

              THERE WERE SOME INDIVIDUALS IN ATTENDENCE WHO WANTED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.  THE BOARD EXPLAINED THAT THEY NEED TO FILL OUT A COMPLAINT FORM, WHICH THEY CAN GET OUT THE CITY’S WEBSITE OR PICK UP AT CITY HALL, AND TURN IT INTO THE POLICE CHIEF.   ALDERMAN SCHNEIDER SAID IF A COMPLAINT IS FILLED OUT, CHIEF BURKEMPER WILL PASS IT ONTO THE BOARD.    COMPLAINT FORMS WERE PASSED OUT TO THESE INDIVIDUALS.

              LIZ FROM LIZ’S BAR STATED SHE WOULD LIKE THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO ADDRESS THE LIMBS AT THE HOUSE NEXT TO HER BUSINESS.   ALDERWOMAN GREEN EXPLAINED THEY OUR NOT AWARE OF EVERYTHING AND EXPLAINED THAT THE BOARD ARE NOT PAID EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY AND IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT ABOUT SOMETHING YOU NEED TO CALL CITY HALL REGARDING ITEMS AND WE WILL HAVE THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER LOOK INTO THEM.

              LIZ STATED SHE THOUGHT THE BOARD SHOULD GET OUT AND SOCIALIZE.  ALDERWOMAN GREEN EXPLAINED THAT THE BOARD MEMBER NEEDED TO WORK LIKE EVERYONE ELSE TO MAKE A LIVING.

                THERE WAS A QUESTION IF THE POLICE CARS HAVE RECORDERS.   CHIEF BURKEMPER STATED THE CARS HAVE CAMERAS AND THE RECORDERS.

              THERE WAS A QUESTION TO WHERE THE POLICE PATROL ON HOLT ROAD AND FORISTELL ROAD.  CHIEF BURKEMPER STATED THEY PATROL FROM HWY D PAST THE FIRST 90 DEGREE TURN TO THE FIRST GRAVEL ROAD ON THE LEFT ON HOLT AND ON FORISTELL ROAD TO THE END OF THE CHAIN LINK FENCE ON THE GOLF COURSE SIDE OF THE ROAD TILL WHERE THE 35 MPH SPEED SIGN IS.

              THERE WAS A QUESTION ON HOW LONG THE BOARD MEMBERS OTHER THAN ALDERMAN SCHNEIDER HAVE LIVED IN THE AREA.  ALDERWOMAN GREEN HAS LIVED HERE OVER 30 YEARS, ALDERMAN GILBERT IS GOING ON 10 YEARS, AND THEY BELIEVE ALDERMAN BICE HAS BEEN HERE 5-6 YEARS.

 

              MR. PRADA FROM AMERICAN ELECTRIC & DATA STATED HE WANTS TO PUT UP A TOWNHOUSE ON ONE OF HIS PIECES OF PROPERTY.  HE STATED THE TOWNHOUSE IS 64 FEET LONG AND ON HIS ONE PIECE OF PROPERTY THE LENGTH OF THE PROPERTY IS 218 FEET LONG.   HE STATED WHEN HE CALLED CITY HALL ABOUT THE PROPERTY; HE RECEIVED THE ANSWER THAT THE PROPERTY WAS NOT ENOUGH ACRES TO PUT UP THE TOWNHOUSE, SO HE WANTED TO PUT IT ON ANOTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY AND RECEIVED THE SAME ANSWER.  HE WANTS TO APPLY FOR A VARIANCE TO PUT UP THE TOWNHOUSE.   HE ALSO STATED THAT ST. CHARLES COUNTY SAYS THE PROPERTY IS ONLY IN THE COUNTY AND NOT IN THE CITY.  HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A COPY OF THE ANNEXATION AND THE ORDINANCE STATING THE CHANGE IN ZONING ON HIS PROPERTY.  THE CITY ATTORNEY STATED HE NEEDED TO SEND IN A WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE CITY AND WE WOULD RELEASE THIS INFORMATION TO HIM.  THE CITY ATTORNEY ALSO STATED WE WOULD HAVE OUR CITY ENGINEER, JOHN CHOINKA, RUN THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION ON THE ANNEXATION AND COMPARE IT TO HIS PROPERTIES.

              MR. PRADA STATED HE IS LOSING INCOME ON THIS PROPERTY SINCE HE CAN’T BUILD THIS TOWNHOUSE.  HE STATED HE WANTS TO SEEK A VARIANCE.  THE CITY ATTORNEY TOLD HIM HE NEEDED TO SUBMIT A FORMAL APPLICATION AND SHE WOULD MAKE SURE THE CITY CLERK HAD THIS FORM TO GIVE TO HIM.  MR. PRADA STATED THE COUNTY SPLIT THIS PROPERTY INTO THREE PARCELS AND IT SHOULD BE ONLY ONE PIECE.  THE CITY ATTORNEY STATED WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE ZONING ISSUE WITH THE COUNTY AND WITH JOHN CHOINKA, CITY ENGINEEER. 

 

              CHIEF BURKEMPER HAD A QUESTION ABOUT A SOLICITOR’S APPLICATION.  HE STATED HE CAN’T GET A BACKGROUND CHECK ON ANYONE EXCEPT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER’S EMPLOYMENT CHECKS BECAUSE OF NEW LAWS.  THE CITY’S ORDINANCE FOR SOLICITOR’S APPLICATION STATES THERE WILL BE A BACKGROUND CHECK.  THE CITY ATTORNEY STATED AARON SHOULD ADVISE THE SOLICITOR THAT THEY NEED TO GET A BACKGROUND CHECK FROM THE HIGHWAY PATROL AND SUBMIT IT TO US. 

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS – BILLS WAS REVIEWED AND CHECKS SIGNED.

 

CLOSED SESSION – PERSONNEL – HIRING, FIRING, DISCIPLINING OR PROMOTING EMPLOYEES (Sec 610.021(3), RSMo) – ALDERMAN SCHNEIDER MADE A MOTION, SECOND BY ALDERWOMAN GREEN TO MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION, PURSUANT TO Sec 610.021 (3) AND (113) TO DISCUSS POLICE PERSONNEL MATTERS.  ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED 3-0 AS FOLLOWS:  AYES - ALDERMEN DARLA GREEN, GARY SCHNEIDER AND KENNETH GILBERT.  NAYS – NONE.

 

OPEN SESSION – ALDERWOMAN GREEN MADE A MOTION, SECOND BY ALDERMAN GILBERT TO MOVE INTO OPEN SESSION.  ON A CALL BY THE MAYOR FOR THE AYES AND NAYS THE MOTION PASSED 3-0.

 

ADJOURNMENT- ALDERWOMAN GREEN MADE A MOTION, SECOND BY ALDERMAN GILBERT TO ADJOURN.  ON A CALL BY THE MAYOR FOR THE AYES AND NAYS, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED 3-0.  THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 8:50 P.M.