NEW MELLE BOARD OF ALDERMEN MEETING

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2008

MINUTES

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

ROLL CALL- ALDERMEN PRESENT:  DOUG BICE, GARY SCHNEIDER, DARLA GREEN AND KENNETH GILBERT.  ALSO PRESENT, CITY ATTORNEY STEPHANIE KARR, POLICE CHIEF AARON BURKEMPER, CITY CLERK JUDY ANDERSON AND A FEW AREA RESIDENTS.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - RECITED

CORRECTION & APPROVAL OF MINUTES – NOVEMBER 6, 2008 – ALDERMAN GREEN MADE A MOTION, SECOND BY ALDERMAN BICE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.  ON A CALL BY THE MAYOR FOR THE AYES AND NAYS, THE MOTION PASSED 4-0.

FINANCIAL REPORT – NOVEMBER – MAYOR MUSKOPF STATED THE PERCENTAGES OF INCOME AND EXPENSES WERE RIGHT WHERE THEY SHOULD BE.  THE EXCESS MUNICIPAL COURT INCOME WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

POLICE REPORT – NOVEMBER – POLICE CHIEF AARON BURKEMPER STATED THE NEW SOFEWARE COULD KEEP TRACK OF CRIME, COULD PRODUCE THE RACIAL PROFILING REPORT IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. AND REPORTS COULD BE SCANNED INTO THE COMPUTER.  TECHNICAL SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE WHEN NEEDED, AND THE OFFICERS ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE NEW SYSTEM.

CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER REPORT- NOVEMBER – REVIEWED.

NEW BUSINESS

                BILL NO. 296 – 2009 BUDGET – ALDERMAN GREEN MADE A MOTION, SECOND BY ALDERMAN BICE TO HAVE THE FIRST READING, SHORT FORM. ON A CALL BY THE MAYOR FOR THE AYES AND NAYS, THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. AFTER THE FIRST READING, ALDERMAN BICE MADE A MOTION, SECOND BY ALDERMAN SCHNEIDER TO APPROVE.  ON A CALL BY THE MAYOR FOR THE AYES AND NAYS, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED 4-0.  ALDERMAN GREEN MADE A MOTION, SECOND BY ALDERMAN BICE TO HAVE THE SECOND READING, SHORT FORM.  ON A CALL BY THE MAYOR FOR THE AYES AND NAYS, THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0.  AFTER THE SECOND READING, ALDERMAN GREEN MADE A MOTION, SECOND BY ALDERMAN BICE TO APPROVE.  ON A CALL BY THE MAYOR FOR THE AYES AND NAYS, THE MOTION PASSED 4-0.  ALDERMAN GREEN MADE A MOTION, SECOND BY ALDERMAN BICE TO APPROVE BILL NO 296 AS AN ORDINANCE.  ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION PASSED 4-0 AS FOLLOWS:  AYES: ALDERMEN DOUG BICE, KENNETH GILBERT, GARY SCHNEIDER AND DARLA GREEN.  NAYS – NONE.  BILL NO 296 IS NOW ORDINANCE NO 286.

                DISCUSSION AND DECISION OF 2009 POLICE DEPARTMENT INSURANCE RATES- REVIEWD THREE PROPOSALS WITH ALDERMAN GREEN MAKING A MOTION, SECOND BY ALDERMAN BICE TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL OF ANTHEM BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD.  ON A CALL BY THE MAYOR FOR THE AYES AND NAYS, THE MOTION PASSED 4-0.  THE DENTAL/LIFE INSURANCE PROPOSALS WILL BE REVIEWED AT A LATER DATE.

                CITY HALL SAFETY – DISCUSSED CREATING A SECURE OFFICE SPACE WITH A WINDOW.  CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS COULD BE USED TO PAY FOR THIS.

                POLICE SCHEDULE- DISCUSSED POSTING POLICE SCHEDULES AND DECIDED THAT DISPATCHING SHOULD BE CALLED IF ANYONE NEEDS TO CONTACT AN OFFICER. 

OPEN FORUM – SEVERAL RESIDENTS FROM SYCAMORE CREEK DISCUSSED THE LACK OF PROGRESS IN CLEANING THE WEEDS AND DEBRIS IN THEIR SUBDIVISION.

THE CITY ATTORNEY STATED THAT ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE CITY SUCH AS MUNICIPAL COURT SUMMONS ISSUED TO THE DEVELOPER HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL AS HE CONTINUED TO VIOLATE THE ORDINANCES.  THE VIOLATIONS NOTICES THAT WERE SENT LAST SUMMER HAVE HELPED SOMEWHAT WITH THE WEED & DEBRIS PROBLEM AS SEVEN OF THE LOTS HAVE BEEN CLEANED UP. THE CITY ATTORNEY STATED OTHER METHODS  COULD BE USED SUCH AS  LEVYING A SPECIAL TAX AGAINST THE OFFENDERS, WHICH SHE EXPLAINED THE CITY USUALLY DOES NOT RECOUPT THE MONEY SPENT IN THAT ACTION. SHE ALSO DISCUSSED THE PROBLEMS THAT COULD OCCUR WHEN AN ADMINISTRATIVE SEARCH WARRANT OR NUISANCE ABATEMENT SUMMONS WERE ISSUED.  SHE SUGGESTED THE HOMEOWNER’S ASSOCIATION COULD TAKE ACTION WHICH MIGHT BE MORE SUCCESSFUL. 

                ORDINANCE NO 256 WHICH AMENDED THE GRASS HEIGHT ORDINANCE WAS DISCUSSED BY A PROPERTY OWNER WHO THOUGHT THE ORDINANCE SHOULD BE REVISED AND CERTAIN SECTIONS SHOULD APPLIED JUST TO SUBDIVISION DEVELOPMENTS.  THE CITY ATTORNEY EXPLAINED THAT TWO SECTIONS OF THE ORDINANCE APPLY TO THE SUBDIVISION WHICH ARE COUNTY AND PRIVATE STREETS AND THE GRASS HEIGHT OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AND LAWN AREAS.  SHE STATED THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN ARE SATISFIED WITH THE ORDINANCE, IT IS NOT VAGUE AS SUGGESTED BY THE HOMEOWNER, AND IS CONSTITUTIONAL. 

PAYMENT OF BILLS- REVIEWED AND CHECKS SIGNED.

ADJOURNMENT- ALDERMAN GREEN MADE A MOTION, SECOND BY ALDERMAN BICE TO ADJOURN.  ON A CALL BY THE MAYOR FOR THE AYES AND NAYS, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED 4-0.  THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 8:30 P.M.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED                                       ACCEPTED

JUDITH A ANDERSON, CLERK                                       JAN MUSKOPF, MAYOR