CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
FEBRUARY 24, 2009
The Council of the City of Fulton, Missouri, met in regular session on Tuesday, February 24, 2009, in the Council Chambers of City Hall located at 18 E. 4th Street. Present and presiding were Charles M. Latham, Mayor; William Johnson, Director of Administration; Carolyn L. Laswell, City Clerk; and Roger Rice, Assistant Chief of Police. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Latham at 6:30 p.m. Roll call was taken by the City Clerk and members of the council present were Benton; Bill; Digh; Gohring; Harris; Moore; Pautz; and West. Also present were Matt Harline, Assistant to the Director of Administration; Darrell Dunlap, Superintendent of Utilities; Les Hudson, Code Enforcement Officer; Kathy Holschlag, Chief Financial Officer; Greg Hayes, City Engineer; J. C. Miller, Solid Waste Manager; Dean Buffington, Fire Chief; Sharon Cleveland, Purchasing Agent; Sherri Redmon, Human Resources Director; J. C. Miller, Solid Waste Manager; Clay Caswell, Parks & Recreation Director; Tom White; Lowe Cannell; Sue Slaughter; Torie Slaughter; Kelsie Slaughter; Leah; Kassandra Wetherell; Amy Keene; Matt Kuhl; Roger Meissen, reporter for The Fulton Sun; Jeremy Polston and Justin Dean, Audio/Video.
INVOCATION:
Invocation was given by Mayor Latham.
COMMENTS FROM VISITORS:
Mayor Latham asked if there was anyone present who wished to address the council that was not listed on tonight's agenda to please come to the podium and state their name, address and area of concern.
Tom White, President of the Soup Kitchen, asked the city council for the use of the Shirley Evans Center for the future home of the Soup Kitchen.
Mayor Latham said this would be placed for discussion at a future council meeting.
Sue Slaughter, introduced her Junior/Cadet Girl Scout Troop to the council. They presented Mayor Latham with a "Thank You box" of Girl Scout cookies.
MINUTES:
The council meeting minutes for January 27, 2009 were presented for approval.
Motion was offered by Councilman Bill and seconded by Councilwoman Gohring that council meeting minutes for January 27, 2009 be approved as presented. Motion carried with all eight members of the council voting in favor.
The council meeting minutes for February 10, 2009 were presented for approval.
Motion was offered by Councilman Pautz and seconded by Councilman West that council meeting minutes for February 10, 2009 be approved as presented. Motion carried with all eight members of the council voting in favor.
FINANCIALS:
The Financials for the month of January 2009 were presented for approval and Kathy Holschlag, Chief Financial Officer, was present to answer any questions from the council.
After some review and discussion, motion was offered by Councilman West and seconded by Councilman Pautz to accept the January Financials as presented. Motion carried with all eight members of the council voting in favor.
DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR JANUARY:
The Director of Administration Report for January was presented to the council for review. Bill Johnson said he or any of the department heads at this meeting would answer any questions from the council.
After some discussion, motion was offered by Councilman West and seconded by Councilman Pautz to accept the Director of Administration Report for January as presented. Motion carried with all eight members of the council voting in favor.
OLD BUSINESS:
There was no old business to bring before the council at this time.
NEW BUSINESS:
a) Update on the ice storm damage in Kennett.
Darrell Dunlap, Superintendent of Utilities, said the city had sent twelve employees, in rotation, to assist in the storm repair. The citizens were very appreciative of all the assistance and said if Fulton ever needed any help, they would be here.
b) Update on Tanglewood RFP.
Matt Harline, Assistant to the Director of Administration, said the city received four RFP's back and interviewed all four. Now the question is whether the city wants to retain ownership of the golf course. The administration feels at this time, there are two front-runners. One of the options would be for this individual/individuals to work with the city for three to five years to eventually own the course; or the other option would be for this individual/individuals to come in and work with the city for one to three years, and help train city personnel how to run the course efficiently.
More information will be given to the council at the next meeting.
c) Update from Greg Hayes, City Engineer, on the Traffic Commission meeting held on Tuesday, February 17th.
The Traffic Commission discussed the parking on Thatcher Street issue. Greg Hayes and Police Chief Myers have monitored Thatcher during daylight hours and have witnessed no problems, however, they will continue to monitor daylight and evening hours.
New Business was reviewed as to the speed limit signs on Bluff Street between 1st and 5th Street. It was determined that the existing speed limit signs were properly positioned at this time.
Discussion was also held on why the speed limit along 5th Street is 20 miles per hour and the speed along 6th Street is 30 miles per hour. No action was taken.
d) Update from Mayor Latham on the SWAT Committee meeting held on Thursday, February 19th.
Matt Kuhl and Gerald Taylor are the co-chairs of this committee and Matt Kuhl was present at this council meeting.
He said the committee discussed what can the city do in the next few years before the landfill is full and has to be closed. The committee is making a recommendation to the city council to have the city stop taking construction debris, and charge regular tonnage rate and place it in the landfill.
Upon some discussion among the council, motion was offered by Councilman Harris and seconded by Councilman Pautz to accept the recommendation of the SWAT Committee in authorizing the city to stop taking construction debris, and charge regular tonnage rate and place it in the landfill. Motion carried with all eight members of the council voting in favor.
e) Update from LeRoy Benton, council liaison, on the Utility Board meeting held on Monday, February 23rd.
Councilman Benton reported the board approved the minutes, went over the financial statements, and the monthly utility department's monthly reports.
The Utility Board is making a recommendation to the city council to postpone the 7 1/2% increase (that was previously approved by the Utility Board and the city council) indefinitely due to the city having 80% of the city's needs of electricity locked in for this year and based upon market rates.
Upon some discussion, motion was offered by Councilwoman Digh and seconded by Councilman Moore to accept the recommendation of the Utility Board by postponing the 7 1/2% increase in electric rates. Motion carried with all eight members of the council voting in favor.
The Utility Board made a recommendation to the city council to lower the natural gas rates to $9.00 per unit commencing with the April 1st billing.
Upon some discussion. motion was offered by Councilman Harris and seconded by Councilman Pautz to lower the natural gas rates to $9.00 per unit commencing with the April 1, 2009 billing. Motion carried with all eight members of the council voting in favor.
f) City/State Health Inspection Partnership
Bill Johnson said the city will be doing an agreement with the State where the city will do the health inspections in the schools over the summer, and they will pay the city $80 per inspection and if there is a re-inspection, another $80 will be paid. For the record, the city has been doing these inspections all along, but now will be paid for it. This was informational only, no action was needed.
Councilwoman Digh, co-chair of the city's 150 Anniversary committee, said the lapel pins have arrived.
Motion was offered by Councilwoman Digh and seconded by Councilman Benton, to obtain permission from the council to give 350 lapel pins to the Historical Society, in appreciation of all their work on these 150th Anniversary Celebration activities. Motion carried with all eight members of the council voting in favor.
Councilman West said that five Fulton High School students just won three medals in the State Wrestling Championship and felt the council should do some recognition accordingly.
Mayor Latham said this would be done. Councilman Moore said he personally felt the city should promote the Shirley Evans Center building as a meeting place instead of a Soup Kitchen.
ORDINANCES:
Bill No. 1265 was presented for first reading by Councilman West.
Bill No. 1265 - An Ordinance Amending Chapter 92. Signs of the Code of the City of Fulton, by adding Commercial Neighborhood Business Sign to Section 91-1. Definitions & adding a new Section 92-49. Commercial Neighborhood Business Signs and renumbering all following sections and establishing an effective date.
Motion was offered by Councilman West and seconded by Councilman Bill to place Bill No. 1265 for second reading at the next regularly scheduled council meeting. Motion carried with all eight members of the council voting in favor.
Bill No. 1264 was read for the second time by Councilman Harris.
Bill No. 1264 - An Ordinance Incorporating certain territory into the corporate limits of the City of Fulton, establishing an initial zoning and an effective date (Copy is included in the official Ordinance Book).
Motion was offered by Councilman Harris and seconded by Councilman West to place Bill No. 1264 for third reading at this council meeting. Motion carried with all eight members of the council voting in favor.
Bill No. 1264 was read for the third time by Councilman Harris.
Motion was offered by Councilman Harris and seconded by Councilwoman Gohring to place Bill No. 1264 for final passage at this council meeting. Motion carried with all eight members of the council voting in favor.
Roll call vote of members of the council was as follows: Bill, yes; Digh, yes; Gohring, yes; Harris, yes; Moore, yes; Pautz, yes; West, yes; and Benton, yes. Bill No. 1264 having received the affirmative vote of all eight members of the council was declared passed by the President of the council.
APPOINTMENTS:
There were none to be presented at this council meeting.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
a) The City of Fulton will celebrate it's 150 Anniversary on Saturday, March 14th, 10:00 a.m., at City Hall.
b) The Mayor's Prayer Breakfast will be held on Thursday, April 2nd, 6:30 a.m., at The Senior's Center.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Mayor Latham said there was no need for an executive session at this council meeting.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the council, motion was offered by Councilman Pautz and seconded by Councilman West to adjourn this meeting. Motion carried with all eight members of the council voting in favor and the meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
Charles M. Latham, Mayor
Carolyn L. Laswell, CMC/MRCC
City Clerk