CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
MARCH 29, 2006
The Council of the City of Fulton, Missouri, met in regular session on Wednesday, March 29, 2006, in the Council Chambers of City Hall located at 18 E. 4th Street. Present and presiding were Robert W. Craghead, Mayor; William Johnson, Director of Administration; Carolyn L. Laswell, City Clerk; and Steve Myers, Chief of Police. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Craghead at 6:31 p.m. Roll call was taken by the City Clerk and members of the council present were Benton; Bill; Harris; Moore; Sands; and Wilkinson. Absent were Councilmembers Chailland and McCall. Also present were Patrick Bonnot, Assistant to the Director of Administration; Les Hudson, Code Enforcement Officer; J. C. Miller, Solid Waste Manager; Sharon Cleveland, Purchasing Agent; Dean Buffington, Interim Fire Chief; Greg Hayes, City Engineer; Clay Caswell, Parks & Recreation Director; Jane Hubbard, Chief Financial Officer; Darrell Dunlap, Superintendent of Utilities; Mike West; Allison Gohring; Chuck Gohring; Dave Kern; John Bell; Lindsay Crouch; and Katherine Cummins, Reporter for THE FULTON SUN; and Jeremy Polston and Justin Dean, Audio/Video.
INVOCATION:
Invocation was given by Mayor Craghead.
COMMENTS FROM VISITORS:
Mayor Craghead 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.
Dave Kern, 301 Collier Lane, said he supported the abandonment of a portion of Cleveland right-of-way between Blackburn and Collier.
John Bell, 1 East 10th Street, said he supported the abandonment of Amherst Street between 12th Street and Circle Drive for the purpose of expanding the Ovid Bell Press building.
MINUTES:
The council meeting minutes for February 28, 2006 were presented for approval.
Motion was offered by Councilman Benton and seconded by Councilman Bill that council meeting minutes for February 28, 2006 be approved as presented. Motion carried with six members of the council voting in favor and two members (Chailland and McCall) absent.
The council meeting minutes for March 14, 2006 were presented for approval.
Motion was offered by Councilman Wilkinson and seconded by Councilman Sands that council meeting minutes for March 14, 2006 be approved as presented. Motion carried with six members of the council voting in favor and two members (Chailland and McCall) absent.
FINANCIALS:
The Financials for the month of February were presented to the council. Jane Hubbard, Chief Financial Officer, was present to answer any questions from the council.
Councilman Harris asked for an update on the conversion.
Jane Hubbard said that most things have been corrected. The utility billing is coming along and getting better.
Councilman Benton asked for encumbrances for 2005 be listed separately for clarification. Bill Johnson said this could be done for future reports.
After some discussion and review, motion was offered by Councilman Harris and seconded by Councilman Wilkinson to accept the Financials for February as presented. Motion carried with six members of the council voting in favor and two members (Chailland and McCall) absent.
DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR FEBRUARY:
The Director of Administration Report for February 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.
Councilman Wilkinson complimented the Police Department regarding the letters enclosed in this monthly report.
After review and discussion, motion was offered by Councilman Benton and seconded by Councilman Wilkinson to accept the Director of Administration Report for the month of February as presented. Motion carried with six members of the council voting in favor and two members (Chailland and McCall) absent.
OLD BUSINESS:
a) Further discussion on the request to vacate a portion of Cleveland right-of-way between Blackburn and Collier streets.
Greg Hayes, City Engineer, said the Traffic Commission is making a recommendation to the council to have the city abandon the portion of property that adjoins Dave Kearn's property.
Motion was offered by Councilman Benton and seconded by Councilman Wilkinson to have the administration draft an ordinance to authorize the city to abandon this piece of property. Motion carried with six members of the council voting in favor and two members (Chailland and McCall) absent.
b) Update from Greg Hayes, on an approximate date when the parking meters will be changed to five hour parking per the newly approved ordinance.
Greg said the parking meters will be changed over during the first week of April.
c) Further discussion on the Aquatic Center and an update on the contact made with the YMCA.
Clay Caswell, Parks & Recreation Director, spoke with the YMCA Director, and a joint proposal will be drawn up and brought back to the administration and then it will be given to the council for further review and discussion.
Mayor Craghead asked the council if they still wanted to own the building and the council responded with both yes and no.
NEW BUSINESS:
a) Update from Councilman Benton, council liaison, on the Utility Board meeting held on March 27th.
Jane Hubbard, Chief Financial Officer, was present at the Utility Board meeting and presented an amended Commercial/Industrial Deposit Policy. Upon some review and discussion, the board asked Jane to define more clearly the proposed policy to bring to the next meeting. It was also suggested that a proposed Residential Deposit Policy be drafted and brought to the board for review in April.
In the board's discussion of natural gas prices, the board is making a recommendation to the administration to go with a rate of $9.00 - $9.50 per unit of natural gas.
b) Update from Greg Hayes, City Engineer, on the Traffic Commission meeting held on March 21st.
Greg Hayes reported the commission discussed the request from Westminster College to abandon Woodlawn Street from Westminster Avenue to the dead end to the west. Westminster College owns the property on both sides of the street and they wish to construct a new dining hall. The commission has made a recommendation to the city council for this request to be granted.
Also on the agenda was the abandonment of Amherst Street from 12th Street to Circle Drive in order for the Ovid Bell Press to expand. The commission has made a recommendation to the city council for this request to be granted.
The abandonment of a 30 foot wide un-named section of property located next to Dave Kearn at 301 Collier Drive was the next request discussed. The commission has made a recommendation to the city council to recommend abandonment of only that short section of un-named right-of-way adjacent to Mr. Kearn's property.
Signage for the lost Dollar General Trucks was discussed. This subject will be addressed when the city's 2007 budget is being drafted.
c) J. C. Miller, Solid Waste Manager will present some information on a front-loader truck.
J. C. presented a short video to the council on a proposed front-loader truck and discussion followed.
Motion was offered by Councilman Harris and seconded by Councilman Wilkinson to have the administration look at front-loader trucks and do some investigation. Motion carried with six members of the council voting in favor and two members (Chailland and McCall) absent.
Mayor Craghead, Bill Johnson, J. C. Miller, and Darrell Dunlap will be visiting Springfield and Neosho tomorrow to look at vacuum pumps for methane issues at the landfill. These are two used units which would cost approximately $30,000 or less for each.
RESOLUTIONS:
Resolution 2821 was presented and read by Councilman Bill.
Resolution 2821 - A Resolution authorizing the Mayor, on behalf of the City of Fulton, to make application and sign all necessary documents to apply to FEMA through a Fire Operations & Firefighter Safety Program (Copy is included in the official Resolution Book).
Motion was offered by Councilman Bill and seconded by Councilman Sands to adopt Resolution 2821 at this council meeting. Motion carried with six members of the council voting in favor and two members (Chailland and McCall) absent.
Resolution 2822 was presented and read by Councilman Wilkinson.
Resolution 2822 - A Resolution Directing Compliance with Section 92.086 of HB209 passed in 2005 by Promulgating & Publishing the Rate of Taxation for Telephonic Service under Section 22.136.Levied, of Chapter 22. Businesses (Copy is included in the official Resolution Book).
Motion was offered by Councilman Wilkinson and seconded by Councilman Harris to adopt Resolution 2822 at this council meeting. Motion carried with six members of the council voting in favor and two members (Chailland and McCall) absent.
ORDINANCES:
Bill No. 1138 was presented and read for the first time by Councilman Benton.
Bill No. 1138 - An Ordinance Declaring City Property to be Surplus Property, authorizing its Sale, and establishing an effective date.
Motion was offered by Councilman Benton and seconded by Councilman Moore to place Bill No. 1138 for second reading at the next regularly scheduled council meeting. Motion carried with six members of the council voting in favor and two members (Chailland and McCall) absent.
Bill No. 1139 was read for the first time by Councilman Harris.
Bill No. 1139 - An Ordinance Vacating Woodlawn Avenue within the City of Fulton, and establishing an effective date.
Motion was offered by Councilman Harris and seconded by Councilman Moore to place Bill No. 1139 for second reading at the next regularly scheduled council meeting. Motion carried with six members of the council voting in favor and two members (Chailland and McCall) absent.
APPOINTMENTS:
Mayor Craghead said he had no appointments to be presented at this council meeting.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Sharon Cleveland, Purchasing Agent, asked that an amendment be made to the current Surplus Property Ordinance whereby not everything that is to be declared surplus have to go through the council. The department head, purchasing agent, Mayor and the Director of Administration would be the authorized signatures. There would be established values of what would be signed off and what would still come to the council for approval.
Motion was offered by Councilman Benton and seconded by Councilman Wilkinson to authorize the administration to draft an ordinance. Motion carried with six members of the council voting in favor and two members (Chailland and McCall) absent.
Greg Hayes gave an update on the water project by stating everything is pretty much completed that is to be placed in the ground. Six of eleven pressure reducing valves have been completed. Huey Construction has the pump houses built. The two towers are complete and are waiting for the weather to remain warm so they can be painted. The towers should be filled by the end of June- first of July. The colors of paint have been selected and the City of Fulton loggo will be on the west tower and the north tower will have the Hornet loggo. The funds have been raised for the hornet loggo cost with twenty-five teams and four hundred participants.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Mayor Craghead said there was no need for an executive session at tonight's meeting.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the council, motion was offered by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Bill to adjourn this meeting. Motion carried with six members of the council voting in favor, two members (Chailland and McCall) absent, and the meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m.
Robert W. Craghead, Mayor
Carolyn L. Laswell, CMC/MRCC
City Clerk