From Staff Reports
The city of Puxico received a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant for the sewer improvement project, Puxico aldermen learned Thursday, June 22.
The aldermen reviewed the budget, hired Michelle Priest as a full-time police officer, appointed Larry Doublin as a firefighter and Darrin Martin as the new assistant fire chief.
In other action, the aldermen voted to ask the city clerk to prepare an ordinance that could be approved at the July meeting limiting the number of pets to four per household.
The board agreed to hire Christopher Strickler to work as animal control officer.
The job would include enforcing all animal ordinances, taking care of a variety of animals that might be loose, and organizing a shot/tag day as a part of enforcing animal ordinances. This job would entail no more than 20 hours a pay period at $9 an hour. If the animal control officer is answering a complaint call, he should take the marshal with him.
Mayor Rick McLean stated he was to meet with the Missouri Department of Economic Development Tuesday, June 27, to go over the grant procedures for the Community Development Block Grant.
Since the city would be receiving $500,000 in grant money for the sewer improvement project from the Department of Economic Development, the city needs to open a new checking account for those funds. Bill Hemby moved the city clerk be authorized to open a new checking account entitled City of Puxico CDBG Sewer Improvement Fund with Patty Cooper, Donna Gilmore, Gary Wilfong, and Alice Patrick as authorized signer for any checks written on this account. G.S. Kilbreth seconded. The motion carried,
Wayne Jean, city accountant, reviewed the FY 2017 Amended Budget and the FY 2018 Budget as well as the FY 2017 Amended Budget. The General Fund showed a deficit of $21,629. Departments showing deficit spending included Cemetery (-$550), Fire ($-23,975), Parks (-$825), Police (-$5,475), Historical Museum (-$2,600), and Nutrition Center (-$1,500). The fire department deficit was the result of the $35,000 expenditure for a fire truck.
The aldermen approved the Amended FY 2017 budget as well as the FY 2018 budget, which had been developed at the May 25 board meeting. The only department planning on a deficit budget is the Historical Museum, which plans to use the balance in the fund to do repair and improvements.
Marshal Rick Sheren asked the board to consider hiring Priest as a full-time police officer. Priest was present to answer any questions. The aldermen voted to hire Priest as a full-time police officer. As a full-time police officer, Priest will work 88 hours a pay period with a salary of $22,500 a year or $937.50 a pay period. She will begin work on July 16, 2017.
Sam's Auto Service had the winning bid for the two front tires for the PPD's Explorer. Sheren had obtained three bid quotes for the tires, including mounting and balancing and recycling old tires. These quotes were Lynn Cookson Garage $306, Sam's Auto Service $314.26 and Baldwin Ford, Poplar Bluff $435.
Sheren reported his department had nine assists, three loose dogs, an ATV ticket, two speeding tickets and a burglary.
Sheren and the board discussed possible vehicles that could be obtained from the federal government at no cost to the city.
Fire Chief Rusty Parker asked Doublin be appointed as a firefighter. Since Tyler Rasberry is resigning as assistant fire chief at the end of June, Parker asked Martin be appointed assistant fire chief.
The insurance claim on the '97 minipumper, which was wrecked in May, was discussed. The adjuster has decided the vehicle is repairable and is looking for a body shop to give an estimate of cost of repair.
David Hawthorne reported a new pump is needed for the lift station on East Richardson. The ammonia levels at the lagoon are down from 18.1 to 1.5. Hawthorne will be performing a required DNR WET test at the lagoon. Hawthorne plans to work on a storm drain on Bean Avenue.
Alderman G.S. Kilbreth stated the maintenance department had done a good job mowing/cleaning up the property just purchased for the fire station.
In the Cemetery Board report the possibility of spraying weed killer around monuments was discussed and the Cemetery Board decided this would be allowed if the maintenance department personnel could spray no more than an inch around the monuments to avoid erosion. If the workers sprayed more, then they would need to go back to weedeating. The Cemetery Board also discussed placing a directory of those buried in the cemetery in the gazebo. Brad Watkins volunteered to make the box. The Cemetery Board will be asking for donations for this project from the community and those who have family buried in the cemetery.
Under Nutrition Center, the mayor stated the flooring had been repaired and that the icemaker had been cleaned and repaired.
Under Historical Museum, a revised siding bid quote from SEMO Carpentry was reviewed. Adding insulation was an additional cost of $2,740. SEMO Carpentry has begun the work on placing siding on the museum.
Under Emergency Management, the mayor noted they had been called out for storms twice in the past month.
Gary Wilfong led the group in prayer and Mayor McLean led the Pledge of Allegiance. Gary Burns also attended.