REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF CUBA, MISSOURI

MONDAY – JANUARY 3, 2005 – 5:30 P.M. – CUBA CITY HALL COUNCIL ROOM

 

Mayor Koch called the meeting to order.  Aldermen present:  Mike Moreland, Ralph Bayless, Judy Schroeder, Faye Howard, Kenny Killeen, and Brad Bouse.  City Attorney present:  Kent Robinson.  Public Works Director absent:  Bob Baldwin. 

 

Motion by Bayless, seconded by Killeen, to approve the agenda as presented.  Vote:  All ayes.

 

Motion by Bayless, seconded by Bouse, to approve the regular minutes of December 20, 2004.  Vote:  Five ayes.  Schroeder – abstain.

 

Motion by Bouse, seconded by Howard, to pay the bills as presented.  Vote:  All ayes. 

 

Citizens participation:  Fire Chief, Mike Plank presented the council with year end statistics of calls.  Most calls occurred from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. when most volunteers are there least.  Plank asked for everyone to post their address and asked for the city’s help to promote this. 

 

Ms. Kristine Kaatz presented the council with a Personnel and Compensation plan proposal to get the city in a step/grade salary schedule by working with job description and the workforce average for the area.  Ms. Kaatz’s company has done work for several cities in Missouri.  The cost for the study and survey is $8,690.00, made in 3 payments.  Discussion by council.  Ms. Kaatz can get started by the end of this month.  Mayor Koch asked this to be a line item for the next meeting to make a decision.

 

City Collector, Ms. Nina Snowden addressed the council with the ongoing problem she has getting business to buy a business license or non-payment on sales tax.  Attorney Robinson stated that this is an enforcement issue and should be sent to Police Department for summons.  Ms. Snowden stated that is not what the ordinance reads, the ordinance states that the City Attorney  will take this issue over once in violation.  Attorney Robinson stated the problems is that the city has two attorney and Steve Paulus is the prosecuting attorney.  Robinson will get with Paulus on the issue and in the mean time the businesses in violation should be served papers by the Police Dept.  Ms. Snowden stated the template letter that Attorney Robinson gave her to send the businesses at fault is basically the same letter that she has sent them over the last two years.  Attorney Robinson also stated that if there is not provisions for revocation in the code, there should be and he will look into.  Motion by Bouse, seconded by Bayless, for the City Collector to give the list of businesses in violation to the Police Department for them to summons the business to court.  Vote:  Moreland – yes, Bayless –yes, Schroeder –yes, Howard –yes, Killeen –yes, and Bouse –yes.    Mayor Koch asked that Kent Robinson get the documents to Steve Paulus.

 

Alderman Howard recommended to give the new owners of Meramec Package a business license contingent upon the City Collector receiving a “No Tax Due” letter from the seller and a Sales

 

 

CITY OF CUBA – BOARD OF ALDERMEN MINUTES – MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2005 – PAGE 2

 

Tax No. from the buyer.  Attorney Kent Robinson stated that these are laws of the state and have to be taken care of before a liquor license is issued and does not need council approval.

 

Alderman Schroeder inquired on the building formally known as Briarwood Manor.  City Collector Snowden stated that the owner of “A Place of Grace” is not permitted to receive a business license as the new owner is to address the council due to zoning problems.  Attorney Kent Robinson will give an opinion on this. 

 

Fire Chief Mike Plank addressed the council on issuing Occupancy Permit to rid some of the problems that the City Collector has with the businesses.  Mayor Koch will check into.

 

Emergency Preparedness Director Les Murdock addressed the council on the year end 2004:

  • Had two Emergency Preparedness meetings
  • Tasks completed:  Crawford County Emergency Plan, Crawford County Hazard Mitigation Plan, Mass Casualty Plan, CERT Training Program
  • Requested the new siren policy be put in the paper.  (City Clerk Nash stated this is sent to attorney for ordinance form per his request and will be published once passed) – Alderman Howard had other costs for 911 to turn on the sirens; however, with the budget restrictions it may not be possible for this year.
  • Copies of Bill 40 and Objectives for Local Emergency Management were distributed to Mayor, City Clerk, Attorney, Alderman Howard and Alderman Schroeder (committee members)
  • Asked when the next Emergency Meeting will be held and how long?

 

Discussion of Mayor and Aldermen Salaries:  Alderman Schroeder proposed that since Bob Baldwin has taken over most duties there are less Aldermanic Committee meetings and the Mayor, Aldermen and EOC Director should take a cut in pay to help the budget crisis.  Alderman Bayless suggested that within a two-year term a member could miss two meetings to account for vacation and sick time.  Alderman Moreland is not in favor of cutting salaries.  Alderman Howard stated there are not several people lining up to take the position; therefore the salary is an incentive.  In addition, she stated that other considerations should be taken in account such as long distance phone calls that she makes.  Alderman Killeen suggested that 25 regular meetings per year be mandatory and if you do not attend more than that, you do not get paid.  Alderman Killeen stated he still has several department heads contact him on different issues.  He spends 8-10 hours per week on city business.  Alderman Bouse stated that he takes calls during is office hours and disagrees that members be required to attend mandatory meetings.  Alderman Killeen stated that it takes votes of other members on important issues and it’s important to know that all members will be present at the meetings.  Motion by Schroeder, to reduce the salary of Mayor, Aldermen and Emergency Preparedness Director in half with stipulation that you get paid for the meetings you attend, ***MOTION DIES FOR LACK OF A SECOND. 

 

Motion by Bouse, seconded by Moreland, to make no change in the Mayor, Aldermen, or Emergency Preparedness Director.  Roll call vote:  Bouse –yes, Killeen –yes, Howard – yes, Schroeder – no, Bayless –yes, and Moreland –yes. 

CITY OF CUBA – BOARD OF ALDERMEN MINUTES – JANUARY 3, 2005 – PAGE 3

 

Motion by Schroeder, seconded by Killeen, to have the first reading of Bill No. 1351 by caption only.  Vote:  All ayes.  City Clerk Nash read Bill No. 1351 – An ordinance regulating employment by the City of Cuba, Missouri, of elected officials and persons related to then serving elected officials.  First reading roll call vote:  Moreland – no, Bayless –yes, Schroeder –yes, Howard –no, Killeen –yes, Bouse – no.  Discussion:  Alderman Bouse relayed there is not a huge pool of qualified people to choose from and a person should not be overlooked because they held office.  Alderman Moreland stated that the council ultimately has the decision on who to hire and will have the best interest of the city at heart when hiring.  Mayor vote due to tie – no.  **Bill 1351 DIES**

 

Alderman Bouse and Alderman Bayless looking into the Henderson Street situation and found it not necessary to close, however, also not to go to the expense of joining Henderson to Rt. 66.  Property owners are in agreement.  There will be a dead end sign put at the end of this street. 

 

Alderman Howard stated that the city did not receive the grant on the police vests and she will take time to talk to Police Chief Tim Bailey to remedy the problem.

 

Mayor Koch announced a Special Meeting on budgets Monday, January 24, 2005 at 5:30 p.m.

 

Mayor Koch received a letter from Greyhound that they will no longer make the stop at the Cuba Hardee’s.

 

Mayor Koch had a discussion with Resource Recovery employees on the Recycling Center and they are interested in keeping the center going.  Motion by Bouse, seconded by Bayless, for the Mayor to negotiate a deal with Resource Recovery to operate the Recycling Center.  Vote:   All ayes.  Alderman Bayless, Alderman Moreland and City Collector Snowden will attend the negotiations with Mayor Koch.

 

Emergency Preparedness Director Murdock will take the dog/cat pens from the Recycling Center to the old garage on Spencer St.

 

Next regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday, January 18, 2005 due to observance of the January 17 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

 

Motion by Bayless, seconded by Bouse, to adjourn.  Vote:  All ayes.

 

 

 

Christine Nash, City Clerk