Grant City Council Minutes for May 17th, 2023

Unofficial Minutes

A regular meeting was held May 17, 2023 at City Hall at 6:30 p.m.

Mayor- Debbie Roach Alderman Present: Kevin Kobbe – Bruce Downing – Catherine Runde – Lenny Campbell 

City Clerk: Farrah Richey – Cecelia Burbach

Gas Superintendent: Carl Staton

City Administrator: Meggan Brown

Citizens: Tyson Troutwine, Ryan Fletchall, Emily Wicoff, Kim Milward, Riley Drury

Minutes:  Catherine Runde made motion to approve the minutes for the April 22, 2023 meeting, Kevin Kobbe seconded, motion carried.

List of Bills/Supplies:  Lenny Campbell made motion to approve the list of bills/supplies for month end   April 22, 2023 and May 17, 2023, Kevin Kobbe seconded, motion carried.    

Emily Wicoff: Emily Wicoff from Snyder & Associates gave and up date on the waste water project.  MoDNR approved the PER and addendum for ARPA funding.  This month they will be finalizing the contract addendum, finishing up MoDNR paperwork and the detailed design.  She also presented a new funding program for lead service line inventory, lead line, replacement plan, and lead line service line replacement.  Meggan will fill out the application and get it submitted by May 31, 2023 deadline.  

Kim Mildward: Kim Mildward from The Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments came to discuss the process of updating the Grant City Strategic Plan that was last revised in 2019. She went through the progress report with the council to rate each goal and objective.  Next step is to have a meeting to review the Mission and Vision Statements and conduct SWOC (strengths, weaknesses, opportunity challenges) Analysis. Potential meeting dates are June 20, 27, and 29 at City Hall.  The second set of meeting will be small group meetings to work on goals and objectives based on the SWOC analysis. Potential meeting date are July 20, 21, 24, and 25. 

Resolution for verification of records: Catherine Runde made a motion to pass the resolution for verification of records, Lenny Campbell seconded, motion carried.

Bill 3731 Ordinance #51723: Bill has been posted at city hall and was tabled until June 21, 2023 meeting.

Sick Leave: Council discussed how sick leave should be able to be used in case of illness of family members since the city is a small enough business that FMLA does not apply.  An Addendum will be added to the sick leave policy to follow the FMLA guidelines.

Potential Audit Firms: An ad will be placed in the newspaper for bids for audit companies, and a copy of the ad will be sent to the list of potential auditors the were received from Dannen Merrill.

Dog Pound: There are currently two dogs in the pound, Nodaway County Humane Society does not have room for either one.  There are people interested in adopting the dogs by paying the $50 fee. The council agreed to let the citizens pay the $50 for the dogs so that they will have homes. Going forward a waiver will be signed by any citizen who wants to adopt a dog out of the pound relieving the city from any liability.

City Clerk Job Description: Tabled until June 21, 2023 meeting.

Zoning Adjustment: Council discussed Zoning Regulations Article V, Appeals Section 405.230. Procedures for Appeals and Variances, and Section 405.280 Amendments and Changes to determine appropriate way to process with an application for variance.  Meggan is going to check with the city attorney to see if the city council can act as the planning and zoning committee or another group of people need to be recruited in order to proceed with the hearing.

Meggan Brown:  New picnic tables and a recycling bin will be purchased for the park once funds are received. She presented Bill No. 51523 Ordinance No. 3732. Bill will be posted at City Hall and decided June 21, 2023 council meeting. Seagull Environmental Technology will start phase two and bore holes to take soil samples 5-18-23 and report back. She discussed going to the Brownfield Conference in July. Meggan asked the council about contacting citizens to try and start the revitalization committee back up to help get rid of buildings that need to be taken down. Finally, She discussed next steps in safely removing the Yetter Building; needs to be tested for asbestos and inspected by a building inspector.

 Carl: Carl Staton  received one bid from Approved Paving LLC for chip seal for streets, he and Tyson have mapped out what street will be treated this summer.  Going to get more bids to compare prices. He reported the pool has been patched and filled. He has ordered cold mix to fill in pot holes. He ordered gas meters, but they are not in yet. He met with Brock last week to discuss the High Street water line, needs to get an easement to cross a property, no start date has been set. He has the materials to treat the pool park road for dust control. Lastly, he discussed the state gas inspection that will be May 30-31.

Water/Sewer: Ryan passed his sewer test. Discussed needing a mud motor for lagoon. He is going to get estimates to bring to the next meeting.

Building Permits:  Amanda and Joe Hughes want to build a house. Permit is pending Carl’s inspection of the site.

Gas/Parks & Recreation/Streets:  nothing

Clerks Report:  Farrah Richey gave new council members information on a MEC webinar, she discussed the Summer program called Tiger Community Connect hosted by the Partnership Library.  Council agreed to send what we have on hand to give out for door prized.

Topics of Interest: Ed Cleveland is going to build a box for the City Hall sign.  Council asked Clerk Farrah Richey to send agendas out to council members via email or picture text for review three days prior to the meeting.

At 9:09 pm Lenny Campbell made motion to end regular meeting to enter closed session Bruce Downing seconded, motion carried.