The Grant City Council, at its meeting Wednesday, approved an agreement with the Worth County Sheriff's Department that will allow for enforcement of city ordinances. The Sheriff's Department will move to the basement of City Hall rent free, and in return, they will enforce city codes and ordinances as directed by the city. In addition, the Sheriff’s Department will enforce city traffic codes.
The basement will allow for more office space for the Sheriff and more security. The Sheriff's Department will still use the basement office.
The move was subject to approval from the Worth County Commission. On Monday, the Worth County Commission verbally approved the move. The next move will be for the city to draw up a contract to be signed by the Sheriff’s Department, the city, and the commissioners.
Gerri Dearmont came to the meeting to close out the $500,000 CDBG Grant for wastewater funding and deobligate it. The city was approved for the grant, only to subsequently get a much bigger $5 million grant from the Missouri DNR which could not be used in conjunction with other such programs. Since an entity can only have one CDBG program active at one time, that will free up the city to apply for another CDBG program when the next round of funding opens up in a few months. Grant City is automatically eligible for the program.
The council passed an ordinance to vacate South Front Street south of 10th Street. The land will revert back to the owners with the city retaining an easement in the event of needing to repair a water or gas line.
The council passed another ordinance allowing the Golf Course to permit drinking at their events or at the Club House. Current ordinances do not allow drinking on city property. However, the city took over ownership of the Golf Course on paper. The move by the council allowed for the Golf Course to do what it has always done in the past. The vote was 3-1, with Bruce Downing opposed. He felt that the city should not carve out such exceptions.
The city is in the process of negotiating the sale of the Internet service that it owns to United Fiber. The city owns the system, while Midwest Data out of Rock Port does the billing and the upgrades to the system. The city was one of the first cities in the area to have a municipally owned system, getting $115,000 in grant money to start up the system. However, the city is barely breaking even with its service, while future upgrades to the system to compete with high speed broadband that is coming through the county could be astronomical. The city has lost ten customers to United Fiber since it started offering service to the area.
Sherri Runde of the Tri-County Health Department gave a presentation to the council about the work she was doing at Tri-County Health Department. Recently, the city had its meeting to update the Strategic Plan. The Tri-County Health Department did its own survey of the community and found several strengths, such as safety, healthy homes, and quality of healthcare. Concerns included the need for more tobacco and alcohol education, access to exercise, lack of mental health services, and the fact that many people have to drive 20+ miles to get primary care.
The Tri-County Health Department offers widespread health education on many health-related topics. They are in the process of looking for a mental health provider and a dental provider to come to the county. Runde goes to Sheridan every first Friday, the Senior Center every second Friday, and Allendale every third Friday to reach out to people, leads a walking group at the Grant City trail Tuesday mornings at 10 am (which could change to 9 due to the heat), and leads exercises at the Senior Center every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
City Administrator Meggan Brown discussed building demolition, grants, and other topics. The city approved expenses for a picnic table, a handicapped table, and a recycling bin for the new shelter house west of the Pool for a cost of $861.43. That is part of the city’s share of the Solid Waste grant they received.
Brown also reported that there was asbestos in the buildings in the southwest corner of the square south of The Petaler. She got a quote from a contractor certified to do asbestos removal for the buildings. There will be a public hearing before the next meeting. She also got a quote for the removal of the Dogman’s building.
The council discussed starting a brochure, a packet for new families, and a historical brochure.
Public Works Director Carl Staton reported that the city would not have to move the water line at Route YY where the bridge is being repaired. The council approved changing hours for the city crew to be from 6 to 11 and 11:30 to 2:30, effective for the next full pay period until the last full pay period in October. The city awarded the bid for the chip seal for this year to Approved Paving.
The council, at the request of Staton, voted to raise the amount that the mayor can approve for purchase from $500 up to $1,000. The amount for three bids was raised from $3,000 to $5,000.
The council voted to donate $100 to the Worth County Back to School Fair.
The council will meet again on July 19th at 6:30. Prior to that, a Zoning Adjustment meeting will be held at 6:15 pm.
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