A Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) rep gave an explanation to the Northwest Missouri Regional Council, which handled Hopkins’ demolition grant bid for the last grant cycle, which was forwarded and discussed at the Hopkins City Council meeting Monday. The CDBG received a total of 115 applications with 52 being funded at a total of $25 million for the state.
The explanation for Hopkins was that the narrative needs to be more detailed on each structure as far as condition, how it affects the area, and why they are an eyesore to the community. They were looking for health and welfare issues of each structure, including how demolition would impact and improve the community. They also wanted the city to include the number of structures to be demolished compared to the total number of dilapidated structures (both occupied and vacant).
The CDBG rep also noted that the city lost points due to lack of code enforcement in the last two years, and lack of detail on how the cleared properties would be managed moving forward.
The next grant cycle will be opened in either late April or early May.
Councilman Allen Thompson noted that the CBC was never officially notified of the rejection until they started asking questions. “Hopkins doesn’t count in this world,” said a visitor, Anna Mae Thompson. “We don’t have enough cooperation in this town.” The rejection letter in question was dated January 10th, but was not received until it was recently emailed.
There were 54 delinquent water and sewer customers listed this month, compared to 48 last month. The amount the city says is owed went down slightly, from $28,688.32 last month to $28,473.58 this month. The city discussed placing liens on properties that it says are delinquent. The city identified seven that it says are delinquent and councilman Allan Thompson identified 12 more that he says are making no effort to pay. Others are delinquent, but they are making payments on their accounts.
Mayor Matt Wray wanted to see the liens placed based on how long they were delinquent. “It needs to be based on time. I know of some that are years delinquent,” he said. Wray wanted to see a lien placed on customers that are six months delinquent. Water superintendent Chris Bird supported a one year period. “I hate to go a year, because that means it’s adding up,” said Thompson. Currently, water is shut off after two months, and disconnected customers must pay a $30 reinstatement fee plus all past due amounts. New customers must post a $200 security deposit. The city tabled the issue for a month so that clerk Sue Wagner can add a column showing how long delinquent customers have not paid.
A citizen, Roberta Boyd, asked why water rates were so high. The city’s explanation was that the water meters had not been read, so the city had prorated water rates for two months. “I got a bill for $95 one month and $400 the next month,” said Anna Mae Thompson. “There is no excuse for not reading meters every month.”
Clerk Sue Wagner said that part of the reason water and sewer bills seemed so high to people was that a $15-16 trash fee was included in with the sewer bill. “It’s considered a benefit of paying both the water and sewer,” she said.
Councilman Rick Gladman asked why there was such a big pothole problem at the intersection of 148 and Barnard. The city says the potholes in question are on the state right of way. Chris Bird said the DOT has had people come up and work on it, fix three potholes, and leave. “It’s been like this for 50 years,” he said. “Let’s do some talking to the state and go from there,” said Mayor Matt Wray. Bird said he was willing to fix the pothole problem if the city directed him to. “It’s not your problem,” said Gladman.
Skyler Miller came to talk about a neighbor’s dog who was running onto her property and barking at her dogs. She said she had gone to the Humane Society, who she says told her it was not their problem. But Mayor Matt Wray said they are supposed to come and get loose dogs under an agreement with the city. Nodaway County Sheriff’s Deputy Shadowe Miller, who was at the meeting, said that state has lax laws regarding vicious dogs. He said that if a dog bites another dog or a person, then they can do something. There is also the crime of Animal Trespass; however, the state would have to prove that the owner has neglected them for at least 48 hours. He said that if a dog was threatening life or property, people could use lethal force.
Hopkins city ordinances, like most towns, require owners to have their dogs on a leash or fenced in a yard or kept indoors. It also has an ordinance against vicious dogs targeting dog bites against other dogs or humans.
The city tabled a resolution for the Hopkins Picnic until they could change the dates for blocking off the streets from August 5th to 10th to give everybody more time to set up and take things down. It will be voted on at a future meeting.
The council voted to grant liquor licenses to all three applicants, Rick’s, M&M, and M2V.
The water tower by the school was recently inspected and the council received the inspection report. The tower was built in 1914 and is 100 feet high. The exterior and the interior were both found to be in good condition. There is a cable safety climb device on the ladders, and the tank access hatch is in proper size and configuration. The vent and screen are in place and in good condition, and the overflow screen is in good condition.
The foundation was found to be in poor condition, with what the report said was extensive damage. The tower structure was found to be in good condition. The roof hatch was found secured during inspection, and the tower site is fenced in with a security fence.
The next exterior painting is scheduled for 2026. The next interior cleanout is scheduled for 2026 as well.
The report was done by MaGuire Water for the city.
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