Hopkins City Council Reorganizes

The Hopkins City Council reorganized Monday at its regular council meeting Monday. The election results from April 7th were certified. David Smyser received 33 votes as alderman. Allen Coleman received 27, Allan Thompson 16, and Rick Gladman 20. There were two seats open, meaning that David Smyser and Allen Coleman were elected. The General Tax Levy passed with 39 yes votes and 11 no votes. Mr. Smyser and Mr. Coleman were sworn in.

Shadoe Miller was named the new Council President. The following members were named to different boards:

Finance Board — Shadow Miller and David Smyser;

Street Board — Shadoe Miller and Roberta Boyd;

City Representative to Cemetery Board — Roberta Boyd, Allen Coleman.

Water and Sewer Board — David Smyser and Allen Coleman.

Chris Bird explained in-depth to the board the need for the double chip and seal on the wide streets in town and the downside if the board approves a single chip and seal. Third Street from East Thompson to East Barnard and East Barnard from 148 to North Fifth Street have not been done for 10 or more years. The council voted to take off Third Street from Thompson to McPherson and accept the bid from Mid-America Road Builders, bringing the cost from $76,033.72 to $69,253.72.

The council voted to redo the curb on a portion of South Third Street, not to exceed $2,000.

Councilman Shadoe Miller contacted two trash companies in the area and is waiting to hear back from them to see if they would give a quote for trash pickup for the whole town. Clerk Mary Smith has reached out to Jerri Dearmont at the Regional Council to check into a grant for a trash truck for the city to pick up trash instead of contracting it out. The bid was tabled until next month.

Heather Montenguise from the Northwest Missouri Regional Council came to talk about a street project survey from around the county. The goal is to make streets safe in rural small towns that might not be able to afford some projects to improve their streets and walking areas.

The council voted to renew liquor licenses for Rick’s Country Shoppe and M&M Pub & Grub.

Clerk Mary Smith is in the process of filling out the lead and copper survey and returning it to the EPA.

Chris Bird is looking into a chemical to help flushing the filters since the water plant is struggling to keep up with water usage. Currently, the plant is running 80,000 gallons per day. It was made for up to 100,000 gallons per day.

Mayor Matt Wray reported that the sprinkler was being turned on at the ball field with nobody around. Chris Bird started that previously, multiple water hydrants had been turned on and left running. Chris is going to padlock the ones he can so they do not get turned on when not needed.

Clerk Mary Smith got a call from a water customer that would like to disconnect from Hopkins and hook up to Rural Water. Maryville Rural Water needs a letter of release from the city. Mary will draft a letter of release to the customer along with guidelines if the property should want to reconnect to Hopkins in the future.