STE. GENEVIEVE — The Ste. Genevieve Board of Aldermen met last night, and discussed and decided several issues.
City Administrator Happy Welch, in his temporary capacity as interim tourism director presented the tourism report. There was no announcement regarding the former tourism director. Welch discussed contracting with an advertising agency rather than hiring another tourism director.
Community Development Administrator Dave Bova announced there would be two public meetings on the development of a new comprehensive plan for the city: Monday, August 29 at 6 p.m. and Tuesday, August 30th at 10 a.m., both in the city hall board room. Those who would like to submit information are invited.
City resident Lori Figge appeared during the public comment section for the second meeting in a row. She told the aldermen that the county has beautiful roads, while the city streets “suck.” She said she was glad that some of the areas that she had discussed the previous meeting had been improved, thanks to her appearance at the meeting, but no thanks to the city and its officials. She said the sales tax is one of the highest in the state.
Geoff Giglierano of French Colonial America discussed tourism issues including the replacement of the previous tourism director, advertising on electronic billboards and the video on the monitor at the community center. He also discussed the correcting the web site. He noted the numbers of visitors this July are down from last year.
“We really have something that’s special,” he said. “We really have something that when you get it out there, people are impressed and thrilled by it. And when they get here they are even more thrilled.”
During the regular session, the aldermen:
Approved a liquor license for Oliver’s Restaurant, 109 N. Main Street.
Approved Resolution 2022-63 to have C.B. Engineering, DBA Cochran Engineering to conduct a storm water analysis of designated areas of the city.
Gave first round approval on 7-0-1 votes; Alderman Jeff Eydmann was absent. (except as noted) to the following:
Bill No. 4500: An agreement with Ste. Genevieve Community Access Television Board to provide television programming on Channels 990 and 991 of the Ste. Genevieve Charter Spectrum Cable Television system.
Bill No. 4501: A change in the city zoning regulations, animals, and streets, sidewalks and other public places regulations.
Bill No. 4502: A change in the city code regarding buildings and building regulations.
Bill No. 4503: Accepting the subdivision of the 500 block of Progress Parkway. (First and second round approval)
Bill No. 4504: An $8,780 agreement with Bacon Commercial Design for mechanical and electrical engineering for the city hall and council chambers remodel project. (First and second reading).
Bill No. 4505: A change in the city code regarding nuisances.
The aldermen approved a low bid from County Home Center for electrical building materials for the water plant.
During the work session, the city administrator and aldermen discussed the 2023 budget and pay increases for city employees, and the repaving of Fourth Street.
City Administrator Welch says he will be asking the board to decide between an eight percent increase, or hourly increases of 50 cents, 75 cents or $1. To provide money for the employee raises Welch said he removed two items from the general fund: $55,000 for a tornado siren that would be installed near the water tower on Route M and transferred extrication tools for the fire department to “rural fire”. He also removed $20,000 in funding for a part-time employee at the welcome center.
Alderwoman Ashley Armbruster voiced her objection to the cutting of the welcome center position.
“I am going on record as being adamantly opposed to it. I think we need to add that back in,” she said.
Welch explained that position was a new position that would have been an assistant to the former tourism director and was not a reduction of the staff at the welcome center.
“So we still have the part time staff (at the welcome center) Armbruster asked.
“Right,” Welch replied.
The aldermen then discussed other capital purchases, including license plate-reading cameras. Police Chief Eric Bennett said the county has three of them. He explained that should a vehicle drive past the camera with a license plate that had been entered into the computer as stolen or wanted in connection with a crime or connected to someone with a felony warrant, it would alert police to the presence of the vehicle.
Another item is a computer and computer program to track the progress of permit applications, code enforcement and other items in the community development office.
In answer to a another question, Welch said no one has taken advantage of the city’s offer to split the costs of sidewalk repairs with homeowners. The board feels it may be time to enforce the city code requiring residents to maintain their sidewalks.
The tentative budget also includes money for a part time fire chief and part time police officers.
Welch says the purchase of a crack sealer for the street department is also budgeted.
Also being proposed is a $300 cap on health insurance premiums for employees because employees will begin paying 30 percent of their health insurance premiums in March 2023. He will also ask the board to consider the list of low cost and no cost employee incentives which he passed out at the previous work session.
Welch said the budget will need to be presented to the full board in the budget meeting and hearing August 18th.
Welch said he would have more information on the North Fourth Street repaving issues at the meeting. He said the city can improve the ponding issue between Washington Street and LeCompte Street with an extra $36,659 in addition to the planned repaving. He said that will include some major work on the east side with the sidewalk and the west side with some retaining walls. Welch said it would not require rebidding the project.
“We need to fix it right,” Mayor Paul Hassler commented.
The regular and work sessions were televised live on SteGenTV Channel 991 and on line at SteGenTV’s You Tube Channel and are now available on the SteGenTV You Tube Channel at https://youtu.be/E3yQe_nZvVo