ST. MARY – The minutes of the St. Mary Board of Aldermen meeting held Thursday, August 8th have been released.
THE CITY OF ST. MARY, MISSOURI
Board of Aldermen Meeting
Thursday, August 8th, 2024
6:00 p.m.
1. Be it Remembered: A regular meeting of the St. Mary Board of Aldermen was called to order by the Honorable Mayor Adam Bequette on Thursday, August 8th, 2024 beginning at 6:00 PM at City Hall located at 782 3rd Street, St. Mary, Missouri 63673.
2. Pledge of Allegiance: The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
3. Roll Call: Aldermen answering the roll call were Alderman Brenda Thompson, Alderman Kathy Bergmann, Alderman Dr. Zen Duda and Alderman Annette Hacker.
4. Agenda: A motion was made by Alderman Dr. Zen Duda to approve the agenda. Alderman Annette Hacker seconded the motion. Alderman Annette Hacker, Alderman Kathy Bergmann, Alderman Brenda Thompson, and Alderman Dr. Zen Duda voted yea on a voice vote. Motion carried.
5. Consent Agenda: A motion was made by Alderman Dr. Zen Duda to approve the Consent Agenda which consists of the following: Minutes from Previous Meeting, Treasurers Report, Collectors Report and Bills Paid and City Manager to pay previously appropriated expenses as they come due as allowed by the budget. Alderman Brenda Thompson seconded the motion. Alderman Annette Hacker, Alderman Brenda Thompson, Alderman Dr. Zen Duda, Alderman Kathy Bergmann voted yea on a voice vote. Motion carried.
6. Public Hearing on Property Taxes- Melvin Frelix asked what the tax rate was. Mayor Bequette states that is it $1.00 (one dollar) for every $100 (One Hundred Dollar) assessed valuation of all property.
Smith and Company Engineers: Via Phone Call. They have sent information to us regarding the Request for Qualification. Bill Robinson stated that he has been with the company for 56 years. He stated that their company is set up a little different than other engineering companies. They have 8 licensed engineers. Greg Bell has 20 years of experience in engineering. Mayor Adam Bequette asked how many locations have you done locally. Bill stated Marble Hill, Puxico, Bloomfield, Malden and several other cities with water and sewer plants. They stated that they have had several rehabs to rebuilding, retrofitting what is already there to and updating those plants. Alderman Dr Zen Duda asked about the cost. Bill stated that they do phases of cost. Mayor Adam Bequette asked if they have references. Bill stated that they have several references and that he would email City Clerk April with those references.
Mike Montgomery From Heartland Engineering: Micheal stopped by to answer any question that the board had for hi and his company. Michael stated that they have done two plants that were similar to our sewer plant. Frank Gerardot stated that we have both grinder and gravity fed sewer systems. Frank asked if it would be feasible to go to gravity fed? Michael replied when possible that they like to go to gravity fed but they look at both options.
7. Street Repairs: Mayor Adam Bequette stated that he has contacted three paving companies, which are Jokerst, Black Diamond, and Bauman’s. Dean from Bauman’s has never got back with us. The board decided to go with Jokerst Inc. to repave 3rd street and Sycamore and fix the other streets that need the road fixed from running water lines across those streets.
A motion was made by Alderman Dr. Zen Duda to approve Jokerst Inc to fix the city streets. Alderman Brenda Thompson seconded the motion. Aldermen answering the roll call were Alderman Brenda Thompson, Alderman Kathy Bergmann, Alderman Dr. Zen Duda and Alderman Annette Hacker.
Alderman Annette Hacker, Alderman Kathy Bergmann, Alderman Dr. Zen Duda and Alderman Brenda Thompson voted yea on a voice vote. Motion carried.
Citizen Melvin Frelix asked what the street repairs were about. Mayor Adam Bequette stated that we had to repair a water leak on 3rd and Sycamore, and that the road was torn up from all the delivery drivers. Mr. Frelix asked why we couldn’t use the asphalt plant out on Z road. Mayor Bequette responded that he talked to Bill Fischer owns that and said that asphalt was for highway 32 and the roads in Ste. Genevieve County.
8. Personnel Manual Update: Alderman Annette made a motion to table the personnel manual update. Alderman Kathy Bergmann second that motion. Alderman Annette Hacker, Alderman Kathy Bergmann, Alderman Dr. Zen Duda and Alderman Brenda Thompson voted yea on a voice vote. Motion carried.
9. Tractor Replacement: The tractor is starting to get worse and worry some. It is starting to become a hazard on hill and pulling the honey wagon. We have gotten a few quotes for some new tractors. We are going to try trading in the two tractor we have for some of the payment on the new tractor. Frank Ullman stated that we need a tractor with some kind of warranty. He also suggested that we could contract out the mowing of the buyout properties to save some cost on a new tractor since we would not need a real big tractor.
10. Letter to Citizens with information about City grinders: City grinders are being damaged by the homeowners. Ordinance 419 states that you get one warning and after that you will have to pay for the parts and labor. City Clerk April Grindstaff will be sending out a letter and a copy of the ordinance to all the city residents.
11. Ozark Scenic Byway Letter of Intent. City Clerk April Grindstaff stated that she talked to lady over The Ozark Scenic Byway. The Board of Alderman had a few questions about it which was: is it going to cost the city anything, what is the benefit for the scenic by way. The lady that I talked to told me that if the by way goes to the next step it may or may not cost the city anything. The city would have to hold a public hearing and the Missouri department of transportation would pay for the ad in the paper. It would also bring tourist through our city.
Alderman Annette made a motion to approve the letter of intent for the Ozark Scenic Byway. Alderman Kathy Bergmann second that motion. Alderman Annette Hacker, Alderman Kathy Bergmann, Alderman Dr. Zen Duda and Alderman Brenda Thompson voted yea on a voice vote. Motion carried.
12. BILL NO. 1001 – AN ORDINANCE ASCERTAINING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY NECESSARY TO BE RAISED BY TAXATION FOR THE GENERAL REVENUE PURPOSES DURING THE YEAR 2024 AND FIXING THE ANNUAL RATE OF LEVY THEREFOR.
Alderman Annette Hacker made a motion for a first reading of bill 1001 by heading only. Alderman Kathy Bergmann seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: Alderman Brenda Thompson (aye), Alderman Kathy Bergmann (aye), Alderman Dr. Zen Duda (aye) and Alderman Annette Hacker (aye). City Clerk April Grindstaff read bill 1001 for a first reading by heading only.
We could not get a second motion to for the reading of bill 1001 because the information was not present for the public. So, City Clerk April Grindstaff will have the information ready by the next meeting so we can get a second reading.
13. BILL NO. 1002 – AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING AN ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING ON OCTOBER 1, 2024 AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS PURSUANT THERETO.
Alderman Annette Hacker made a motion to table bill 1002 until the next meeting. Alderman Brenda Thompson second that motion. Alderman Annette Hacker, Alderman Kathy Bergmann, Alderman Dr. Zen Duda and Alderman Brenda Thompson voted yea on a voice vote. Motion carried.
14. Engineering RFQ -packets and score: City Clerk April Grindstaff handed out the RFQ packets and the scoring sheets.
Alderman Annette made a motion to approve the letter of intent for the Ozark Scenic Byway. Alderman Kathy Bergmann second that motion. Alderman Annette Hacker, Alderman Kathy Bergmann, Alderman Dr. Zen Duda and Alderman Brenda Thompson voted yea on a voice vote. Motion carried.
15. Replacement of public works truck: Mayor Adam Bequette stated that it would be nice to have a public works truck. The public works vehicle was the van. The van is no longer in commission. Alderman Annette Hacker stated that we have a lot going on right now and we need to focus on those before we look at getting a public works vehicle.
16. Spectrum update: James from Spectrum came to the meeting and gave us an update on how this are going. James stated that they have a few more lines to put underground. The restoration crew was in town today. James also stated they should be done with the project by the eighteenth of this month. Mayor Adam Bequette asked the board if they wanted extend their permit until they were finished. The Board of Alderman approved the expansion of the permit.
17. Insurance claim for toro mower: City Clerk April Grindstaff stated that we turned in an insurance claim on the stolen toro mower. The insurance company stated that they would give us $2600.00 for the mower but we have a deductible of $1000.00. So, the insurance company is going to give the city $1600.00.
Alderman Dr. Zen Duda made a motion to approve the claim from the insurance company of $1600.00. Alderman Brenda Thompson second that motion. Alderman Annette Hacker, Alderman Kathy Bergmann, Alderman Dr. Zen Duda and Alderman Brenda Thompson voted yea on a voice vote. Motion carried.
18. Missouri disabled sportsmen organization charity ride: Mayor Adam Bequette stated that Jeff Roth is doing a Charity ride for Missouri Disabled Sportsmen Organization. Mayor Adam Bequette asked for approval from the Board of Alderman for the ride to come through the city. Alderman Annette Hacker stated as long as the riders do not tear anything up and they have proof of insurance.
19. Board request for appraisal on market value to sell the city park: The board of Alderman approved for an appraisal for the city park and make it for the public to know.
20. Department Reports:
a. Emergency Management – Director April Grindstaff had nothing to report.
b. Police Department – Alderman Dr. Zen Duda spoke and said that the city currently does not have a city cop. Mayor Adam Bequette contact county to help us with coverage. We have two applications for the police department. We need to have them come in for an interview.
c. Fire Department – Alderman Kathy Bergmann gave the floor to Fire Chief Frankie Ullman. Frankie stated the at his last Fire Chiefs meeting that they are moving on with the process of becoming a fire district. We got a letter from Linda Wagner the Ste. Genevieve County Assessor stating that based on a thirty cents per $100 assessed value of Personal Property and Real estate property values, the estimated annual income would be approximately $2,061,000. Of this approximately $815,000 would be held in escrow for current Property tax appeals filed with the State Tax Commission of MO. The difference would be $1,246,000. Hopefully this will be on the ballot in April of 2025. The attorney will get ahold of the city clerk to go over the assets of the fire department. They are going to push back the ISO rating to a 6. Ste Gen is going to be their own District. We will still have our fire house and equipment. We will just be a satellite station. We had 7 calls. 1 investigation call 1 call for a dryer caught on fire 4 medic calls, 1 vehicle accident with injuries. 911 is putting a new radio tower in on Z road. So we don’t have any more dead zones. It should be completed by the end of September.
d. Street Department – Alderman Dr. Zen Duda stated that we discussed about the streets earlier in the meeting
e. Water / Wastewater Department –Frankie Ullman reported down at the sewer plant one of the rotors was not working properly since the new bearing were put in. The company came back and replaced the bearings. Rotor one keeps kicking in and out so he is having the company come and look at the electric panel. He did get both grinders at the lift station put in but only one is running right now since the conduit is not big enough for both wires. He has also replaced grinders at the apartments and on fifth street. Water side of thing everything is looking good.
f. Park / Cemetery / Animal Control – Alderman Brenda Thompson had nothing to report.
g. Citizens Participation – Connie Pritchard asks the board for approval to put in a new water meter that she has bought with her own money. She wants to be proved wrong that the meter that she has now is still good, Frankie stated that he has not problem putting in the meter. The board Approved her request.
Melvin Frelix had a few questions. The first question was what is the cities over all budget. City Cleark asked which department. Melvin said all of them. April is going to get back with him on the over all budget request. The second thing was that things are not getting posted and no communication. Mayor Adam Bequette stated that we do post things. We post them on the city website, and send it to Sun times News to post. Melvin also asked if we have advertised selling the park. We have not advertised it yet since we do not have an amount. But when we do, we will advertise it. The last thing was that he asked if he could get some rock on church street. The Board said that we will get him some.
21. Regular Session Adjournment: There being no further business before the board, a motion was made by Alderman Annette Hacker to adjourn at 8:10 p.m. Alderman Brenda Thompson seconded the motion. All the aldermen voted yea on a voice vote. Meeting adjourned.
___________________________________________________________________
CITY CLERK – APRIL GRINDSTAFF MAYOR – ADAM BEQUETTE