Proceedings of April 21 St. Mary Board of Aldermen meeting released

/ News, Ste. Genevieve News

ST. MARY – The mniutes of the Tuesday, April 21 meeting of the St. Mary Board of Aldermen have been released.

 

THE CITY OF ST. MARY, MISSOURI

Board of Alderman Meeting

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

6:00 PM

 Be it Remembered:  A regular meeting of the St. Mary Board of Aldermen was called to order by the Honorable Mayor Adam Bequette on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, beginning at 6:00 PM at City Hall located at 782 3rd Street, St. Mary, Missouri 63673.

Pledge of Allegiance: The Meeting was opened with The Pledge of Allegiance 

Roll Call:  Aldermen answering the roll call were Alderman Rose Rosenzweig, Alderman Dr. Zen Duda, and Alderman Brian Helms.   Quorum present.

Approval of Agenda:  Motion to approve agenda as printed by Alderman Duda, second Alderman Helms , all in favor , Alderman Helms (aye), Alderman Duda (aye) Alderman Rosenzweig (aye), motion carried

Consent Agenda:  Motion to approve agenda as printed by Alderman Duda, second Alderman Helms , all in favor , Alderman Helms (aye), Alderman Duda (aye) Alderman Rosenzweig (aye), motion carried

  • Minutes from previous meeting
  • Treasurer’s Report
  • Collectors Report
  • Bills for Payment
  • City Clerk to pay previously appropriate expenses as they come due as allied by budget.
  • No Public Forum

 Unfinished Business:

  • Secretary of State and AG office of Investigation Findings of Financials From 2009 through 2024 and        Administrative Misappropriated City Public Funds/ARPA for unauthorized account use prior to the 2024 Election. – Reading of report by Mayor Bequette; Board discussed possible legal action if it could be taken, and suggested as grant and FEMA funds  come in that the spending is tracked better in order to keep this from happening again

 

  • Certification of Election Results, Board Acceptance, and Approval of Ballot Issue Bond Passage into Record- Alderman Zenon Duda makes motion to carry, Second By Rose Rosenzweig. All in Favor Vote Alderman Helms (aye), Alderman Duda (aye) Alderman Rosenzweig (aye), motion carried
  • Oath of Office Ceremony for Newly Elected Officials or Appointees- Motion to appoint Melvin Felix to Board of Alderman, Alderman Duda Sponsored; Roll call Vote Alderman Helms (aye), Alderman Duda (aye) Alderman Rosenzweig (aye), motion carried Oath Read by Interim City Clerk Lesley Doty to Alderman Rose Rosenzweig, Alderman Brian Helms, Alderman Melvin Frelix, and Mayor Adam Bequette all accepted
  • The Board shall appoint an Acting President – Mayor Pro Tem for a one-year term, in accordance with Section 79.090.1 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri.- Alderman Helms Recommends Alderman Duda, Alderman Duda recommends Alderman Helms, Alderman Frelix Seconds Alderman Duda for the position. Roll call Vote  Alderman Helms (aye), Alderman Duda (Nay) Alderman Rosenzweig (aye), and Alderman Frelix (Aye) motion carried. Alderman Zenon Duda is the Mayor Pro Tem for a one year term.
  • Banking Authorization for Elected and Appointed Officials- Alderman Rose Rosenzweig was suggested for the role of Authorized Signatory. Alderman Helms volunteered, Alderman Duda seconds all in favor Alderman Helms (aye), Alderman Duda (aye) Alderman Rosenzweig (aye), and Alderman Frelix (Aye) motion carried. Alderman Brian Helms is the  third Signatory. 
  • Cemetery Bid Proposals and Selection for Removal of Deceased and Hazardous Trees.- a Bid of $800.00 was entered to cut down limbs by Holland outdoors, Holland outdoors is insured, the bid motioned to carry by Alderman Frelix, Second by Alderman Helms all voted Alderman Helms (aye), Alderman Duda (Aye) Alderman Rosenzweig (aye), and Alderman Frelix (Aye) motion carried. The bid  was accepted with the option to circle back and drop the tree(s) in question for safety and to keep property damage down, as the limbs have been breaking off during high winds.
  • The meter bids for replacement (11) are illegible and are not providing accurate readings on the city side,

Four (4) bids were made:

  • Plain Simple: 12 meters at a cost of $1722.24
  • AB General Contracting: 12 meters at a cost of $1500.00
  • Core and Main: 10 meters at a cost of $3480.50
  • IMCO: 10 meters (manual read) at a cost of $ 1360.00

A motion was made by Alderman Frelix to purchase 12 meters from AB General Contracting Second by Alderman Duda all in favor Alderman Helms (aye), Alderman Duda (Aye) Alderman Rosenzweig (aye), and Alderman Frelix (Aye) motion carried. AB General Contracting will be used to acquire the meters.

  • Damage occurred on 4th Street due to illegal activities resulting in Property Damage.
    • Damaged Hydrant
    • Damaged street binder
    • Moved to closed meeting due to legal and investigation ongoing
  • Departmental Reports:
  1. Emergency Management-Adam Bequette EMD
    • FEMA is open
    • Documentation revised and resubmitted due to current world issues affecting costs
    • Will update weekly
  1. Police Department- Dr. Zen Duda
  • Nothing due to no current department
  1. Administration Dept- Brian Helms
  • Lesley is doing good
  • Still in hiring process
  1. Street Department- Dr. Zen Duda
  • 4th Street Fires and burnouts
  • Damaged Hydrant
  • Binder on street damaged
  • 3rd and Sycamore needs to be filled with chat Alderman Duda will spread when available
  1. Water / Wastewater Department- Adam Bequette EMD
  • Sludge hauled out
  • UV room running fine- TG Ranken came in to ensure everything was operational
  • Meter raised at Barnett’s to keep from digging out for meter reading/ repairs
  • 123 Cemetery Rd water line cave in repair looking good seeded and strawed
  • Watertower seeded and strawed
  • Grinder needs replaced on Spruce
  • Watertower inspection complete
  • Ran wire to box at lift station in subdivision Adam getting relay to restart
  • County meter is good
  • Chlorine was low during watertower inspection; regulated afterward
  • Other water tower will need inspection next year
  • 8th Street hydrant flows water to bottom of hill needs capped before street repair or will cause sink hole
  • Maintenance on vehicles
  • Fuel tanks full with gauges to keep track of usage
  • Mowing in full swing
  1. Park / Cemetery / Animal Control Department- Rose Rosenwig/Brian Helms
  • inquired about mowing schedule
  • would like to see cemetery mowing process complete in a more timely manner
  • understands scheduling restraints
  1. Citizens Participation
  • Connie Pritchard- Speeding up Cedar St needs to be addressed people are spinning out on gravel street repair and her driveway
  • Board will look in to this matter

Meeting Adjournment: 

  • Motion to adjourn made by Alderman Helms seconded by Alderman Duda. Alderman Duda (aye), Alderman Frelix (aye), and Alderman Rosenzweig (aye), Alderman Helms (aye) meeting adjourned at 7:48 pm.

 

_____________________                                                                                          ____________________

Mayor Adam Bequette                                                                                               Lesley Roberts, Acting

                                                                                                                                    City Clerk