St. Mary Board of Aldermen meeting minutes released

/ News, Ste. Genevieve News

ST. MARY – The minutes of the Thursday, July 17, 2025 meeting of the St. Mary Board of Aldermen have been released.

 

The SteGenTV video of the meeting is available at: https://youtu.be/oUBz5cN44Y0?si=mZmKYG908UnRhtKJ

 

THE CITY OF ST. MARY, MISSOURI

Board of Alderman Meeting

Thursday, July 17, 2025

6:00 PM

 

  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, July 17, 2025 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 Rose Rosenzweig, Alderman Dr. Zen Duda via video/audio, and Alderman Kathy Bergmann .
  4. Approval of Agenda: Motion to approve agenda as printed by Alderman Bergmann, second Alderman Rosenswieg, all in favor Alderman Bergmann (aye), Alderman Rosenswieg (aye), Alderman Duda (aye), motion carried
  5. Consent Agenda: motion to approve by Alderman Duda, second by Alderman Rosenzweig.  Alderman Duda (aye), Alderman Bergmann (aye), and Alderman Rosenzweig (aye), motion carried.

 Minutes from previous meeting: Request made my Mayor Bequette to amend Board of Alderman of minutes, meeting date 5/9/2025 to reflect the following:  At the time of building new Fire Department location a lease agreement was signed with the St. Mary Community Building Association and payments were made to the association  by the city in the amount of $7640.00 annually, lease agreement was not extended after the terms of agreement were met.  Motion by Alderman Bergmann to accept the minutes from the previous and amend minutes of 5/9/2025 meeting second by Alderman Rosenswieg. All in favor Alderman Duda (aye), Alderman Bergmann (aye), and Alderman Rosenzweig (aye), motion carried.

  • Treasurer’s Report
  • Collectors Report
  • Bills for Payment
  • City Clerk to pay previously appropriate expenses as they come due as allied by budget.
  1. Public Forum:
  • Presentation given by Morgan Walsh, Business Services Specialist and Desi Serini, Market Business Manager, Vice President of First State Community Bank to help the City of St. Mary improve efficiency on bill paying and funds management. Focus of the presentation is as follows:
  • ACH deposits for bill paying and payroll
  • City credit cards and fleet cards with cash back option
  • Merging accounts to stream line movement among accounts in QuickBooks and at the bank
  • Writing fewer checks and avoiding mail delays when paying bills
  • Less trips to the bank making deposits
  • Mark Vogt – St. Mary resident expressed his disapproval of the current legal situation the Mayor and the city are currently facing.
  1. Unfinished Business:
  • DNR and Semo RPC income surveys are currently at a standstill. Alderman Duda recommends using the white board to have a visual of where surveys stand and what still needs to be done.  City Clerk to provide a list of residents that have not responded to the Board so a more active approach can be implemented.

 

 

  1. New Business:
  • First State Community Bank CDs – Meter Deposit CD and Cemetery CD are maturing. Alderman Duda recommends shopping around for the best interest rate to maximize savings for the city.
  • 1st Reading – City Clerk’s wages to be divided between water, sewer, and general, 1/3 to be paid from each department.
  • Alderman Duda requested a written proposal at the next scheduled meeting, along with updating the current ordinance pertaining to City Clerk wages
  • Transfer of Fire Department ownership and real estate to Ste. Genevieve County Fire District
  • Review of documents requiring signature received from SGCFD attorney
  • Alderman Duda recommends documents be sent to city attorney for review prior to signing. Mayor Bequette requests the city attorney be informed this is an expedited request as the SGCFD plans to go live on 8/1/2025.
  • MRV Bank – Fire Department CD has matured – City Clerk to contact city attorney regarding the legalities of rolling over or cashing out the CD at no penalty, 10 days to make a decision.
  • Citizens written/verbal grievances:
  • Complaint regarding McBride Metals – referring to the condition of the property and unlicensed vehicles on the property, Mayor Bequette to issue a formal letter to owner
  • Complaint regarding overflowing grinder on a monthly basis – issued addressed on 7/15/2025. A recommendation made by Alderman Duda to keep daily documentation/communication on work in progress and work that still needs to be done to keep all city employees informed and residents can be informed of progress in a timely fashion.  To be implemented immediately.
  • Written complaint from a resident regarding a former employee. Resident is requesting information on cases that should have been filed on their behalf.  Mayor Bequette will investigate and make contact with resident.
  • Department of Natural Resources Vouchers for employee education – Mayor Bequette ordered new vouchers and updated city contact information with DNR.
  • Alderman Duda requested Frankie Ullman, Chief Operator, to teach water/sewer employee Eric Doty to do sewer samples to free Frankie up to do other projects, ASAP.
  • Mayor Bequette updated the Board of Alderman on the sewer plants current issues and status. Mayor Bequette has been in contact with FEMA, MoPerm and other resources to assist with funding for the current repairs the sewer plant needs and long-term funding.
  • Thank you to the City of Perryville for assisting our city over the weekend with sewer plant issues.
  1. Citizen Participation: none

10.Departmental Reports:

Emergency Management – Mayor Bequette – continued FEMA on line training, flood mitigation, working with Eric Doty on cleaning out ditches, monitoring water shedding and the water table. 

Police Department – Alderman Duda – city is currently accepting applications for the position of Police Chief.  Citizens to contact county dispatch for assistance. 

Fire Department – Alderman Bergmann – Frankie Ullman reports 14 calls, 8 medical, 3 motor vehicle, 1 motor vehicle fire. Service done on truck 81 and 42.

Street Department – Alderman Duda

  • Pot holes that were filled look good, city will continue working on this issue.
  • Rock was put down on 3rd street
  • Street signs are disappearing – a vehicle restriction sign is needed on Sycamore
  • Flashing red light was destroyed during a motor vehicle accident. Mayor Bequette to contact DOT for recommendations that are more cost effective to replace it.

 

Department Reports continued:

Water/Wastewater Department- Mayor Adam Bequette

Frankie Ullman reports

  • Repaired chemical feed pump, more line needs to be ordered in case of another issue
  • Watching manholes for possible illegal dumping
  • Thank you to the City of Perryville for assisting with pumping out the sewer plant over the weekend. After pumping the plant out items that do not belong in the plant were found, rubbers on rakes are gone. Engineers are assisting with finding funding to assist with repairs to the plant.  DNR is aware of the plants current condition and what the city is doing to repair the issue.
  • Sewer Plant is currently functioning OK.
  • Residential grinders are having to be replaced due to inappropriate materials being rinsed or flushed down residential drains. Flushable wipes are not grinder friendly.  Residents are flushing feminine products, pouring grease down sinks, flushing other personal use items that do not belong in the sewer system.
  • Ordinance 420 allows the city to hold residents responsible for expenses incurred by the city to repair/replace grinders that have malfunctioned due to resident negligence. Alderman Bergmann recommends the ordinance be posted on resident water bills as a reminder.

Park & Cemetery Department – Alderman Rosenzwieg – Eric Doty reports ball field grass is getting tall.  Also reports he has been picking up trash in the park and cemetery.  There are 2 trees currently leaning and will need cut down. 

 

  1. Meeting Adjournment: Motion to adjourn and move into closed session made by Alderman Bergmann seconded by Alderman Duda.  Alderman Duda (aye), Alderman Bergmann (aye), and Alderman Rosenzweig (aye), meeting adjourned at 8:15pm.

 

 

_____________________________

Mayor Adam Bequette

 

 

 

______________________________

City Clerk Jessica Gunter