The Southwest City Council heard input from local officers on the declining condition of the 2005 Crown Victoria, sharing concerns that it was becoming a safety issue for the o◊cers. O◊cer Larry (Buck) Owen, reported that while on duty and following a car for possible speeding, the other car stopped suddenly, forcing him to hit the brakes. It was when he stopped suddenly that the patrol car died and was di◊cult to restart.
This is just one issue among many for the vehicle which has over 180,000 hard miles of service. The other patrol car, a 2008 Impala, is having transmission problems but not to the degree of the Ford’s problems. Mayor Joe Carpenter asked Chief Monte Brannon which car needed to be replaced the most.
All three officers replied in unison that the Crown Victoria was the most problematic of the fleet. Brannon had approached the council previously with concerns about how long the car would hold together. Knowing it would have to be replaced sooner or later, he did research on various options for a di◊erent patrol car.
Brannon presented the group with quotes for a 2013 Dodge Charger, which comes with a three-year warranty and reasonable payment plans or used Missouri State Highway Patrol vehicles which would not carry a warranty.
After reviewing all the options, Alderman Wendall Jones made a motion to approve the purchase of a 2013 Dodge Charger with the first payment to begin September 2014 on a 48-month contract, renewableannually. Alderwoman Cheryl Howe seconded, motion passed unanimously.
In other department business, City Supervisor and Fire Chief Shane Clark reported that the various types of calls totaled 21 runs, with 10 being medical calls.
Quickly changing hats, Clark reported that the leak on Cherokee Street had been repaired and no other leaks were found. Additionally, the sewer leak was repaired on Comanche Street. The city crews have been patching potholes on several city streets but the county is expected to start repairs on Liberty Road on the north end of the city limits.
Clark noted that the city rights-of-way were in need of immediate attention but the city did not have the right equipment to mow those areas. Clark then provided the group pictures of areas that are overgrown and hazards to tra◊c near corners and stop signs.
“I had Lois (City Clerk Lois Frye) contact both MoDOT and the county to see if they could mow those areas for us,” Clark said.
Frye said both agencies stated that they would not leave their own right-ofway.
Clark provided copies of prices for used tractors with boom mowers to the group from research he had completed for the meeting. With next years budget development coming up, Alderman Linda Hart, made a motion to table the decision to purchase the equipment until the new budget assignments were drafted during one of the upcoming meetings.
In old business, Carpenter discussed the plans for demolition of the two-story building at 200 N. Main that has been deemed hazardous by city o◊cials. The group will review a contract bid from Camcor Environmental, out of Stella. The mayor stressed that the contract and their proof of insurance needs to be reviewed to prevent extra liability on the city. Jones suggested that the city alsocontact Mid-Tec to see if they would provide a bid, as well.
The city has already paid for the asbestos inspection and would pay for the demolition and removal of the materials. Since the property is considered abandoned and has gone back to the bank as the fi rst lien holder, there would be a tax lien applied to the property. This would enable the city to recoup its expenses as the second lien holder on the property.
Resident Patty Burrow, posed the question to the council, “How does the landowner fit into this?
Alderman Bill Bouldin stated that once the liens were satisfied either by a sale of the property or the owner paying o◊both liens, they could do whatever they wanted.
The regular meeting was halted at 6:15 p.m. to have the 2013 Tax Levy hearing and the drafting of a new ordinance for setting the 2013 Tax Levy. Alderman Jones made a motion to approve the draft as presented and Hart provided the second, motion passed.
The total annual tax levy was actually reduced by .0107 to a new rate of .8092 for the new year from the 2012 rate of .8199. The GEO Bond Debt is closer to payoff and now just principal payments are being made, lowering the amount collected from 2012 fi gures of .1699 to .1592 for 2013. The General Revenue rate will stay the same at .6500.
With no comments from the public, Ca rpenter proceeded with the two readings of the proposed ordinance. Each reading was approved unanimously by the council.
Returning to regular business, a discussion was held concerning neglected property within the city. Brannon stated that he posted notices on property owned by Kenny Drake and properties owned by the Westbrook family six weeks ago but there has been no action by either party to clean up their property.
The council advised that the city would mow the properties and bill the owners for the city’sexpenses. From this discussion it was decided that city ordinances related to neglected properties should be reviewed and possibly revised. The mayor suggested that bids be sent out for contract mowers to help with mowing the various properties needing attention.
In other old business, a draft for a proposed delinquent tax ordinance was reviewed by the group with immediate concerns being expressed by more than one council member regarding the wording of point number four. The wording allowed for the city to ticket and then turn o◊water and sewer service to residents who were delinquent on the city water and sewer bill.
“We like our residents and I won’t go for this at all,” Hart responded. Jones pointed out that there was no determined time-frame for notice to ticket for delinquent personal property taxes and that he felt a two-year limit should be added to the wording.
With removal of one portion and the addition of the two-year time limit, the group decided to re-visit the discussion after the changes were drafted.
In new business, Carpenter recognized resident Jim Stanek and his wife, to address the council with concerns about drainage issues on Cherokee Street. “I have cleaned out the ditch several times myself and it just keeps filling back in, flooding my yard and the neighbors,” Stanek said. Currently there is only a small diameter sewer pipe where a larger culvert should be located.
The group felt that this issue should be discussed with Clark to best determine the size and depth of a new whistle.
The mayor announced that the city park will be able to expand thanks to the generous donation of land by “Doc” Blankenship. The long range plan is to build another baseball fi eld in hopes of someday having an American Legion team develop. Southwest City has a local American Legion Post.
He also said he hopes to have a meeting with theMcDonald County High School to see if they would be willing to play some of their games with Grove and other Oklahoma team on the new fi eld.
The city would pay for the survey, legal fees and fence construction for the additional 400 feet gained from the donation. Hart made a motion to proceed with the plans and it was seconded by Howe.
Sheriff Mike Hall provided an outline of the services to be covered by the requested $2 increase to court costs. He noted that the state no longer provides funding for maintenance on the advanced biometrics systems used to book new inmates. The maintenance of the systems can average about $3,500 a year.
As technology progresses, the county hopes to follow suit by purchasing a new computer for processing. The current one is eight years old and facial recognition programs to expedite processing of prisoners. Currently the sheri◊’s o◊ce has a live scan fi ngerprinting machine and he noted that cities should consider sending their offenders over to get their fingerprints taken digitally. The accuracy of the live scan is known almost immediately and the true identify of the person is shown within 20 minutes.
Frye explained that a new ordinance would need to be drafted to increase the local court costs. She added that Municipal Court Judge Erin Willis would like to visit with Sheri◊Hall about the proposed increase and how the funds would be spent. The discussion was put on hold and no decision made.
The group went to closed session to discuss needs of the police department. The session in summary discussed advertising for a new part-time police o◊cer and approaching Simmons Foods partner with the city in the acquisition of a certified drug dog. Contact will be made with Simmons to have a representative at the next city council meeting.
The payment of bills from Aug. 29 for $22,548.58, Sept. 10 for $14,338.05 and Sept. 24 in the amount of $6,871.84 was approved.
News, Pages 1 on 10/03/2013