The prospective new buyer of the old Holiday Motel introduced himself to the Noel City Council at the council's July 8 meeting.
Mark Russell, of Joplin, told the council he is in the process of buying the property, which he said he plans to use as his "primary residence." Russell, who has already been mowing and cleaning up weeds and brush on the property, said he will start work on the structure as soon as the sale is finalized.
Russell said he has no plans for the old motel to be occupied, but that he might use the structure for storage. He said he will pay the "astronomical" past due sewer bill, about $3,000, due the city by the current owner.
The old motel was at the center of controversy prior to the announcement by Russell that he was buying the property. The city council and a former mayor were divided on a plan by a Kansas City developer to purchase the property and tear down the old motel in order to build low-income apartments.
The council, with mostly members not on the current version of the board, voted not to rezone the property to multi-family residential.
The city's refusal to rezone the property led to a lawsuit being filed by the developer, which the city settled in August 2013 by voting to rezone the property and to pay the damages.
Department Reports
The upcoming construction of a Walmart Express has provided an indirect benefit to the Noel Fire Department, according to Brandon Barrett fire chief. Barrett said the new store will be located on property on North Cliffside Drive that currently is home to the Twice the Ice vending machine.
Barrett said the ice vending machine will be moved to the fire department lot and generate an income of $350 per month. The council ratified the lease through a July 2 phone poll.
Marshal Paul Gardner told the council the marshal's office computer server is back up and running. The council authorized spending about $2,000 to repair the equipment through a June 13 phone poll.
Gardner said the repairs gives the city three to five years before it will eventually have to switch to a new software that is cloud-based. He said the time will allow all the bugs to get worked out of the new system.
Christina Willis, street superintendent, told the council her department has been busy lately mowing and trimming. She said she has attempted to keep the area "between the bridges" a little better than in the past.
Willis also said that she is having trouble with "No Alcohol" signs being stolen from the soccer fields. She said two signs have been taken two different times recently. She said the cost of the signs is $35 per sign.
The council advised her to put up new signs and for Gardner to see what he could do about the problem.
Keith Harris, wastewater superintendent, told the council he was forced to replace the control panel at the south lift station at a cost of $2,500. He said that was the first issue at that station in 12 years.
He said repairs to the control panel at the north lift station cost $298, but that the panel has trouble keeping up with load from the Noel Primary School and Deer Park housing addition. He said eventually a new panel and canopy will be needed at a cost of $2,500 to $5,000.
The council approved a bid of $1,905 for a "soft start and variable speed drive" control for a new rotor at the treatment plant. Harris said with the purchase, both rotors at the plant will have the soft start and variable speed capability.
Harris also informed the council the city's five-year permit is nearing time for renewal. He said he will have to run a "wet test" at a cost of $800 as part of the process. He said the plant has a Class B permit, which is very stringent, but he hopes it doesn't change and become stricter.
Nicole Skaggs, animal control and nuisance abatement officer, said she has given several warning tickets to property owners in violation of city codes. Alderman Linda Glendenning asked Skaggs to check on three places where people were keeping chickens inside the city limits.
The council approved bills in the amount of $90,947.98 and noted revenue of $73,169.58.
General News on 07/17/2014