Radio communications in McDonald County should improve in the coming months, following a decision by the Anderson City Council to lease a cell tower to the 911 Center.

Director Lisa McCool Rataczak said the tower is at a great elevation to improve dispatch communication in southeast and central McDonald County, but the tower is in need of a few repairs.

911 Board president Richard Huston estimated repair costs at $60,000.

Police Chief Seth McDaniels noted the tower could benefit police and fire departments as well, especially in areas devoid of cellular service.

The council voted to lease the tower to the 911 Center for $1 per year. The 911 Center will be responsible for upkeep of the tower.

Andrea and Tony Blair approached the council regarding the installation of pedestrian/bicycle signage in town.

The Blairs oversee the local group, Crawl, Walk, Run, which has more than 200 active participants, the majority of which live in Anderson.

Andrea said many of them prefer to run in Pineville because the local signage makes it safer.

Blair asked that the council install signs throughout town and presented members with a map of potential sign sites.

The council voted to purchase 10 pedestrian/bicycle signs.

Departmental Reports

Alderman Gene Cantrell inquired about an officer driving the wrong direction on a one-way street on Halloween. He said the officer nearly hit a pedestrian.

Chief Seth McDaniels said the officer was responding to a theft-in-progress and was verbally reprimanded.

McDaniels presented council members with photos of items recently confiscated from traffic stops in town. Among the items were a stolen vehicle, an unlawfully-concealed weapon, and 50 grams of marijuana.

Alderman Cantrell suggested a new protocol requiring a representative from the Fire Department attend each council meeting.

Public Works Director Ben Shoemaker reported repairing seven leaks, prepping the winter equipment and repairing a line on Forest Street.

The council discussed locations for emergency generators. Alderman Cantrell recommended purchasing generators for each area, gradually.

Cantrell also suggested researching a backup sand-spreader. Shoemaker estimated $5,000 - $10,000 cost for a new spreader.

The council approved the purchase.

"There are too many hills in Anderson not to have one," said Mayor John Sellers.

Darren Hanlin with MoDOT and Nikki Hill with the Harry S. Truman Coordinating Council approached the council to discuss a Regional Trail Planning grant to fund updates to the trail around the baseball field. Hill would like to add an accessory loop to lengthen the trail system, as well as make the current trail ADA compliant.

Ken Schutten with the Anderson Betterment Club said he is working to secure an engineering survey for a cost estimate.

Sellers said the city can't commit to the project until there is a solid estimate.

Hill asked the council if it would be interested in creating a city trail plan. HSTCC would create a template to prioritize future trail goals. The council's short-term goal would be to establish a proposed trail system through town, with the long-term goal of linking the trails to other trail systems in the area.

Hill also spoke about a FEMA program that helps fund flood repairs in rural towns by networking events to connect municipal governments with supplemental funding.

"From an economic development perspective, repairs to the Main Street bridge are key," said Hill.

Total repair costs for the bridge are estimated at $850,000.

The council agreed that the repair and improvement of the bridge are vital.

In other business:

• The council voted to renew its contract with the Joplin Humane Society regarding the sheltering of at-large animals.

• The council voted to consolidate bank accounts in order to improve the efficiency of the current accounting program.

• The council approved alterations to the city's yard sale and peddler's ordinance. Members agreed residents should provide the city clerk with verbal or written notice of the date and duration of the yard sale. Items and signs should also be removed within 24 hours of the sale. They also chose to include the sale of services, not just goods, in the peddler's ordinance.

• The council voted to pay $10,000 towards the city's line of credit with Arvest.

• Resident Shannon Brewer approached the council to voice a complaint about the city building inspector. Brewer asked that the council update the ordinance regarding building inspections to include a timeframe for completion.

• Ken Schutten with the Anderson Betterment Club updated the council on KCS' Holiday Express visit on Monday, Dec. 11. The train will be placed at City Hall from 4 - 8 p.m. Schutten said he is expecting close to 2,000 visitors. Schutten also reported the installation of new playground equipment at City Hall Park.