DRAFT MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE
BILLINGS ALDERMEN MEETING OF THE
CITY OF BILLINGS, MISSOURI
MARCH 15, 2018
7:00 PM
Present were: Mayor Pro Tem Mickey Brown, Attorney William Petrus, Chief David Taylor, Building Inspector Terry Danley, Treasurer Chris M. Hopkins. Absent City Clerk Ruth M. Haskins.
Citizens and guests present were: Cynthia Brandt, Billings School Superindent, Rob Verch Billings School Board Member, David Rauch, David Kucerus and Willie Poindexter.
ROLL CALL.
Woods Present
Fender Present
Brown Present
Coker Absent
Harter Present Arrived at 7:23 p.m.
Huffman Present
Mayor Pro Tem Brown asked everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
No comments from citizens however Mayor Pro Tem Brown acknowledged Chief David Taylor for 32 years of service to the City of Billings.
OLD BUSINESS.
a. Alderperson Woods requested to move item a. about information on tractor and backhoe to New Business item o. Motion by Fender seconded by Huffman to move Old Business a. to New Business item o. Voting “Aye” Huffman, Harter, Fender and Woods. Voting “Nay” None. No abstentions.
b. Alderperson Fender started conversation of receiving quotes in August 2017, September 2017 and again in January 2018 for the bid and rebid of moving the fence on the softball field located in the City Park used by the Girls’ Softball team. She asked “How do you section off a portion of the field that is located in the City Park to give to someone else?” Alderperson Huffman responded this is between two entities and a survey and legal description can be written. The city can Deed or Gift or Lease the property being discussed to the Billings School the school may have more possibilities to seek revenue for improvements. Mayor Pro Tem Brown suggested a two person committee to work on this with the school. Motion made by Brown seconded by Harter to form a two person committee consisting of Holly Fender and Tricia Huffman to work on this. Postponed till May 2018 for details.
NEW BUSINESS, MEMORIALS, PROCLAMATIONS AND ORDINANCES.
a. Consent Agenda. Motion made by Fender to accept the Consent Agenda as presented seconded by Woods. Voting “Aye” Huffman, Harter, Fender and Woods. Voting “Nay” None. No abstentions.
b. Mayor Pro Tem told the Board both pumps went down at the Mt. Vernon Lift Station during the rains February 17th and that Randy Poindexter was called out every two hours to restart the switch on the pumps that are 51 years old. This resulted in a temporary pump generator to be brought in to keep the lift station working. The city engineers are looking into the repairs needed for this lift station. Motion by Fender seconded by Woods to pay the invoice from Mobile Mini Tank and Pump Solutions for $ 1,510.70 for this emergency service. Voting “Aye” Huffman, Harter, Brown, Fender and Woods. Voting “Nay” None. No abstentions.
c. Alderperson Harter discussed Mr. Sipes water bill and said he did not receive any credit on his overage. Mr. Sipes has water service only and credit is given on the sewer portion of the water bill. There was a miscommunication on how the credit is applied to water customers with no sewer usage. No action taken.
d. Mayor Pro Tem Brown re-informed the Board members in attendance that they are not to call the City Attorney as they can ask questions when the attorney is at the Board Meetings. If a Board member has a concern or issue they are to call the Mayor and he will contact the Attorney on their behalf.
e. A motion was made by Fender seconded by Harter to approve Chief Taylor’s request to participate in Missouri’s Highway Safety Program and sign the DWI and HMV authorizations forms. Voting “Aye” Huffman, Harter, Fender and Woods. Voting “Nay” None. No abstentions.
f. Sharlene King, President of the Billings Merchant Association requested permission to close Commercial Street behind city hall for the upcoming Spring Fling to be held on Saturday, April 21, 2018. Vendors will be setting up in Green Spaces and the parking is needed on Commercial Street. A Motion by Woods seconded by Harter to close Commercial Street and allow parking on the “Grassy Knoll” for this event. Voting “Aye” Huffman, Harter, Brown, Fender and Woods. Voting “Nay” None. No abstentions.
g. City Treasurer Hopkins presented information on the Use Tax for the Board to consider in receiving future Sales Tax on Out-of-State Motor Vehicle purchases and on-line sales made by Billings residents that can be collected and that are not remitted to the city unless there is an Ordinance in place to collect this. The Department of Revenue has extended the deadline for this ballot measure until September 2018 for all municipalities to participate in. Motion was made by Fender seconded by Harter to draw an Ordinance for the Motor Vehicle Sales Tax and Use Tax to be placed on the ballot on August 7, 2018. Voting “Aye” Huffman, Harter, Brown, Fender and Woods. Voting “Nay” None. No Abstentions.
h. A recap of the contracted Backhoe and Labor services were provided to the Board of Aldermen from 2015, 2016 and 2017. This was reference information requested on what had been spent in the past three years.
i. David Rauch informed the Board of the progress made with the proposed mural on the east side of the City Hall building. He has received pledges and donations to cover the costs of this project with no city funds to be used. The Billings Betterment Committee has met intermittently for several years and a committee for the Mural Project is being formed. He is also pleased to announce that the Community Foundation of the Ozarks will handle tax deductions, monies received and disperse payments. The committee would like to commission Susan Sommers, Internationally known Artist for this mural. Work would begin about April 1st weather being a factor. Ms. Sommers would like to invite the Billings School Art classes to see her project being done. Question from Alderperson Fender on behalf of some citizens about this mural being completed and then a building being erected on the vacant lot next to the City Hall wall would obscure the view. Mr. Rauch said he is in conversation with the owners of the property about their future use and what possibilities there may be for a parking lot or garden spot that would not detract from the mural. No decisions are made at this point in time. Motion to pursue the Mural Project made by Harter seconded by Huffman. Voting “Aye” Huffman, Harter, Brown, Fender and Woods. Voting “Nay” None. No abstentions.
j. Hopkins told the Board that the computer in the Mayor’s office does not have Microsoft Office on it and cannot get e-mails as well as well as two other computers in the office that use Round-cube for their program. She would like all computers to run the same programs. Dan from MDC Technologies will do the software updates needed. Motion made by Harter seconded by Woods to update and repair computers not to exceed the $1,000.00 that is budgeted. Voting “Aye” Huffman, Harter, Fender and Woods. Voting “Nay” None. No abstentions.
k. Mayor Pro Tem Brown told the Board that the Ford Ranger is in need of a new transmission. There are three quote/bids in their packets. Alderperson Harter suggested having the work done in Billings and recommend Tailpipers quote be considered. Motion by Harter seconded by Woods to accept the bid of $1, 700.00 bid from Tailpipers for the transmission work for the Ford Ranger. Voting “Aye” Huffman, Harter, Brown, Fender and Woods. Voting “Nay” None. No abstentions.
l. Alderperson Huffman requested a visible road sign to be placed on Mt. Vernon Street. There is no sign when turning right onto Mt. Vernon from Hwy 60. Motion by Huffman seconded by Harter to have a street sign place on Mt. Vernon side of the street. Voting “Aye” Huffman, Harter, Brown, Fender and Woods. Voting “Nay” None. No abstentions.
m. Mayor Pro Tem Brown invited all the Board members to the Visioning Project to be held at City Hall on Thursday, March 22, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. to see what we would like to see for the future of Billings and to visit with the MSU students on this project. There is also a survey everyone is encouraged to fill out. It is also available online.
n. Motion to approve payment of wages, expenses, bills, statements and other expenditures for the month of February 2018 made by Fender seconded by Harter. Voting “Aye” Huffman, Harter, Fender and Woods. Voting “Nay” None. No abstentions.
o. Alderperson Woods said the bids for the new Tractor and Back Hoe attachment are still current. Mr. Woods said there is a lot of backhoe work that need so be done. There is an option to consider selling the present tractor before we buy the new one or buy new tractor and back hoe attachment and have Tractor Barn sell our tractor on their lot. Motion by Harter seconded by Woods to buy Tractor with Backhoe attachment for $ 23,298.00 and have Tractor Barn sell on their lot our Tractor with minimum of $10,000.00. Voting “Aye” Harter, Brown and Woods. Voting “Nay” Fender. Huffman abstained.
Mayor Pro Tem Brown asked for a motion to go into Closed Session. Motion made by Brown seconded by Harter pursuant to Section RSMo 610.021(3).
ROLL CALL VOTE.
Huffman Aye
Harter Aye
Coker Absent
Fender Aye
Woods Aye
Meeting Closed to the Public at 9:02 p.m.
Reopen Regular Session at 9:20 p.m.
No further business.
Motion to Adjourn made by Huffman seconded by Harter. Voting “Aye” Huffman, Harter, Brown, Fender and Woods. Voting “Nay” None. No abstentions.
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Mickey Brown, Mayor Pro Tem
ATTEST
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Chris M. Hopkins, Deputy City Clerk