Aldermen Discus Notification System; Set Tax Rate
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By Mark Evans
STE. GENEVIEVE HERALD
Although Steve Wilson, local manager for Alliance Water Resources, was unable to attend last Thursday night’s Ste. Genevieve Board of Aldermen meeting to give his regular report, the subject of water did come up.
When the time for Wilson’s report came up, Ward 2 Alderman Bob Donovan said he had received more calls about the recent boil water order. He used that as a plug for the emergency message texting system the city is looking into implementing.
“I had a few more calls this week about the boil water thing this week, all the questions around that,” Donovan sad, “so I hope we can get this texting thing in place.”
He said he had “a very lengthy” phone conversation with a cancer survivor, who expressed great concern about the situation.
“There’s a need to know out there, definitely,” Donovan said.
He also brought up the issue of street repairs, which is also under the purview of Alliance and Wilson.
“I get reminded about it regularly,” he said. “I was really hoping Steve was here so we could ask and see when a round of that would take place.”
City Administrator Happy Welch said “as long as people notify us” of potholes and other issues, that Alliance will get to them as quickly as possible.
“Steve keeps a list of that,” he said, noting that, “It may be a couple of months before they get to it because of other projects.”
Donovan also asked about Ninth Street issues. Welch said that falls on the contractor who did the waterline replacement there.
TAX RATE IS SET
After holding a brief public hearing (at which no one spoke), the board voted to set the rate for 2023 property taxes.
The total was $1.00 per $100 of valuation. The breakdown is General Fund $0.4812, Cemetery $0.0480, Band $0.0773 and Parks $0.1251 and Public Safety $0.2684.
REPORTS GIVEN
During his city administrator’s report, Welch said that a group led by Donovan had met with Mississippi Lime Company personnel regarding a possible storm water runoff detention basin being constructed. Cochran Engineering will be surveying the area in question and will come up with a design.
He also reported that asphalt paving would begin this week on Linn Drive.
Police Chief Jasen Crump reported that Griffin Ryan resigned from the force to take a job with the sheriff’s department and that a second officer is in the background phase of being hired by the sheriff’s department.
He reported though, that he is negotiating with two experienced officers to take their place.
Crump reported that the department had 392 calls in July, with 17 arrests.
He said things went smoothly for the force at Jour de Fete.
Wilson’s written Alliance report indicated that daily checks of well levels indicated good levels.
The lime building was without power briefly, before a breaker and a starter were replaced.
ORDINANCES ARE PASSED
Several ordinances were passed during the meeting.
Four were passed on second reading. One was to establish a procedure to disclose potential conflicts of interest for certain officials. One was allowing the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for public improvements along Route M.
The third amended Chapter 203 Fire Prevention and Protection in the municipal code. The other one established a no parking area on Jefferson Street by the Valle Desert.
The tax levee passed on first and second reading.
Meanwhile, a bill authorizing the mayor to enter into a Missouri Highways and Transportation commission easement for upgrading pedestrian facilities along Route M was passed on first reading only.
Notes
• During the public comment section Bob Browne of 498 Merchant Street said harassment against him is continuing. He noted that someone recently spray-painted “NO MAGA” on the front of his house.
• The consent agenda included a resolution to purchase new office furniture for city hall, not to exceed $81,254 – down from the original figure of $81,985.
• Also in the consent agenda was the reappointment of Donovan and Connie Steiger Schwent to the Ste. Genevieve Board of Adjustment.