Regular Meeting
Monday, March 18, 2024 7:00 PM
Council Room
895 Frisco Street
Steelville, Missouri 65565
Mayor Terry Beckham brought meeting to order at 7:00 PM and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Jason Ward gave a word of Prayer.
Those Present: Mayor Terry Beckham, Aldermen Bill Bennett, Duane DeRennaux, Jason Ward, Curtis Crouch, Comptroller Roben Griggs, City Superintendent Jason Evans, Police Chief Michael Sherman, City Clerk Sandra Richter, Jennifer Whitson, Jeremiah Ward, James Hayes, Harry Martin, Mary Young, and Amy England with the press.
Mayor Beckham requested amending agenda by adding budget amendment to new business. Jason Ward makes motion to approve agenda with adding budget amendment, Curtis Crouch seconds, all in favor, motion carries. Curtis Crouch makes motion to accept regular meeting minutes for March 4, 2024, Bill Bennett seconds, all in favor, motion carries.
Unfinished Business: Mary Young stated that she met earlier with Mayor Beckham and Chief Sherman on improvements for dog pound. Young advised that Connie Medling, mobile veterinarian, has agreed to come to our pound to do services at our site. She raised $4,000.00 in the past month, so there is enough money in the fund to cover fees for 90 dogs.
Mayor Beckham shared after researching advertisement in parks that there is nothing in ordinance that would prohibit advertising in parks. Sullivan’s signage agreement included in packet, which he feels is pretty complicated, so he was not sure if Council should act on it tonight. Jason Ward suggested if someone request advertising then Council could move forward.
New Business: Roben Griggs presented a budget amendment of $206,755.00, which $100,000.00 is for paving. Curtis Crouch makes motion to amend budget $206,755.00, Bill Bennett seconds, all in favor, motion carries.
Planning and Zoning: None
Roben Griggs shared payables of $197,780.42. Jason Ward makes motion to pay payables, Duane DeRennaux seconds, all in favor, motion carries.
Roben Griggs presented postage meter with Pitney Bowes as a rental fee of $72.32 monthly, or purchase the meter for $1,587.27, with a yearly maintenance fee of $137.82. Discussion among Council about the perks of leasing, or purchasing machine, and if purchased and it went down how they would handle, which Griggs was not sure. Mayor Beckham suggested for Comptroller to research and go with the most cost effective for the city. Griggs stated over 150 people signed up for the new alert system. City is allowed 4 zoom meetings, so she suggested the next step would be setting up a meeting to see how it works. Griggs gave an update that Brian Andrews has our domain for Steelville.com and is ready to set up. He will link our alert system, and could link dog pound, Trail of Tears, Park Panel, and Chamber to our site. He is open to ideas if anyone wants to contribute.
Chief Sherman announced that it was previously discussed of hiring 2 part-time for animal control, however he would like to leave Armand Zefferi as part-time, and possibly get 2 individuals as contract labor. Jason Ward makes motion to change 2 future part-time positions from part-time to contract labor, Duane DeRennaux seconds, all in favor, motion carries. Chief Sherman requested Council signing the Missouri Highway Safety Program grant that they always participate in. Bill Bennett shared article from Cuba Free Press regarding new dispensary in Cuba. Chief Sherman explained the products they sell is below the legal potency level set by the state. He stated it could very well happen in our city and Council may want our attorney to look into. Mayor Beckham explained when discussed earlier that our attorney advised us to hold a public meeting.
Jason Evans stated that he emailed his report to Council and Amy England, but has a couple of things to add. He reported that upon setting sirens off on National Storm Alert Day they found one that is inoperable so he made call to get a technician to look at it. Evans advised that the storm siren in the middle of town is about 80 years old and has not worked in a few years so he suggested possibly getting one in the next budget. FEMA sent out a newsletter regarding flood mapping and City should receive preliminary letter this summer. Evans spoke with city engineer and the bid opening for Community Center is scheduled for March 27 at 2:00 p.m., with recommendation of awarding bid on April 1. He announced that a gentleman drove through a construction work site today, where a valve wrench was on a valve, and it knocked off the skirting of his bumper. Police department took a report of the incident.
Parks: Mayor Beckham reported he spoke with a person on park panel regarding pickleball court, so he looked at the existing concrete pad and it would make 2 pickleball courts with very little cost. We have the asphalt area (tennis court) that is 94’ x 50’ that Mr. Hayes thinks could be dug out and filled, which could make 2 nice basketball courts. Mayor Beckham stated that it could be considered as it could be done in a hurry. James Hayes said he went to Perkins Lumber and the cost would be about $1,600.00 to repair the whole tennis court. Curtis Crouch stated the advantage of going this route of establishing a pickleball court would give us a good indication of how popular, and whether it is worth investing into something larger. Duane DeRennaux said the only way he would be on board is before destroying the basketball court is to get 2 basketball goals up at tennis court since they are used often. Curtis Crouch suggested meeting with asphalt company and getting a comprehensive plan together to bring back to Council. Duane DeRennaux suggested taking information to Park Panel to discuss and then bring to Council. Their meeting is scheduled for April 8 at 7:00 p.m. Duane DeRennaux gave thanks to Jason Evans for removing horseshoe pits and installing poles for volleyball, and adding water hydrants to both the baseball and softball fields. Jennifer Whitson announced Park Panel has a walk thru scheduled for April 7th. Steelville Tourism would like to partner with Park Panel to plant flowers. She reported that Duane DeRennaux requested for the bike racks that James Hayes built to be installed. Discussion of where to install, which James Hayes stated that Jason gave permission to place one at Rich’s Burgers. Whitson shared www.TheClio.com is a free website that may help with advertising businesses downtown and local trails. Bill Bennett announced that he was hoping the concrete between the post office and Water Street would be completed with the continuation of Greenway Trail. Mayor Beckham stated that he thought there were a couple of land owners that did not want trail going through their property, however Dennis Bell would probably be the best source of information. Jennifer Whitson presented that Emily Smith would like to serve on Park Panel as one of the out of town. Mayor Beckham officially appointed Emily Smith to Park Panel.
Streets: Bill Bennett stated he saw in Jason Evan’s notes that he has a load of patching materials so he requested repairing the areas that we have cut the last couple of years, and areas from breaks the last couple of months.
Sandra Richter shared user report for month of February as electric sold 118%, water sold 47%, and city water usage 5%.
Public Comment: James Hayes suggested Amy England participating in Park Panel meetings.
Next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 1 at 7:00 p.m. in Council Room.
With nothing more to discuss Bill Bennett makes motion to adjourn at 8:11 pm, Jason Ward seconds, all in favor, motion carries.