September 28, 1998

Present: Mayor Scott Fleetwood
Alderman Herman Davis
Alderman Delmar Guthery
Alderman Don Davidson
Alderman Leon Harris
Marilyn Alms, City Clerk
City Attorney, Carl Smith - absent

News Media: Keith Moore, Herald Publishing; Art Corum, KKOZ

Guests: An attendance register was provided for guests to sign.

CALL TO ORDER: Meeting called to order by Mayor Scott Fleetwood

ROLL CALL: Upon call of the roll, the following aldermen were present: Herman Davis, Delmar Guthery, Don Davidson, Leon Harris.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of September 14, 1998, meeting were mailed to Aldermen for their review. Motion made by Don Davidson to approve minutes. Second to the motion by Herman Davis. Motion carried. All in favor.

CITIZEN’S COMMENTS: None

ORDER OF BUSINESS:

BILL #9/98.14 - PROPOSED ORDINANCE #559: An Ordinance To Amend The Ava Zoning Ordinance By Changing The Official Zoning Map And Repealing That Part Of The Ordinance In Conflict Herewith To Change Zoning From A Agriculture To B3 General Business, Request By William R. Baucom, Located In Section 14.
Bill read by City Clerk. Motion made by Leon Harris to approve first reading of bill. Second to motion by Herman Davis. Motion approved. All in favor. Record of vote: Davis, aye; Guthery, aye; Harris, aye; Davidson, aye.
Second reading of Bill #9/98.14 by City Clerk. Motion made by Herman Davis to approve second reading of bill. Second to motion by Don Davidson. Motion approved. All in favor. Record of vote: Davis, aye; Guthery, aye; Harris, aye; Davidson, aye.
Thereupon Bill #9/98.14 was duly passed and approved and numbered Ordinance #559.

SOUTHERN MISSOURI GAS COMPANY: Mayor Fleetwood invited Southern Missouri Gas Company representatives to attend meeting to discuss with them complaints from residents about roads & excavations not being properly repaired. Also, there has been some concern expressed that customers now cannot sign up for service in Ava where they pay their bills, as was originally set up. They now have to go to Mtn. Grove to sign up for service.
Boring under City streets, instead of doing utility cuts, was discussed.
Barry Whaley said they cannot accept every City street complaint from every resident.
Mayor read from the franchise ordinance that roads will be repaired.
Whaley said it is a matter of economics – they wait until they have two or three streets to fix, then have their paving contractor come in. Mayor suggested there is a local contractor. Mr. Whaley said they got a quote from that company today, and their bid was 2 ½ times what they pay their contractor.
Justin Colburn spoke with them about calling to complain about his yard being dug up when his neighbor hooked on to service. He said he had called more than once and it still has not been resolved. Mr. Whaley asked when this was. Justin said when gas mains went in – Mr. Whaley said 1996.
Justin said gas company cut every sewer line on his street and patched them instead of replacing them. He is just waiting for that to become a problem. Mr. Whaley said that just goes with putting in gas lines.
Scott asked about the local office not taking new customer hook-up applications. Mr. Whaley said they had problem with some offices not having a copy machine to copy proper identification, but Chuck Cooper at our local office is cooperative and has a copy machine. They will work out with him agreement to take new customer service applications here in Ava.
Mr. Guthery gave them an example of a line they put on City property that is not back-filled properly – not able to mow, had been holes in it where they excavated.
Mr. Whaley said they will not go in to a new subdivision and pipe every street in the subdivision. This is not economically feasible for them. They have to stay viable and minimize investment until customer demand is there to serve. Due to rock in this area, the boring mole does get hung up easily. They have to live and work here, and they have to reason to not try to satisfy the residential customer.
Leon Harris said he would like to bring up matter of street cuts again. He would like to see contractors put up performance bond when digging on City property. City has an excavation permit, but we have problem with contractors coming to City Hall to fill out the permit. Cash bond or performance bond was discussed. Scott said we would need to pass this by ordinance.

PATTON PROPERTY CONDEMNATION: We scheduled a "show cause hearing", but Mr. Patton did not appear. He has not made any contact with the City.
There are three or four other locations that are in deteriorated condition that need to have notices sent to property owners.

JUNK CARS: Mayor said he has talked to police department about being more aggressive in cleaning up junk cars. Also, auto/lawn mower shops operating out of residentially zoned areas was discussed.

HAY RIDE: Don Davidson’s church wants to have a hayride in late October. He will bring in a travel route at next meeting.

SEWER – N.E. 3^RD AVE.: We have had problem with sewer lines in this area. City started smoke testing and finding most leaks are on private property on customer’s side. Don Davidson said the television video shows roots in City mains.

ADVERTISE BIDS/SOCCER PICTURES: Ric Buchanan has submitted a proposed notice to be advertised for bidders to take team pictures for soccer program. There was question about sentence, "bids should include all applicable rates and the amounts, if any, which would be contributed to the program". Aldermen felt we should not include this sentence in bid advertisement.

SLUDGE TRUCK TIRES: City received bids for balloon tires for back of sludge truck. Four bids were received, but information submitted does not show brand. Bids are for one pair of tires:

Ava Tire – 10 ply…..$2,015.32
Persell Tire – 10 ply…..$2,550.00
K.T. Tire – 10 ply…..$2,464.56
Davis Tire – 12 ply…..$2,381.90

All prices include mounting.
Board agreed to approve bid from Ava Tire for $2,015.32.

BIDS ON WORK ON FIRE STATION: Two bids received:

Able Construction
Drop ceiling…$4,536.00
Insulation……..1,814.00
Labor………….4,200.00
Total bid…… $10,550.00

Don Davidson - South/side ceiling…$5,725.00
North/side ceiling …. 3,726.00

Does not include labor – insulation…... 600.00
$10,051.00

Motion made by Herman Davis to approve bid from Don Davidson. Second to motion by Leon Harris. Approved by majority vote: Davis, aye; Guthery, aye; Harris, aye; Davidson abstained from vote.
There was discussion on other work that will need to be done at the fire station.
Old firetruck – clutch is stuck – needs two tires.
Tim MCDevitt body shop on East 76 could sandblast it – Aldermen said for him to submit a bid.

CELL PHONES FOR POLICE: Officers McFarlin & Johnson are using their personal cell phones.
Alltel has a government program – three phones at $90 per month. Police department has requested cell phones for Chief Huffman, Assistant Chief McFarlin & Sergeant Johnson.
Aldermen are in agreement not to sign a year’s contract, but if City can have service without signing year’s contract, they are in agreement to try providing the phones.

FIRE DEPARTMENT BID: Kenco Fire Equipment – Justin Colburn

OLD FIRE HOSE: Board approved giving old fire hose to Ava Saddle Club.

FLU SHOTS/HAMS & TURKEYS FOR EMPLOYEES: Flu shots for employees were discussed – give employee choice of Dr. Chern or Dr. Gentry.
In the past, City has provided hams & turkeys for employees at thanksgiving & Christmas.
Also, two holiday dinners – one dinner for volunteers, one dinner for City employees
Aldermen approved having these, as is our past tradition.

GANG SEMINAR: There is a seminar in Springfield, October 18, 19 & 20, put on by Midwest Gang Investigators Association. Registration fee is $95 per participant. Board approved sending officers Johnson & Harley.

WATER LEAK WATER BILLING: A lady called who had a water leak in her home while she was on vacation, increasing the amount on her bill for gallons of water used. She has asked for extra time to pay the bill. Herman Davis suggested three months to allow payment.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Accounts payable cash requirement report was submitted to Aldermen for their review. Motion made by Don Davidson to approve accounts payable expenditure of $12,119.86. Second to motion by Leon Harris. Motion approved. All in favor.

CLOSED SESSION: Motion made by Don Davidson to move into closed session for discussion on personnel pursuant to RSMo 610.021(3). Board discussed two new employees – Janice Lorraine, part-time clerical; and, Russell Fratti, full-time sanitation department.
Underground fuel tanks in old garage at airport have to be out of use by December 1998. Scott has called Sunbelt to get a bid for that company to remove tanks.

OPEN SESSION: Motion made by Don Davidson to move to regular open session. Second to motion by Herman Davis. Motion approved. All in favor.
During closed session, Aldermen discussed two new employees. Motion made by Leon Harris to approve hiring Janice Lorrain for part-time clerical position, starting wage $6.50 per hour; and, Russell Fratti for full-time position with sanitation department, starting wage $6.50 per hour. Second to motion by Don Davidson. Motion approved. All in favor.

Meeting adjourned.

On October 12, 1998, minutes were:

_____Approved by Board of Aldermen as written

_____Corrected or amended by Board of Aldermen

__________________________________
Mayor Scott Fleetwood