Donating police station building to OAKS discussed at Kennett Council

At Tuesday night's city council meeting Sharon Montgomery, administrator with the Kennett OAKS Senior Center, addressed the council about possibly donating the old Police Station building. She outlined the reasons for needing a new facility. Presently, the center is located within the Housing Authority with 4,175 square feet of actual useable space. According to Montgomery, the police station is 313 square feet larger. Last year alone, the center in Kennett served 81,643 meals and has been located in the city for 40 years.

"We desire our own building to make it more appealing and to further meet the needs of seniors," she said, adding that although the Housing Authority has been good to them, there are still some limitations in using their building. Other reasons for needing a new facility are as follows:

* Maximum space facility in the dining area is for 145. Usually, two to three days a week, the amount of seniors served exceeds that number. She noted, however, that usually that isn't a problem since everyone doesn't come at the same time.

* The center is mandated by the State of Missouri as a heating and cooling center but can't fulfill that obligation because the building is owned by the Housing Authority and the dining area and the kitchen must be vacated by 2 p.m.

* If the building is used after 2 p.m., nights or weekends, rent must be paid again on the building. The amount is set by the Housing Authority.

* The center is required to have different activities for seniors including a foot care clinic, music, parties, health fairs, games and individual activities such as puzzles, dominoes, etc. The space that is allotted to them as well as the limits on the time limit these activities.

"We need a separate area for these activities," Montgomery said.

* Montgomery added that meals have increased by 10,000 in the past year due to people that have just retired.

* Food deliveries have to be made four times a week due to the center's limited space.

* Montgomery also pointed out that there would be more people frequenting the businesses and shops in the downtown area.

When Montgomery was asked about whether they would accept the building as it is, she said that once they were in possession of the building the interior would be demolished and rebuild. Regarding monetary funding, that would be accomplished by donations, fundraising and applying for grants through the United States of Rural Development USDA) and other available means.

Councilman Nick Weatherwax has checked into the cost of cleanup and repair of the roof and has been told that it would be a minimum of $100,000.

Police Chief Jim Paine added that the easement containing the radio tower for the department's equipment would have to be maintained to which Montgomery said that would present no problem.

Council members were unable to take action Tuesday night but will make a decision at the next council meeting.

Also discussed at the meeting was the purchase of 16 tasers for the police department. Chief Paine told council members that the Kennett Police Foundation has received donations of a little under $14,000 which will cover the cost of $13,967.15 for the equipment. Council members approved the foundation to make the purchase of the tasers for the department.On another matter that was discussed in a previous meeting, Mayor Jake Crafton had told council members that a number of businesses had been approached by someone claiming to be collecting donations on behalf of the police department to go toward the purchase of equipment. Chief Paine was asked to look into the matter. Upon contacting the different businesses who donated he was assured that the businesses were satisfied and comfortable with the solicitation of funds. He also spoke to the individual in question adding that it was simply a matter of clarification. He added that the individual also made a donation.

Referred to the Police Committee was an alarm ordinance that was brought to the meeting. Chief Paine informed council members that in 2012 officers responded to 623 alarm calls with 559 of those alarms proving to be false. If passed the alarm ordinance would eliminate repeat false alarms by holding the alarm companies and owners of the alarms accountable. However, no decision was made and the Police Committee will look at it for revisement and will bring it back to the council for more discussion.

Also discussed but no action taken was a towing ordinance. The towing ordinance would require that towing companies have to meet the minimum insurance requirements. Currently, the police department has a list of towing companies. If someone has an accident in the city and has to be towed, the police will refer to this list if the person involved in the accident does not specify which towing company they want to tow their car. This would be done on a rotation basis. The ordinance would specify that the towing company has to be within six miles of city hall. This will be revisited at the next meeting.

No action was taken on a window tint ordinance. By state law, vehicle windows can only be tinted a certain percentage. If there is not a local ordinance in place, any ticket given would have to go through the county. If a local ordinance is in place, any local ticket would be taken care of in city court. This matter will be further discussed at the next meeting. This is also a safety issue concerning officers when making stops.

Approved was the assignment of two Kennett Police officers for graduation. This would be at no charge but if additional security is requested, there would be a charge. Chief Paine has discussed this with Superintendent Chris Wilson and he is in agreement with the arrangement.

Also approved was establishing an Animal Control Committee for policy making only. It was brought up at the meeting the possibility of the committee supervising but according to Mayor Crafton, council members have no supervisory control. He added that the city council has only the power of a group of 10.

"Committees have no power to supervise," he said.

Also addressed at the council meeting was an item brought up by Councilperson Freddi Sokoloff concerning the euthanization of animals picked up by the Humane Department. Sokoloff said that several people had approached her with the idea that Chief Paine wants to "kill the animals." Chief Paine assured council members and the members of the audience that this was not his intention. He did add that it does state in the ordinance that after five days the animal either needs to be adopted or euthanized.

"That's what the ordinance reads. That's not Chief Paine. That's the ordinance," Paine said.

"Never once since I've been here as the Chief and I've had that discussion with (Humane officer) Tena Petix on numerous occasions, never, ever have I indicated that I wanted to euthanize one animal and I am still of that mind."

Terry McVey, city attorney, commented, "What the ordinance says is that it shall be placed for adoption or euthanized. After five days, the animals belong to the city and they shall be placed for adoption or euthanized. But, there's no time limit or time frame set that either the adoption has to take place or euthanization has to take place. It's just that after five days one of two things will happen at some point. It doesn't require that they be euthanized after five days." Chief Paine went on to talk of the limited space at the humane facility.

"The big problem is our space limitations and the requirements that we are required to operate [under] the Department of Agriculture," he said, further weighing in on the subject. "It's a separate budget and it needs to be either a separate department or they answer directly to the Police Committee and be out of the umbrella of the police department. It doesn't fit into what we do and what our role is." He added that it becomes a supervisory issue for the department. "I think it would be better addressed and better handled outside the police department." Chief Paine also addressed the need for two full-time humane officers. Currently, the department has one full-time and one part-time officer. This will be discussed at a future meeting.

During old business, an ordinance was passed concerning purchases of less than $5,000.

* According to the ordinance, purchases of more than $1,000 but less than $5,000 telephone or written quotations must be obtained from no fewer than three firms on each item to be purchased, whenever it is feasible.

* Purchases totaling less than $3,000 may be approved by the purchasing agent. Any purchase which totals $3,000 or more but less than $5,000 may be approved by the purchasing agent with the written approval of the Mayor. The ordinance was read twice and passed unanimously.

During public participation, Mariann Wright, festival coordinator for "Fall into Arts" addressed the council concerning the closing of the streets. Approved was the West, North, and East sides of the courthouse square as well as barriers be placed at College Street and First Street, College Street and Cedar Street, Tatum Street and Main Street, and Main Street and St. Francis Street. Times would be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 7 and 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 8.

Also addressing the council was Jules Mercier of the Friends of Music. He updated the council about the two events that were held recently in the city and added his thanks for the city's part in it.

During department reports, Randy Carter, street commissioner, reported that there are two streets needing work. There are two large sink holes in the shoulder of the gravel part of South Jackson. He added that on Third Street there is a portion of that street that has collapsed which is between Hopper and King Street. He said that this is a continuous problem area. The department will be using the recently purchased storm drain camera to explore the hole. City Light Gas and Water has been contacted and is working with the department regarding this issue.

During the fire department report, Fire Chief John Mallott told council members that the code enforcement officer has attended a flood management course.

"There's a lot of changes coming down in 2014 that will affect a lot of people in their flood insurance rates in the city," he said. He added that his recommendation would be to look at it and officially contact the area's representative or senator on the federal level and "voice our displeasure." He noted that rates will increase and those rates will be coming down from the federal government through FEMA and not the code enforcement department. There will be further discussion concerning this matter at a future meeting.

In other matters, council members approved authorization for Mayor Crafton to sign a consultant agreement with Jviation for the airport project. This agreement is done through the airport board but must be signed by the Mayor. According to Mayor Crafton, money for this does not come from the city's taxpayers or budget but is done through money earned at the airport.

The meeting was adjourned for closed session for the discussion of personnel.