June 20, 2007
Chamber director tells council $1,800 still needed for fireworks display
Patty Webb of Kennett took an oath to be sworn in as Ward I alderman during the Kennett City Council meeting on Tuesday. During its last meeting, the council voted toward the appointment of Webb to the vacant seat based on newly elected Mayor Roger Wheeler's recommendation to do so...
Patty Webb of Kennett took an oath to be sworn in as Ward I alderman during the Kennett City Council meeting on Tuesday.
During its last meeting, the council voted toward the appointment of Webb to the vacant seat based on newly elected Mayor Roger Wheeler's recommendation to do so.
The seat was previously filled by Randy Bridges, who served in the position from April 4, 2006 through June 1, 2007 and was openly honored and presented a plaque for that contribution to the city during the last city council meeting by Wheeler and other members of the council.
Following the swearing in of Webb, the council elected to approve the minutes from the previous meeting on June 5 and opened the floor for the purpose of public participation.
Executive Director of the Kennett Chamber of Commerce Jan McElwrath approached the council, providing them with a copy of the total donations the chamber had received to date toward the City of Kennett's annual fireworks display.
In a letter to the editor of the Daily Dunklin Democrat on Sunday, June 17, 2007, McElwrath said that the total amount received at that point was $3,830.
"This display has become a tradition for families in our community and we would like to see it continue," McElwrath said in her letter.
Adding that donations toward the worthy display of celebration of the Fourth of July are needed and greatly appreciated.
The council and the chamber had set a goal of $6,000 to be raised toward the display.
According to McElwrath, as of Tuesday, the total donations received had grown to $4,200, still $1,800 shy of the amount the city was seeking to utilize toward the event.
"Donations are still coming in," McElwrath said. "Fortunately, we have a very generous community and we are extremely thankful for those donations we have received."
McElwrath also provided an update regarding the Chamber of Commerce Web site.
She said that the company who is in charge of making change toward the Web site is working diligently to do so, compiling data and information to be available on the Web site and that the project is progressing.
City Administrator Ken Goslee provided the council with a report updating them on a number of issues regarding the city of Kennett.
According to Goslee's report, USDA-Rural Development funding for the city dog pound has been approved and the project is moving forward.
Goslee said the contract award paperwork in regards to the downtown revitalization project, including lighting, sidewalks, curb and gutters, has been sent to the contractor by the city engineer.
"We are waiting on the return of contract, bond and insurance certificates and expect to have them this week," Goslee noted.
The city's finance committee met on Tuesday, prior to the council meeting and according to Goslee's report, formed a recommendation on the adoption of the new budget for the 2007-2008 fiscal year.
Goslee also informed the council that the city had just received word on Tuesday that the Missouri Housing Development Commission will set aside $1,000,000 for DREAM communities to participate in the Commission's housing program. Goslee said that the project is administered through DAEOC.
"Hopefully some of our residents will be able to benefit from that," Goslee said.
MoDOT has signed off on or accepted the work to construct Progress Drive, according to Goslee.
The city is making progress regarding its own Web site. Goslee said that he and Wheeler met with Dave Green of the Creative Design Group of Malden and expect to have a test web page up within 30 to 60 days.
Additionally, Goslee informed the council that the general sales tax for the city had increased over the last twelve months to $1,310,686. According to Goslee, this was a 5.24 percent increase of $65,209.
The council held a public hearing regarding the annexation of property on Teaco Road. Senath State Bank president Will Mobley approached the council to voice his support of the annexation of that property.
There was also a public hearing regarding the closure of the alley between 805 and 809 Butler Drive in Kennett. Resident of Kennett Brandon Brewer spoke out in favor of the issue saying that his main concern was reducing the amount of unnecessary traffic through that particular area. Brewer lives at 809 Butler Drive and said that there is currently a large volume of traffic coming from one subdivision to another through the grass alley and that is seeking a decision to be made in which the passage would be closed to the public, but would still be open to his neighbors.
"The only thing that I am seeking is to control the volume of traffic that comes through that section there," Brewer said. "As far as my neighbors, I have no problem with that in that they are seeking access to the rear of their homes. What I am seeking I guess is appropriate measurers to control that flow."
Mayor Roger Wheeler informed Brewer that the issue will not be voted on until next month meeting, however, it was understood that the way the ordinance would be written is that the neighbors specifically within the 701 and 817 address on Butler Drive will continue to have access to the alleyway.
Two ordinances were approved by the council regarding the elimination of both the code enforcement committee and the property maintenance committee amending the job description and delegating additional duties to the city fire department.
A presentation of a resolution honoring Bill McKeel and Jesse Hovis was carried out by the council and Mayor Wheeler.
The 2007-2008 budget was approved as presented by city administrator Ken Goslee.
"I would like to commend our city administrator regarding the amount of time and work that goes into putting this budget together," Mayor Wheeler said. "He has spent long, long, long hours working on this in addition to all the other work including grant applications, the downtown revitalization project, the dog pound and so on. We really appreciate his work and contribution."
Several promotions within the Kennett Police Department were approved by alderman.
According to Larry McDowell, alderman and police committee chairman, four members of the police department have been recommended for a promotion.
Patrolman Craig Crow was promoted to the rank of corporal with a $125 a month increase in salary. Crow has been with the department for 12 years.
Patrolman Aaron Waynick was promoted to the rank of Corporal with a $25 a month increase in salary. According to McDowell, Waynick had just recently been named as detective and received a $100 per month increase in his salary. Waynick has been with the department for seven years.
Patrolman Craig Moody was promoted to the rank of Patrolman First Class with a $125 per month salary increase. Moody has been with the department for a total of seven years and spent five years with the city fire department prior to that.
Patrolman Jeremy Yates was promoted to Patrolman First, also receiving a $125 per month salary increase. Yates has been with the department for seven years and was voted officer of the year last December and has led the day shift in both reports and arrests in 2006.
The council elected to approve the continuation of the contract between the city and the Chamber of Commerce for its services. Two separate contracts were approved, the first in the amount of $15,000 for the Chamber of Commerce's services in terms of grant writing and promoting the city, the second in the amount of $25,000 for the promotion of tourism, community activities and welcome packets.
Mayor Roger Wheeler made a recommendation to approve an increase in Brenda Privett's salary. Privett has served for many years as the city clerk and was approved to receive $2,000 in addition to her current salary.
The Kennett Police Department received a letter of resignation from dispatcher Laurie Preston effective June 30. According to McDowell, Chief of Police Barry Tate said that a number of application had been received prior to the resignation and the position will be filled through those a decision made regarding those applicants.
As an item of interest, councilman Jake Crafton asked his fellow alderman and Mayor Wheeler what could be done regarding the truck that is responsible for spraying the city to reduce the number of mosquitos in the area.
According to Crafton, he and others in the city have witnessed the driver of the truck operating the vehicle at excessive speeds throughout neighborhoods, which Crafton noted was not only a danger but not efficient in terms of the purpose of penetrating the area.
"There not doing any good what-so-ever," Crafton said. "I have witnessed it for myself and they are going way to fast in that thing positive to occur from it. I just wanted to bring this to everyone's attention and note that I have received a couple of complaints about it."
McDowell spoke up saying that he would have to agree with Crafton in that he too had witnessed the subject at hand.
"Its a waste of money to have that if its not going to be done properly," Crafton said.
The council discussed the possibility of changing the July 3 council meeting during its last session and on Tuesday, voted to approve the recommendation.
The next Kennett City Council meeting is scheduled to take place at 7:30 p.m., on Tuesday, July 10, 2007.
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