The Fairfax Board of Aldermen met Wednesday, December 20, 2017. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Ryan Kingery at 6:35 p.m. Roll was taken. Those in attendance were: Mayor Kingery; aldermen Kristi Duering, Beth Graves and Tabitha Wintz; City Clerk Kristy McDonald; Treasurer Danny Kemerling; Water Superintendent John Brown; and City Attorney Taryn Henry.
The agenda was approved, as well as the Fairfax Board of Aldermen’s regular meeting minutes of November 15, 2017.
Bob Carlock and Bob Alldredge, representing the Fairfax Community Improvement Foundation, were also present. They are looking into improvements for the city park and would like the city’s support. The council will support the foundation in any way they can.
Taryn Henry, City Attorney, was present to discuss the process of condemning a property. It is a very lengthy process. The first step would be a legal hearing with a court reporter. The city could possibly take possession of the property and repair or demolish with all costs falling on the city to pay. There is a house in town that has been declared a dangerous building that is concerning. Taryn will work on getting in touch with the current owners and further discussion with the council will take place at the next meeting.
The  accounts payable and financial statement were approved.
Bill #2017-10 titled “An ordinance vacating and discontinuing a portion of a public street in the city of Fairfax, Missouri” was presented and read by title by Beth Graves. Kristi Duering moved to approve Bill #2017-10. The motion passed and Bill #2017-10 was assigned ordinance #2017-05-1546.
Bill #2017-11 titled “A resolution authorizing amendments to budgeted amounts in the fiscal year 2017 operating budget for the City of Fairfax, Missouri, for unforeseen circumstances in estimated revenues and expenditures and in conformance with section 67.040, RSMO” was presented and read by title by Tabitha Wintz. Kristi Duering moved to approve Bill #2017-11. The motion was seconded and approved. Bill #2017-11 was assigned resolution #2017-1548.
The revised vacation policy was presented to the council and there was a brief discussion. Tabitha Wintz made a motion to approve the revised vacation policy with the changes that were discussed. The motion was seconded and approved.
There was a lengthy discussion about raising the city’s water rates. During this time alderman Michael Oswald joined the meeting via speaker phone. The council agreed water rates will need to be increased to try and get the water budget out of the negative. The council will have to get approval from the USDA and pass an ordinance. The council would like to have that done by the next meeting.
Bill #2017-12 titled “A resolution of the City of Fairfax, Missouri, approving and adopting the annual budget for the fiscal year January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2018”, was presented and read by title by Kristi Duering. Tabitha Wintz moved to approve Bill #2017-12. The motion was seconded and approved. Bill #2017-12 was assigned resolution #2017-1549.
Staff Reports
Danny Kemerling presented his Treasurer report to the council showing that all accounts are in balance.
Kristy McDonald presented the council with the new Travelers insurance policy for 2018. This will need to be paid at the beginning of the year.
There have been multiple requests from citizens to have an extension on their water bills. The council agreed that there will be no extensions. The due dates and shut off dates are printed on all bills.
Election filing is open until January 16 at 5 p.m. for two Alderman at Large positions. Filing packets can be picked up at City Hall.
John Brown reported that the insurance reimbursement check should be here soon for the new roof on the snack shack. They had issues last month reading the water meters. There was frequency interference coming from the school’s LED sign that was causing the water meter equipment to not read the meters. Once they found the issue it was resolved and is now in working order.
Beth Graves made a motion for the meeting to move into closed session at 9:00 p.m. for discussion of personnel as provided by RSMO 610.021(3, 13). The motion was seconded and passed. The council came back to open session at 9:30 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
The next Fairfax Board of Aldermen meeting is January 17 at 6:30 p.m.