The Rock Port Board of Aldermen met Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. with Mayor Amy Thomas presiding. Board members present were Kory Paris, Lisa Farmer, and Kelley Herron. Alderman Ron Deatz was absent. Also present were Utility Office Manager Terri McGuire, City Clerk Emily Schulte, Chief of Police Derek Morriss, and Lead Laborer Jarod Hudson. Visitors were Raechel Schoonover and Jennifer Geib.

City Clerk Emily Schulte administered the oath of office to Mayor Thomas, North Ward Alderman Schoonover, and South Ward Alderman Kelley Herron.

The meeting agenda was approved.

Board members also approved the minutes of meetings held March 22, April 5, and April 10, 2023.

Consent Agendas

The aldermen approved the city financial statements, accounts payable, tax report, delinquent tax list, the City Clerk, Chief of Police, and all board reports. Schoonover seconded. They also approved the utility financial statements, accounts payable, purchased power and water statements, take or pay water use report, water loss reports, Utility Office Manager report and City Superintendent report.

Jennifer Geib, Park Board President, reported that Rock Port School’s Future Business Leaders of America and Peer Counselors are planning a park work day on April 26.

The RenoSys contract regarding the pool liner was discussed. More information is being sought before any further decisions are made regarding the pool. Currently Rock Port is still on ACCO’s schedule to assist with opening the pool and the city will move forward finishing the baby pool repairs since the project has already started.

Schulte did inquire what should be done regarding the new slide, as it was only put on hold and a final decision needs made soon. All parties agreed that regardless of how pool repairs were to be determined, the slide is not a necessity at this time. It was decided to cancel the new pool slide purchase through Recreonics and request a full refund.

The aldermen elected Alderman Herron as Mayor Pro Tem/Board President.

New board and liaison appointments as well as those up for renewal were discussed. The following appointments were discussed:

Board of Adjustment (5 Year Term) – There are three vacancies for terms ending in 2024, 2026, and 2027. Alderman Farmer is the board liaison.

Health Board (2 Year Term) – There is one vacancy for a term ending in 2024. Mayor Thomas is the board liaison.

Park Board (3 Year Term) –  Park Board members and the year their terms end are: Jennifer Geib, 2026; Clint Dougherty, 2026; and Madison Erdman, 2026. Alderman Paris is the board liaison.

Planning Commission (4 Year Term) – Planning Commission members and the year their terms end are: Clint Dougherty, 2027; W.C. Farmer, 2027; Charlee Garst, 2027. There are two vacancies for the term ending in 2026. Alderman Herron and Mayor Thomas are board liaisons.

Tourism Board (3 Year Term) –  Tourism Board members and the year their terms end are:

Mike Farmer, 2026; Tami Lansdown, 2026; Angela Mace, 2026; Mark Schoonover, 2024; Katelynn Curry, 2024; and Alderman Schoonover is the board liaison.

Mayor Thomas’ board appointments and board liaison appointments were approved. Mayor Thomas will readdress department head liaisons another time.

Bid Opening: Compost Site Hay Rights Lease Agreement

One bid was received and opened for the compost site hay rights lease agreement. The aldermen voted to approve hay rights at the compost site be leased to Trent Shineman for $80.00 per year.

Action Agenda Item 2023-23: Tree Trimming Agreement

Utility Office Manager McGuire stated that an additional $4,000 is being requested for tree trimming for the electrical department. The last round of work contracted out decreased the number of outages being experienced significantly. The goal to continue working on the issue and eventually get a routine maintenance schedule established and budgeted. The aldermen approved Action Agenda Item 2023-23: Tree Trimming Agreement.

RPPD School Procedures

Alderman Herron stated having parents of school age children contact him regarding the responses of city officers if a catastrophic event were to happen at our school. He wanted parents to be reassured that the Rock Port officers do have a plan and would respond. If anyone ever has questions, they are encouraged to reach out to police department.

City Wide Cleanup

Restore Rock Port has asked if the city would be interested in contributing financially to a city-wide cleanup in the coming weeks. They were quoted $1,500.00 to hold the event. The aldermen voted to approve $500 towards a city wide cleanup, if Restore Rock Port can obtain the remainder of the funds.

Main Street Parking Stalls

Mayor Thomas asked if the parking stall layout on Main Street could be changed, given it is MoDOT’s right-of-way. Staff confirmed that it can, there’s just a process. It was also stated that slanting them further eliminates stalls, which was a point of contention previously, as this isn’t the first time this topic has been addressed. Schulte relayed that some of the complaints were regarding specific vehicles and inquired if board members would prefer having a discussion with those individuals prior to proceeding. The board asked that more research for alternative parking stalls is done.

Pool Liner Project

The pool liner contract and project were discussed. Staff relayed that last season the pool went through around 250,000 gallons a month due to leaks. This is worrisome as the amount of water used at the pool could cause the utility to go over their take or pay contract for the year to purchase water. The wholesale cost per 1,000 gallons of overage is double the regular rate. Staff also voiced concern over the cost of flushing hydrants which is required by DNR in the event of an overage.

Mayor Thomas didn’t remember there being opposition to opening the pool voiced at the public hearing. Alderwoman Schoonover stated there were several objections towards the back of the room where she was, however citizens didn’t feel their concerns were being addressed.

Alderwoman Farmer relayed that the Pool Repair Fund can only be used towards repairs of the current pool, not the building of new, thus funds should be utilized in an attempt to save the current facility so that account doesn’t become unusable. Schulte and McGuire stated they weren’t sure that account couldn’t be used towards the building of a new facility, though Schulte would confirm.

Further discussion of the motion made at the April 10 meeting took place. There were no stipulations regarding water loss upon opening the pool for the season. All are hopefully repairs to the baby pool will remedy a great deal of the loss experienced last season.

The aldermen approved opening the pool, but having all parties re-evaluate if loss remains substantial.

RPPD Policy Manual

Chief Morriss submitted a revised Police Department manual for review. The changes made include:

• Additions: policies for vehicle pursuits and wearable body cameras

• Deletions: social media policy, since one was just implemented within the city policy book

This manual includes all of MIRMA’s sample policies with additional ones.

The aldermen approved the Rock Port Police Department Policy Manual as submitted.

MIRMA Firefighter Coverage

Schulte wanted the board to be aware she would be bringing a proposal to join MIRMA’s firefighter insurance pool. While it does come with additional costs, a portion is reimbursed back and the penalties placed on the city for not joining could be larger than the policy price itself.

Chief of Police Derek Morriss

Alderman Paris inquired if nuisance letters had gone out yet. Morriss stated envelopes are being ordered, then they will be sent out. Schulte will also get the pet tag list sent to Morriss, as the deadline to license pets without penalty has expired. Tags are $7.50 for any residents still needing to license their pets. Owners with pets found to not be licensed could be cited.

City Clerk Emily Schulte

The annual ARPA reporting was completed, however she will go back to see what needs done given the slide purchase is to be cancelled. The nuisance reporting form recently added to the city website has gotten a few submissions. Chief Morriss added that those complaints received have already been remedied.

Subordinate boards have been busy. The Park Board has put a lot of time and efforts into this pool project and getting fund raising started. The Tourism Board has a lot of events coming up including the monthly concert series beginning in May and Summer Palooza. They recently created a volunteer form up which can be found through the Summer Palooza Facebook event.

Utility Office Manager

Terri McGuire

McGuire informed the board the amount budgeted for I-29 lagoon dredging is not needed this year and can be pushed back to 2024. This budgeted capital expenditure will now be used toward the 2” water line replacement in the alley between Main and Water from Opp to Clay.

Alderman Kelley Herron

Alderman Herron thanked Lead Laborer Hudson on being present and giving input while Superintendent Thomas is away at a conference.

Alderwoman Lisa Farmer

Alderwoman Farmer asked to be reminded of why the city no longer has a limb drop-off site. Staff relayed that the site once utilized by the city was shut down by DNR following citizen complaints. The site cannot reopen in that location and the city doesn’t have many other suitable options for a location.

Alderman Kory Paris

Alderman Paris thanked staff and welcomed new and returning board members.

The meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m.