The Rock Port Board of Aldermen met Wednesday, February 19, at 6:00 p.m. with Mayor Amy Thomas presiding. Board members present were Kelley Herron, Michael Graves, Jeff Geib and Kim Brake. Also present were City Clerk Natasha Baruth, Superintendent Dennis Sherlock, and Police Chief Derek Morriss. Utility Clerk Terri McGuire was absent. Visitors present were Chris Roup, Connie Minter, Barry Minter, Greg Young, Sheena Roup, Dan Athen, Stephanie Athen, Scott Jones, Taya Jones, Tyler Jones, Jeff Mace, and Ashley Amthor.

Mayor Thomas called the meeting to order.

The meeting agenda was approved.

Board members also voted to approve the January 15, 2025, meeting minutes.

Visitors

Mayor Amy Thomas presented a proclamation to Dan Athen for 25 years as a Rock Port volunteer fireman.

Scott Jones was in attendance to present the end of year report for the Rock Port Volunteer Fire Department.

Jeff Mace was in attendance to ask to renew his lease on all of lots 26 and 27 in Block D of Sickler’s Second Addition. Discussion was moved to executive session.

Taya Jones spoke about her special use request for an in-home kennel business. The board discussed waiting on the city ordinances to be codified. City Clerk Baruth gave a four to six week timeline for the ordinances to be completed. The 45 day time frame given to decide about a special use permit will have passed by that time. The board recommended Taya to revisit with the planning commission.

Greg Young spoke out against the Jones’ kennel and asked the board to consider not approving the special use permit.

Consent Agendas

The aldermen approved the city consent agenda and the utility consent agenda.

New Business

Alderman Graves spoke about the school district transferring the baseball and practice field meters to their account. They would like to control when the water is turned on and off for the season. He also spoke about the school paying a portion of the mowing expense the park board incurs for maintaining those fields.

City Clerk Baruth spoke regarding the CDBG grant needing a non-interest bearing bank account. The aldermen voted to open a non-interest bearing account with Graves, Brake, and Geib as signers.

Superintendent Sherlock spoke regarding MIRMA requiring an aquatic facility operator on staff. The board discussed having two on staff so weekend responsibilities can rotate. Sherlock will look into classes, discuss with staff and will inform them at the next meeting.

Stan Harmon Contracting applied for a new business license. It was approved.

A bid for the total amount of LED street lights and covers was presented to the board. Several street lights have been changed to LED and the response has been generally positive. The bid was for a total of $25,565.10. The aldermen voted to approve the bid using Marijuana Sales Tax money.

Old Business

The board spoke to Superintendent Sherlock regarding a paving machine. Sherlock stated that he is picking one out and will be using the street ½ cent tax reserve money to purchase it.

The board also spoke to Superintendent Sherlock regarding a new sewer jet. Sherlock stated that a new sewer jet that can accomplish the jobs needed for the city would cost about $92,000 and would take four to six weeks to deliver. The aldermen voted to approve $45,000 from the marijuana tax money for the down payment on a sewer jet.

There was discussion regarding the Olsson bid on Clay Street. The board would like to schedule a meeting with Olsson to ask questions and inquired where Sherlock was in the process of obtaining second bids. Sherlock is waiting to hear from other companies.

The board discussed how to divide up marijuana tax money.

The aldermen voted to provide the park board with $15,000 to pay for ACCO to open and close the pool. This was a new process last year and was an unbudgeted expense.

They also voted to provide $15,000 to the fire department to assist in the cost of demolishing and rebuilding, and  an additional $21,104.61 to the sewer jet cost.

The board discussed how to divide incoming marijuana tax money in the future. This discussion was tabled until the next meeting.

Additional Reports

Park Board president Sheena Roup spoke about increasing lifeguard wages.

City Clerk Baruth reiterated the city ordinances would take four to five weeks to completely update. She presented the unspent monies from 2024. The aldermen voted unanimously to transfer $60,000 of the police 2024 unspent monies to reserves to purchase an additional Durango. They also voted to transfer the total unspent $121,800.77 of the ½ cent street tax to a reserve account. This money must be spent on street projects per city ordinance.

Police Chief Morriss spoke about the new police vehicle and how it is handling the weather. He expressed the need for an additional Durango. He reminded the board of his medical leave. He received a nuisance report regarding an unauthorized kennel in town. Upon inspection, he found no nuisance or infraction.

Alderman Herron received multiple comments regarding the great job the street crew did on snow removal for the last few storms. He also received mostly positive comments on the new street lights.

Executive Session

The aldermen voted unanimously to adjourn into executive session for leasing real estate and personnel matters pursuant for Section 610.021 (2&3) RSMo at 8:38 p.m. The executive meeting adjourned into regular session at 9:00 p.m.

While in executive session the aldermen voted to solicit sealed bids on all of lots 26 and 27 in Block D of Sickler’s Second Addition. The city will accept sealed bids until 4:00 p.m. on March 14, 2025. Bids will be opened at the March 19, 2025, Board of Aldermen meeting.

The aldermen voted unanimously to include a .50 wage differential for city employees that acquire the aquatic facility operator certification in the handbook.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.