City of Clarkson Valley Missouri

Minutes of August 2008 Meeting
Board of Aldermen

RECORD OF PROCEEDING
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Meeting of the Board of Aldermen of the City of Clarkson Valley at City Hall (Fru-Con Center), August 5, 2008.
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The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. A roll call was taken with the following results:

Also in Attendance: 

       City Attorney,       Patrick Butler

       City Clerk:       Michele McMahon  

Alderperson Schultz made a motion to accept the Minutes.  Alderperson Sittser seconded the motion.  A voice vote was taken with an affirmative result and the motion was declared as having passed. 

REMARKS, PETITIONS AND COMPLAINTS 

Mr. John Sprague, Director of Operations for Metropolitan Sewer District spoke regarding Clean Rivers, Healthy Communities. 

Mr. Mark Roberts and Marty Carrow introduced themselves and spoke regarding bamboo as an invasive plant.  They introduced Tim Grossman, general manager of Forest Hills Country Club, Josh Kelley, chief horticulturalist with Missouri Botanical, and Attorney Dennis Devereaux, who represents Mr. Roberts.  Mr. Kelley spoke about Yellow Groove Bamboo growing on grounds adjacent to the Roberts and Carrow’s property stating it can be a nuisance to the public and the environment.  Mayor Douglass thanked everyone for taking the time to bring us this information. 

PUBLIC HEARING 

Setting Tax Rate:  City Clerk, Michele McMahon, read the Notice of Public Hearing.  Mayor Douglass explained the City was authorized to collect 10.6 cents per $100 valuation for real estate.  Mayor Douglass went on to explain how the Hancock Amendment works.   

The Public Hearing closed at 8:10 p.m. 

REPORTS 

St. Louis County Police Report:  Officer Thom Taylor of the St. Louis County Police handed out the June and July Police Reports.  

Mayor’s Report 

Court Report:  The total amount collected for traffic fines and court costs for the month of June 2008 was $14,909.50.  The total amount collected for traffic fines and court costs for the month of July 2008 was $15,119.00.   

Judge Lusser to Speak Next Month to Board Members:  Mayor Douglass stated that Judge Lusser is scheduled to attend a pre-meeting to explain court procedures and will entertain questions from Board Members. 

Summonses Issued to Two Residents:  Mayor Douglass stated the City issued a summons to two residents of Forest Hills Club Estates for constructing driveway monuments without a building permit.   

Letter from Charter Allowing 5% Utility Tax:  Mayor Douglass explained the 5% franchise fee and mentioned the letter Charter wrote for Mayor Douglass’s signature as an agreement for allowing the increase. 

Results of Survey:  Mayor Douglass said the results of the survey on the number of times per week for trash pickup would be included in the October Chronicle.  

Alderpersons' Reports 

Additional Complaints on Ellisville Construction:  Alderperson Schultz reported he received four or five more complaints about construction at the former CitiMortgage property.   

Dead Trees on Berm:  Alderperson Schultz reported Dowco cleaned the berm of most of the smaller dead trees.  AmerenUE took out some of the larger trees.  He reported that vines are growing in the spruce trees along Clarkson Road and he was going to contract for their cleanup.  

Report of the Green Space Committee:  Alderperson Schultz mentioned the Green Space Committee met this past month and they were not considering bamboo as a noxious weed.  After hearing the information at the beginning of tonight’s meeting, he thinks bamboo should be included in the definition of a noxious weed, to which Mayor Douglass responded by saying the committee should meet again and asked everyone to review the Bill.  

Start-up Date for Kehrs Mill Road Construction:  Alderperson Meyer received a question from a resident wondering about the starting date for construction on Kehrs Mill Road.  Mayor Douglass responded he received a verbal from St. Louis County Highway they will begin construction in mid-September.   

Planning and Zoning Hearing Cancelled:  Alderperson Shea reported the P&Z Commission was scheduled to meet the preceding evening for signage approval, but the hearing was cancelled.  The petitioner required approval from one of its subsidiaries, who owns the building on which the sign was requested to be constructed. 

Children Driving Golf Carts:  Alderperson Schiller mentioned she continues to see children driving golf carts in Forest Hills.  She asked if the City could request Forest Hills Country Club to place an item in its newsmagazine mentioning our code restrictions.

City Attorney’s Report 

Patrick Butler had no report for the months of June or July but asked the Board if we could teach the deer to eat bamboo instead of hostas? 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS 

There was no unfinished business. 

NEW BUSINESS 

BILL NO. 0381 – AN ORDINANCE LEVYING AND ESTABLISHING THE ANNUAL RATE OF TAXES ON ALL RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE, AGRICULTURAL REAL ESTATE, COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF CLARKSON VALLEY TO BE COLLECTED AND USED FOR MUNICIPAL PURPOSES IN THE CITY OF CLARKSON VALLEY, MISSOURI, FOR THE YEAR JULY 1, 2008 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2009. 

A motion was made by Alderperson Shea to discuss and pass Bill No. 0381.  Alderperson Meyer seconded the motion.  Mayor Scott Douglass read Bill No. 0381 for the first time.  Alderperson Schiller asked if anyone checks the figures the state gives us?  Mayor Douglass read Bill No. 0381 for the second time.  A roll call vote was taken, with the following results.  Ayes: Meyer, Schiller, Schultz, Shea, Sittser and Young.  There were no Nays.  Whereby, Mayor Douglass declared Bill No. 0381 as having passed and is now considered Ordinance No. 08-06.   

CPA Auditor:  Alderperson Meyer made a motion to accept the proposal from Fine & Associates to conduct Clarkson Valley’s audit.  Alderperson Schultz seconded the motion.  A voice vote was taken with a unanimous, affirmative result and Fine & Associates’ proposal was accepted.   

Rewording of Alizadeh Monument Sign:  After reviewing the Special Use Permit granted to Alizadeh and finding the sign to be the same size and in the same location as presented at the November 2007 Planning and Zoning Hearing and that nothing has changed but the name and logo, Alderperson Shea made a motion to approve the alteration of lettering on Alizadeh’s monument sign.  Alderperson Schiller seconded the motion.  A voice vote was taken with a unanimous, affirmative result and the motion was declared passed.   

Audit:  Alderperson Schiller made a motion to approve the audit as presented, seconded by Alderperson Schultz to have invoices in the amount of $82,695.13 approved for payment.  A voice vote was taken with a unanimous affirmative result and the motion was declared passed.   

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ATTEST: Michele McMahon, City Clerk

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