Minutes of March 2008 Meeting Board of Aldermen

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Meeting of the Board of Aldermen of the City of Clarkson Valley at City Hall (Fru-Con Center), March 4, 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:

PRESENT	Ward	ABSENT
Mayor Scott Douglass
Alderperson Susan Shea	Ward 1
Alderperson Jim Meyer	Ward 1
Alderperson Honora Schiller	Ward 2
Alderperson Wendell Sittser	Ward 2
Alderperson Scott Schultz	Ward 3
Paul Young	Ward 3

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

REPORTS

St. Louis County Police Report: Sgt. Jeff Burk of the St. Louis County Police handed out the February Police Report. Alderperson Meyer mentioned to Sgt. Burk that he seemed to recall Ballwin’s Police Report would state the number of warnings issued. He asked what St. Louis County’s policy on warnings was, to which the Sergeant responded they give verbal warnings opposed to written.

Mayor’s Report

Court Report: The total amount collected for traffic fines and court costs for the month of February 2008 was $18,019.75.

New Request for Monopole Cell Tower: Mayor Douglass reported the City received a request to hold a Planning & Zoning Hearing for a monopole-type cellular tower from Cricket Communications. It would be located on property owned by Rockwood School District next to the AmerenUE substation on Marquette property.

St. John’s Mercy Health Center: Mayor Douglass stated the City met with the new representative of St. John’s. It appears there will be a different contour to the building. He concluded by saying he will keep everyone informed.

Aboveground Power Lines: Mayor Douglass explained there were a few aboveground electrical lines in Forest Hills off Forest Club Drive. He reported that AmerenUE sent information stating they would be burying these lines in the very near future.

Possibility of City Hall Obtaining Additional Storage Space: Mayor Douglass said he spoke with representatives at Fru-Con about the possibility of getting storage space. They are considering this proposal and will get back with us at a later date.

Clarkson Valley Chronicle: Mayor Douglass reported that he and the City Clerk met with staff members of the Chronicle this month. He asked the Board Members how they felt about the monthly newsmagazine? Alderperson Schultz said that it has surely grown since its inception. Mayor Douglass said the Chronicle’s principle intent is to have an ad for every article.

He also reported he is meeting with Subdivision Trustees within the next month and hopefully after hearing their thoughts on this, the editor can connect with people within the subdivisions who would be interested in supplying material for articles.

Responses Heard on Mayor’s Corner “Heads-up” Article in Chronicle: Mayor Douglass reported he received over half a dozen additional responses regarding the Mayor’s Corner on our budget difficulties and the possibility of reducing sanitation pickup or setting a new tax. He said four or five responses were for one time per week trash pickup and several against. Alderperson Schultz said he received several comments, too.

One Alderperson mentioned that a survey sent to all Clarkson Valley residents, requesting their opinion of how often trash should be picked up and how the City could buffer its reserves might be a good idea. Everyone agreed that was a great idea.

Tip Of The Hat! To Neighborhood Patrolling Officer Taylor: Mayor Douglass read the letter written by Mr. David Morgan who appreciated the job NPO Thom Taylor did to assist him in recovering funds from a bad check.

Resolution For Support Of Clean Indoor Air Efforts In St. Louis County: Mayor Douglass explained he received a request to consider passing a resolution encouraging business owners and organizations to adopt clean indoor air policies. The request, made by Westminster (S.W.A.T.) Students Working Against Tobacco, was first presented to the Missouri Municipal League of St. Louis County and now it has gone to the individual municipalities within the County. Mayor Douglass read the Resolution (attached). A motion was made by Alderperson Shea to pass Resolution 08-02. Alderperson Schiller seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken with five ayes and one nay and the motion was declared as having passed.

President of the Board of Aldermen, Scott Schultz, read a Proclamation created and signed by Senator John Loudon to honor the fiftieth wedding anniversary of Scott and June Douglass.

South Entrance to Forest Hills Club Estates to Receive New Pavement: Alderperson Schultz reported the subdivision’s south entrance would be closed at the end of March for repaving; weather permitting. Once that is accomplished, he said the north entrance would be patched. He further reported all the subdivision’s streets would be micro surfaced toward the end of April.

Kudos to Meridians Trash Men: Alderperson Schultz reported he recently set out an inordinate number of trashcans and they were all picked up -- with a smile. He is extremely happy with the job the haulers are doing.

BILL NO. 0371 – AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF CLARKSON VALLEY, MISSOURI, IN TITLE V: BUILDING CODES AND REGULATIONS, BY ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 502: POST CONSTRUCTION, ARTICLE I: STREAM BUFFER PROTECTION.

Alderperson Young made a motion to discuss and pass Bill No. 0371. Alderperson Schultz seconded the motion. Mayor Douglass read Bill No. 0371 the first time. One Alderperson mentioned that Stop Work Orders were discussed at length in this ordinance and wondered why our own code is mute on stop work orders? Mayor Douglass said he would look into that. Alderperson Shea shared her concern for those residents in her Ward with septic tanks, explaining this code states that if there is a problem with a septic system, the field which has to be moved when so compromised, cannot be moved within the buffer or setback which would be an extreme disadvantage to those homeowners. Alderperson Schultz asked Mayor Douglass if there are penalties if the City doesn’t pass this, to which Mayor Douglass responded there are. Mayor Douglass read Bill No. 0371 the second time. A roll call vote was taken with the following result: Ayes: Meyer, Schiller, Schultz, Sittser and Young. Nays: Shea. Whereby Bill No.0371 was declared as having passed and is now considered Ordinance No. 08-02.

NEW BUSINESS

BILL NO. 0373 – AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF CLARKSON VALLEY, MISSOURI, IN TITLE V: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION BY ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 510: LAND DISTURBANCE CODE.

Alderperson Sittser made a motion to discuss and pass Bill No. 0373. Alderperson Young seconded the motion. Mayor Douglass read Bill No. 0373 the first time. Alderperson Schiller asked a question regarding differing definitions of Land Disturbance within the Code. Mayor Douglass read Bill No. 0373 the second time. A roll call vote was taken with the following unanimous affirmative result: Ayes: Meyer, Schiller, Schultz, Shea, Sittser and Young. There were no nays. Whereby Bill No.0373 was declared as having passed and is now considered Ordinance No. 08-03.

Possibility for Traffic Study: Alderperson Shea spoke passionately of the possibility of contracting independently for a traffic study on Kehrs Mill Road - quoting many aspects of the previous traffic study as being faulty. The study, which was initiated and presented by Dr. Craig Larson, Superintendent of Rockwood School District is now six years old. Given that, she made a motion to contract for a new study. Alderperson Sittser seconded the motion. A question came from Alderperson Schultz who asked, “What would the City be able to do if the information from the new study comes back different from that of the previous study?” To which she responded the Board “put the cart before the horse” with erroneous information taken from that study and she would ask the Board to rescind its approval of the entrance. Mayor Douglass asked Alderperson Shea if she would consider the following proposal: The Board requests Rockwood School District to initiate another study with the City choosing the company and criteria? To which she responded that would not work. There was further discussion with an eventual roll call vote, which had the following result: Ayes: Meyer and Shea. Nays: Schiller, Schultz, Sittser and Young. Mayor Douglass announced the motion as having failed.

Bamboo – A Noxious Weed? Mayor Douglass informed those present that the City received a few inquiries asking us to consider bamboo a noxious weed. The matter died for lack of a motion. A resident, Mark Roberts, who is building a new house in Forest Hills Club Estates spoke of a neighbor who planted bamboo and expressed his fear the plant would take over his backyard. Alderperson Meyer stated this, in his opinion, would be considered a civil matter between neighbors.

Audit: Alderperson Schultz made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Sittser to have invoices in the amount of $83,257.73 approved for payment. A voice vote was taken with a unanimous affirmative result and the motion was declared passed.

Alderperson Young made a motion for the Board of Aldermen of Clarkson Valley to go into closed session upon adjourn of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Aldermen. Alderperson Meyer seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken with a unanimous affirmative result and the motion was declared passed. The Board went into Closed Session at 9:10 p.m. The Board then adjourned.