RECORD OF PROCEEDING
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Meeting of the Board of Aldermen of the City of Clarkson Valley, December 6, 2022
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The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
A roll call for the meeting was taken with the following result:
PRESENT Ward ABSENT
Mayor Scott Douglass
Alderperson Sue McNamara Ward 1 Alderperson Jim Meyer
Alderperson Honora Schiller Ward 2 Alderperson Julie Blanner
Alderperson Lin Midyett Ward 3
Alderperson Gregg Bogosian Ward 3
Also in Attendance:
City Clerk: Michele McMahon
The City Attorney, Patrick Butler, was unable to attend.
Alderperson Schiller made a motion to accept the November 2022 Minutes. Alderperson Midyett seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken to accept the Minutes with an affirmative result and the motion was declared passed.
REMARKS, PETITIONS AND COMPLAINTS
Mr. Terry Knox, a resident of the Westhampton Subdivision, spoke about the dangerous nature of the turning lane in front of the Westhampton Subdivision and across the street from the south entrance to Forest Hills Club Estates, saying an island would make it safer. Mayor Douglass said we would speak to MoDOT regarding this issue.
Mrs. Frances Babb, a resident in the Kehrs Mill Estates Subdivision, asked to speak about a temporary fence that was installed in her subdivision, stating since this is a temporary fence, it should be allowed.
Mr. Brad Johnson, a resident of the Westhampton Subdivision, spoke about the subdivision’s request to expend ARPA funds towards a streetlight proposal. He said he was angry with the City and gave a brief history of the proposal, saying it checked all boxes in the way of allowed uses of these Federal funds and that the subdivision has responded to everything requested of them and still, after 3 months of being promised a vote by the Board of Aldermen, there is a committee that has not discussed this matter yet. He reported that when asked by the city to garner signatures from the Westhampton residents; of those in favor of the streetlight proposal, 82.2% voted yes; and 3.1% voted against. He indicated there were almost a dozen Westhampton homeowners in attendance at this meeting and gave them the floor to speak on the subject.
Mayor Douglass responded that we share your frustration and said the City is trying to be careful of how we spend this money. Further stating that last month we put together a committee which was reported to you and there would be a committee report this evening. Mayor Douglass concluded the discussion by saying we appreciate you all coming tonight.
REPORTS
Chesterfield Police Report
Lt. Connelly gave the November Police Report.
Mayor’s Report
Court Report: Mayor Douglass said the amount received in November 2022 for court receipts was $4,277.25.
Revenue: Mayor Douglass said the revenue was $25,000 higher than the budget and mentioned a recent newspaper article where St. Louis County taxing authority had made a mistake in reporting/distributing the one cent sales tax. We looked at the affected months as reported in that article, alongside the previous year and found the difference to be negligible. He concluded by saying we will continue to review this in the coming months.
Alderpersons’ Reports
There were no reports.
City Attorney Report:
The City Attorney, Patrick Butler, reported the City was all good.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Review Present Code – Animals & Fowl: Patrick Butler reported that in 2011, the City voted not to regulate chickens, further stating Chapter 405 of the Zoning Code allows farming with no prohibitions. Chapter 205 Animals & Fowl at Section 205.050 regulates chickens to 3 acres or more but allows domesticated chickens. He said if codes are vague, the Judge in Court would rule in favor of the homeowner in the case of a suit. Mayor Douglass then asked the Board if there is any feel for regulating chickens. Alderperson McNamara said she would like the code cleaned up, but prefers the subdivisions regulate chickens. All those attending agreed, and Mr. Butler said he would re-write the code to make it clearer.
NEW BUSINESS
Four Stop Intersections in Forest Hills Club Estates: A motion was made by Alderperson McNamara and seconded by Alderperson Midyett to discuss and pass Bill No. 0520. The City Clerk read Bill No. 0520 for the first time. Mayor Douglass asked for discussion, whereupon Alderperson Schiller asked why we need these four new stop signs when we’ve not had an accident. Trustee President, Valerie Denton, said she rode the streets of her subdivision with Lt. Connelly and Sgt. Decker because there was an accident that occurred and that it could have been a lot worse. The lieutenant and sergeant alerted her of the four intersections without stop signs. She said there are over 200 homes in the subdivision along with the 600 club members, potentially bringing 2,000 extra people; kids driving golf carts; and guests that do not know the streets. There are even student drivers trying to get to school on time, cutting through the subdivision to circumnavigate traffic. With all this in mind, as the President of Trustees responsible for this subdivision, I do not want to wait for an accident to happen before acting on these stop signs.
Alderperson Schiller stated there are 52 houses coming off Seven Oaks Dr. and there is no reason to stop at Forest Club Drive when you can see all the traffic from all directions. She then made a motion since Alderperson Blanner was unable to attend tonight, she would like to table this discussion until the time she is present. The motion was seconded by Alderperson Bogosian. The majority of those present were in favor of the motion and the discussion was tabled.
ARPA Committee Report: Committee Chair, Alderperson Midyett, stated unequivocally that he never said he was against streetlights. Then he reminded all that were present of the solar speed sign requested by the Westhampton Board of Trustees who did not check with the locations of the signs and one had to be removed by the City, at the City’s cost. He said he did not want to see this happen again and that is why the City fathers requested the survey. He then gave the committee report, saying they were going to determine how to spend the ARPA money – working on a timeline, and to make recommendations to the Board. The City Attorney reported that the deadline for spending ARPA money is December 2024, but this must be dedicated – not necessarily spent.
Discuss Employee Dental Insurance: Alderperson Schiller made a motion to approve another year of dental insurance at a 2.4% increase, seconded by Alderperson Midyett. A voice vote was taken to approve the insurance with a unanimous affirmative result and the motion was declared passed.
Audit: Alderperson Schiller made a motion to approve payment of invoices in the amount of $74,144.55 seconded by Alderperson Bogosian. A voice vote was taken to approve the audit with a unanimous affirmative result and the motion was declared passed.
Alderperson McNamara made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Alderperson Bogosian. A voice vote was taken with a unanimous affirmative result and the motion was declared passed. The Regular Meeting of the Board of Aldermen adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
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Scott Douglass, Mayor
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ATTEST: Michele McMahon, City Clerk