May 23, 2023 Special Board of Aldermen Meeting

A special meeting of the Board of Aldermen was held on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 3:00 PM in the City Hall office at the Clarkson Executive Center in Ballwin, Missouri. The meeting was also accessible virtually via a Zoom link.

ABSENT

It was noted that this meeting notice received less than the required 72-hour notice, which was due to the urgent nature of the meeting and the necessity for immediate communication regarding obligating ARPA funds.

AGENDA APPROVAL

A motion was made by Alderperson Bogosian, seconded by Alderperson Schweig to approve the Agenda. A voice vote was taken with a unanimous affirmative result and the motion to accept the Agenda as presented was declared passed.

OPEN MEETING

RESOLUTION 23-03: RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF CLARKSON VALLEY OBLIGATING THE USE OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (“ARPA”) FUNDS FOR NECESSARY GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES AND STORMWATER PROJECTS WITHIN THE CITY OF CLARKSON VALLEY.

A motion was made by Alderperson Bogosian to discuss and pass Resolution No. 23-03. Alderperson Midyett seconded the motion. The City Clerk read Resolution No. 23-03. Mayor McNamara said she would like to get the distribution rolling. Patrick Butler mentioned he spoke with one of the chief lawyers on Sen. Hawley’s staff late last night and got a hold of Senator Schmidt’s Chief of staff this morning. He was assured that the current language in all the pending ARPA “claw back” attempts are only directed to the money still being held at the US Treasury – apparently billions of dollars. Due to concern over severe political consequences, both Senators do not know believe that ARPA funds will be “taken” from local communities that have already received the funds, but rather the effort is to re-direct the remaining funds sitting in the US Treasury that are subject to future distribution. He concluded by saying that, of course, political assurances are always subject to change. Independent of this, he said, the U.S. Treasury has told numerous state and local groups that it is considering that “obligated funds” are considered funds that have been transferred from Treasury out to a local entity, so once the money has left the federal coffers, it is considered obligated by Treasury.

There was no further discussion, and a roll call vote was taken with the following results. Ayes: Bogosian, MacDonald, Midyett, Schiller, and Schweig. Alderperson Low abstained. There were no Nays. Whereby, Mayor McNamara declared Resolution No. 23-03 as having passed. Alderperson Bogosian asked that the time of passage be marked, and it was noted that it passed at 3:15 p.m.

Discussion turned to the way in which the City will be sending information to the subdivisions regarding their portions of ARPA funds. It was noted that we will go forward with equipping the office with the hardware and begin soliciting from the subdivisions. Alderperson Low said we need to get organized because people will want to know all particulars relating to submitting proposals. These coming days we will have a more finite cost for office equipment and right now we have a little less than $500,000 remaining in the ARPA funds account. The City Attorney reminded everyone this should go first to the Committee and then to the Alderpersons.

ADJOURN

A motion was made by Alderperson Bogosian to adjourn, seconded by Alderperson Low. A voice vote was taken with a unanimous affirmative result and the motion was declared passed. The Special Meeting of the Board of Aldermen adjourned at 3:45 p.m.