Kidder City Council holds regular session in April

The City of Kidder met on April 13 for their regular session. Aldermen present were Garton, Grooms and Bratcher, along with Mayor Bauer and City Clerk Richard Evans. Alderman McEwen was absent.

Under old business, Todd Conger contacted Mayor Bauer asking that any contact with him be made through Melvin McFee. Evans reminded council that when the sewer was put through and a permanent easement was established, Conger did not even own the property. Evans said the city has access to 10’ either side of where the line is, and any time they need to get there, they can access the property at their will. He went on to say that to even make an exception to contact Conger every time they need access is a courtesy, and he feels that they are being held hostage to their own ability to get on the property. Evans said that there are risers that are 2 to 2-1/2 feet out of the ground and the problem needs to be handled. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) stated in previous reports that the risers need to be covered up and trees need to be removed that are in the line.

In regard to truck parking, Charlie Pugh said he put two steel posts at the culverts on the street designated for truck parking and one is completely down and the other bent over. Pugh suggested that if Redmen wanted to park there, that he back in off J Highway because he is tearing up the street. Mayor Bauer agreed to visit with Redmen and see what they could do to work it out. It was noted that the city may have to put more rock on the street to make it a better place to park, as this is the best place in town to park.

On the subject of water/wastewater, Evans reported to council that the sensor that needed to be replaced was less than he thought it might be, costing $462 along with the service call. He said a water leak at the park where the water hydrant was leaking underground was fixed and reported on another cost to the city of $595 for a tire for the grader. Evans said he had not heard anything back from DNR after the city responded to the agency’s last write in. He said the gravel at the lagoon was fixed where the muskrats had gotten into the berms. Dennis had completed drafting the maps, drew in all the additions since 1998, and Evans said he would take them to Brookfield to have new maps made for the city. The tube west of the lift station had brush blocking it and Evans asked Alderman Grooms if he could take the Bobcat down and check it.

Evans reported that Code Enforcement Officer Christy Eden-Browder has been off due to personal business. Alderman Garton said the board needed to talk to her about some issues in town that haven’t been handled. Evans said they should give her the option to talk in closed session, and if she declines the board will have to deal with it in open session. He advised the board to have questions written down and prepared so they can get to the point. Mayor Bauer said it was an employee matter and feels it should be discussed in closed session.

In regard to the street maintenance report, Garton said the John Deere was having issues with the clutch and it needed to be looked at. It was reported that Dale Crabb had put the previous clutch in and there was no warranty. The tires were also down to 30% tread and needed to be replaced. Evans said the grass was growing around the berm of all three lagoons and when it gets too tall, algae gets into the water and gives off bad tests (total suspended solids). DNR is insisting they keep it clipped close to the ground to keep that from happening. Evans said he had to copy the timesheets from Charlie and send them to DNR to prove that they had someone mowing the lagoons. He stressed the importance that they need a sickle mower to keep it mowed routinely to satisfy DNR. Mayor Bauer said he thought they should make some contacts and get a quote on what it is going to cost. He said the tractor was an old tractor and it may not be worth the cost to fix it up. Once the tractor is fixed then they could see about the tires, said Bauer. Evans had two tractors of his own that weren’t being used and he told council the city was welcome to use them at no cost. Pugh said the city needed to have their own tractor and suggested that they look into the cost of buying good used equipment to replace it.

Evans talked to Haggard and reported that he was going to finish up what he has not completed, and then grade everything again with the grader. Ray and Charlie talked about ordering some rock to put down on the roads once they are graded. Council discussed the city’s policy of replacing tubes within the city. In the past the patron would pay for the tube and the city would lay it with the backhoe and put in one scoop of gravel for $75. Total cost would be $175. Since the city no longer has a backhoe, they no longer have a way to put in tubes, and the patron will have to pay someone to put in their own tubes. A motion was made by Alderman Garton changing city policy to state that the patron will pay all costs for tube installation and the city street maintenance operator will inspect prior to and after installation.

With no further business to discuss, council made motion to dismiss.

The Caldwell County News

101 South Davis
P.O. Box 218
Hamilton, MO 64644
Phone: 816-583-2116
news@mycaldwellcounty.com

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