The issue that dominated the last Jefferson City Council meeting started Monday night’s Council meeting.
President Pro Tem Bob Scrivner read a message from Mayor Carrie Tergin, who was out of town at a meeting, saying she would not veto the three bills passed by the Council to allow a controversial development off Hayselton Drive.
The development will include seven single-family homes in a subdivision called River Bluff Estates accessed solely from the 1600 block of Hayselton Drive.
The council votes came after more than three hours of deliberations and public testimony, including 18 people speaking in opposition of the project.
After reading Tergin’s announcement, Scrviner read the city charter section noting the mayor’s decline to veto means the bills are enacted immediately.
Monday’s meeting featured the swearing in of Jefferson City Council members, who won election to their seats on April 5.
Those sworn in were :
• Rick Prather in Ward 1,
• Rick Mihalevich in Ward 2,
• Erin Wiseman in Ward 3,
• Glen Costales in Ward 4, and
• Larry Henry in Ward 5
Among the bills the council approved was a bill to authorize a supplemental appropriation from the city’s general fund of $300,000 to extend sewer service to the proposed Christy Drive property of Special Olympics of Missouri. Sales tax revenues received for 2015 exceeded projections, thus providing sufficient funding in the general fund for this one-time capital payment. Wastewater bond restrictions preclude funding this expenditure from wastewater funds. The council approved the expenditure during a closed session in October 2014, but at that time did not indicate the source of the funds.
Also approved was a bill to amend the 2015-16 budget authorizing a supplemental appropriation of $5,158 into the city attorney’s professional services budget.
In 2014, numerous counties in Missouri entered into an agreement to jointly fund attorneys to defend them against a statewide lawsuit filed by Ameren Missouri challenging assessments on their property. Should Ameren prevail, the local governments feel there would be a significant impact on property taxes collected by the counties.
Cole County turned to its own taxing jurisdictions to help fund its share of the $236,812 defense cost. The county committed to spend the first $118,406. The Jefferson City Council and other taxing jurisdictions agreed to fund their pro-rata share of the remaining 50 percent; Jefferson Citt’s obligation is a maximum cost of $14,220. The county has now exhausted it’s share of the defense and has turned to the other taxing jurisdictions. At the time of the agreement, the council determined the payment would come from the city’s reserve fund.
The council also approved a bill to eliminate the 25-mile, 30-minute residency restrictions on non-department director employees and allow department directors to make those decisions on a position by position basis.
Costales requested this bill after discussion with some city staff about the value versus the cost of a residency restriction. The city administrator and department directors discussed the issue and eventually concluded the value in adding to the recruiting pool outweighed the value of a uniform rule.
Among the resolutions approved by the council, one would authorize the application for a recreation trails program grant for the trailhead at the community park along the east branch section of the Greenway Trail. The city’s Parks and Recreation Commission, in cooperation with the Eastside Family Activity Center, is asking for $150,000 from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Parks Division for this.
Another resolution declared the intent of the council to issue industrial development revenue bonds, not to exceed $8 million, for purchase of equipment by Modern Litho Print Company. The Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce and Modern Litho have agreed upon an expansion opportunity. The additional equipment will allow for an expansion of the Modern Litho facility.
Company officials anticipate the addition of a minimum of 50 new jobs for this equipment.Modern Litho Vice President Jeff Davidson said the improvements would take place over a five-year period and would allow them to expand their printing presses.
Another resolution authorizes the mayor to execute a sale of $10 million in sewage bonds. In November 2010, voters approved the sale of $35 million in bonds to construct sanitary sewer improvements. This $10 million sale for 2016 will finance upgrades and replacement of pump stations and old and undersized sanitary mains.
The council also approved three bills to designate areas in the city as historic landmarks:
• 201 East High Street, known as the Hope Mercantile and owned by Dick Caplinger, John Landwehr and Dale Doerhoff.
• 722 East Capitol Avenue, known as the Deputy Warden’s House and owned by James and Sandra Boeckman.
• 701-703 Jefferson Street, known as the Farmers Home and owned by Don and Judy Connor.