Six proposed ordinances await JC council action Monday

Jefferson City Council members are poised to vote on six ordinances at Monday's council meeting, and hear two others as they are introduced.

Among the measures awaiting final approval is a development agreement with ALPLA Inc., which operates in the industrial park near the Algoa Correctional Center and the Ike Skelton Training Site.

"This agreement allows us to purchase the rail line" and settle some other legal issues between the city and the company, said Drew Hilpert, city attorney and interim city administrator.

Another measure renews a police department lease with Ozark Harley-Davidson Inc. for two motorcycles.

"This is our ninth year," Chief Roger Schroeder said. "It's for $3,450 a year for each motorcycle."

The council also will be asked to approve two resolutions involving federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG).

The first resolution maps out the "five-year plan," said Janice McMillan, director of the city's Planning and Protective Services department. "We're anticipating about $233,000" in grants.

The 144-page "Consolidated Plan" outlines the goals, she added, although "each year we adopt a plan for the next year."

Third Ward Councilman Bob Scrivner noted the resolution "is, in fact, setting policy. If you disagree with what's being done (or) if you want to see allocations changed, now is the time to do it."

The second resolution adopts policies and procedures for the CDBG program.

"We've been working on this for a long time," McMillan said, noting the "housing policies are quite old, dating back to the late-1980s and '90s."

Among the bills being introduced is a measure declaring three Para-Transit buses as surplus property.

"They have been taken out of service," Matt Morasch, the city engineer and interim public works director, told council members Thursday morning.

The city's transit system gets some federal funds through the state Transportation department and, Morasch said, MoDOT officials have told city officials that "the proceeds of any sale must go back to the city, to be used to buy a new bus."

The second bill being introduced is a revised grant agreement with MoDOT, adding $4,000 to a previous agreement made this past summer.

Interim Fire Chief Jason Turner will remind council members and city residents that the four-month open burning season begins Nov. 15, and will end next March 15.

On Thursday morning, council members also discussed a pending visit by the South Callaway Youth Advocacy Group that was listed on Monday's agenda but actually won't happen until the Nov. 18 meeting.

The students from Mokane High School will be joined by representatives of Jefferson City's Council For Drug Free Youth, Fourth Ward Councilwoman Carrie Carroll explained.

They're looking for the city's support for a resolution asking Missouri House Republicans to prohibit smoking in their offices in the Capitol.

McMillan reminded the council that the city's ordinances don't apply to state offices.

Scrivner said: "There will be debate about this."