1 week Ago By Dan Schunks
The Bonne Terre Board of Alderpersons met in its regular monthly meeting, April 14. Certifying the election returns, two new aldermen were sworn in, Bruce Pratte in Ward 1 and Ian Smith in Ward 3. Alderperson Andrea Richardson was elected by the board to be Mayor Pro Tem, serving in the event of Mayor Erik Schonhardt’s absence.
Alderperson Andrea Richardson was elected by the board to be Mayor Pro Tem. Dan SchunksIn public comments, Robert Hentz informed the board of two upcoming Chamber of Commerce events of significance. “On May 10th, we’ve got the Kid’s Fishing Derby out at the city lake, and June 13 is our annual Golf Classic.
If you haven’t been part of that, get involved. It’s fun for everyone. And this year, the 4th of July has to be moved to the 5th of July for Jerry’s Fireworks.
”Concerns were voiced about speeding on Westfield St. and also with trash cans sitting curb side seven days a week and the cans being blown out into the street, causing safety concerns. The city responded by saying that radar had been utilized in that area recently and that the department would monitor the situation.
Another concern presented was with only trash bags being taken during collection often leaving soda bottles in the can. In addition, several favorable comments were made regarding the Police Department’s new uniforms.Alderperson Andrea Richardson commended the city workers for their efforts during the recent turbulent weather, “I just want to commend the city workers who got out in that rain, in their yellow slickers, and went up and down and cleaned all of our sewer water grills.
Then they came back up when it finally quit raining and shoveled the gravel in because I was at the bottom of the street. They were out in that hard rain and hail, cleaning up those things, because it was flooding.” The issue of water bills being received after the due date was addressed.
The bills are being mailed on the 28th of the month, but in some instances are not received until the 19th of the following month. Bills are due the 15th. City Administrator Shawn Kay said that several other communities are experiencing the same issue.
It appears that the culprit in all of this is the USPS in St. Louis. In a model of government efficiency, a bill mailed in Bonne Terre to a Bonne Terre address must go St.
Louis first. The delay occurs in returning the bills back to Bonne Terre. “It’s been due the 15th for a few years.
As you know, there’s no longer a late fee. As long as you pay your bill, no harm, no foul before the shutoff date.” In some instances, due to the delay, the residents water bill was for two months.
In the City Administrators report, Shawn Kay updated the board on the TAP grants. In discussing the downtown TAP grant, he said, “We have finally gotten concurrence from MODOT. If the council would like to proceed with that project and pass the ordinance tonight to allow us to enter into an agreement with the contractor to do the sidewalks and lighting downtown, we can move forward with that project.
” Continuing, he moved on to the service line project, which would replace lead lines that run from the customer’s meter to the city lines. “We have been told by the Department of Natural Resources that they finally approved our change order. We’re just waiting on the official letter so that we can sign for the change.
Hopefully, we’ll build out the engineering report and then be able to leverage that to be able to get some future funds to be able to replace service lines from the main to the meter and possibly from the meter to the home, depending in if the customers agree to that.”The other TAP grant for new sidewalks on Division Street from School Street to Merle Street is now in the preliminary planning stage with the engineering firm. Kay also mentioned he had not heard anything from the EPA on the soccer field.
“Given the current federal administration, I’m not even sure that anyone still works for the EPA.”Doug Calvert, public safety director for Bonne Terre, has held this position for 5 months and he updated the board on his activities in organizing his office during that time. He mentioned hours with the fire department, police department, and public works.
“I just started from scratch. It was the easiest way to go. As the city grows, the position is going to grow.
We’re up and operational and I really love the position. If you all have any questions or you want to come visit, please let me know.”In conjunction with public safety, Calvert revealed the third siren on the Bonne Terre outside warning system would be installed and operational by May 1.
The original design was to have three concentric circles. Installation of the new siren will complete that triad.Director of Parks, Kenny Farkas, said that 200 were signed up for baseball.
“That’s all systems go. Going to have some meetings this week for picking teams. It’s always a fun event.
After that, it’s just getting the fields ready for baseball.” When asked if enough coaches were found, he replied, “We finally did. That seems to be more and more a problem every year.
Lots of people sign up, but they don’t want to coach, kind of puts you in a spot. I did have to send another team to Desloge because we don’t have enough kids for the 13 to 16 age group. I only had one team.
They work well with me. They took it with no problem.”In old city business, the board passed an ordinance replatting a portion of property located at the intersection of Raider Rd.
and Votech Rd. It also passed an ordinance authorizing City Administrator Shawn Kay to execute a contract withHessling Construction for repairs of the school sidewalk improvements. This authorizes action on the downtown TAP grant.
A plan to discuss proposals for a new city of Bonne Terre website were tabled.In new city business, the board discussed and approved an ordinance. Mayor Schonhardt explained, “This is just adding some guidelines to our city’s ordinances for homeless shelters.
” City attorney Seth Pegram described the crux of the ordinance, “Size, shape, location, number of occupants, facilities required. Basically, you’re making sure that those facilities, when offered, are in appropriate places for the community and that they are up to a certain level of cleanliness, habitability, safety for the residents and the people that might be coming around those entities.”Approval was given to Karla at Plants and Things to close South Division at the intersection of West School up to but not including the Pizza 101 South Drive and Jackson St.
between West School and the back of RB’s lot for Plant Palooza, May 17, from 10 a.m.-4 p.
m.The Bonne Terre Board of Alderpersons meets the second Monday of every month at 6 p.m.
, in Bonne Terre City Hall. Meetings are open to the public.Dan Schunks is a staff writer for the Daily Journal.
He can be reached at [email protected]..
