Council praises staff for hard work

Deputy Clerk Carrie Mulch, second from left, receives a certificate in recognition of being certified as a Missouri Registered City Clerk. Pictured from left are Andy Morris, city manager; Mulch; Kay Galloway, city clerk; and Don Burton, mayor.

By Janet Morales

The Moberly City Council presented some good news and recognized the staff that brought it to fruition at its regular session meeting held Monday night.

City Manager Andy Morris announced that Moberly had been awarded a $30,000 grant as part of the Energize Missouri program. These monies, which will be used for LED lighting, come through the Department of Natural Resources thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus act).

Morris said he and the staff learned of the grant only 12 days before the deadline. Parks Director Mike Bork, Finance Director Greg Hodge, and Community Development Director Tom Sanders worked together to complete the necessary paperwork in their successful bid for the grant.

“We don’t say enough about the good work the staff does,” said Morris. “These three men really pulled together to pull off a near-impossible task. Tom Sanders did a yeoman’s task in getting this accomplished.”

Another employee, Carrie Mulch, was recognized by the council. Mulch, a deputy clerk who has been with the city for three years, has been certified as a Missouri Registered City Clerk from the Missouri City Clerks and Finance Officers Association MoCCFOA.

In a letter from Denise Chisum, chair of certification committee for MoCCFOA, she said, “establishment of state certification in 2003 was a monumental step in demonstrating the professionalism of the Missouri City Clerk and is based on a combination of education and experience.”

The Lodge in Rothwell Park is officially open after having hosted its first successful event last weekend with the Spring and Garden Expo. The first thing visitors and vendors noticed, in the still wet conditions, was the need for a paved parking lot.

The council took another step closer in solving this problem by approving the bids for asphalting the surface. The low bid was accepted from Christensen Construction in the amount of $100,813.30. The lot will be paved from the Lodge straight east to the small camping area and out towards the two exits. It will not include the area near the barn and pens or over by the ball fields.

In other city improvement projects, the council approved two low bids from the same company for construction of the walking/bike trail south of town.

The low bid of Karrenbrock Construction, Inc. in the amount of $199,335.57 was approved for the construction of the South Williams Street bicycle and pedestrian trail project. Karrenbrock’s bid of $138,873.30 was accepted also for construction of the trail on Urbandale Road. This work will continue the existing trail west on Urbandale then north on Williams.

“I want to acknowledge Tom’s (Sanders) dogged determination in getting this project done in spite of the obstacles that have been thrown at him,” said councilman Nancy Copenhaver.

The city hired Jacob’s Engineering Group, Inc., for additional construction phase services regarding the Ault and Rollins Street storm sewer and the Reed Street combined sewer projects, for a total fee of $58,000.

The council approved ordinances for the issuance of special tax bills regarding the demolition of properties at the following locations: 941 W. Rollins, 125 S. Sixth, 730 W. Rollins, and 624 West End Place.

During a review of the monthly reports, Councilman Herb Lawrence asked Keith Phipps, director of public utilities, about the water loss that has taken place over the last few months.

Phipps pointed out that water loss had dropped 13 percent over last month. He said the department had found several sewers that were leaking. However, the largest leak came in at 330,000 gallons from a business on Reed Street.

Phipps told the council that there were several vacant houses found to have water leaks. Meters had been shut off when the houses became vacant but somehow were turned back on, according to Phipps. He said they are looking at vacant accounts to make sure meters are locked down or removed.

The following requests were approved: YMCA annual 5K Run to be held April 10; MACC annual 5K walk/run April 24; and a Cemetery Walk May 15-16.

Councilman Dick Boots was appointed the council liaison to the Tourism Advisory Commission which meets March 17.

Sadie Appling took part in her second March council meeting as a member of the Moberly Youth Advisory Council. Also attending the council meeting were Boy Scout Troop 14 who were there in order to meet requirements for citizenship and community merit badges. Troop 14 is under the leadership of Gary Duncan and Dennis Winn.