Council takes another small step toward making the sweet dream a reality

The City Council met in regular and work session Tuesday night, a day delayed due to the labor Day holiday.

A public hearing was called for in relation to a land transfer in regards to what is being called the Mamtek Development Project 353. This land pertains to property owned by the McKeown family and is the future site of the Mamtek sucralose factory. The mayor asked for public comment from the sparsely populated council audience. Hearing none, he declared a public hearing had been held. This is not atypical of the moberly Council but rather standard procedure for holding public hearings. The public does have an opportunity to ask for agendas, which must be posted 24 hours prior to a meeting.

Also in regular session, the council approved an ordinance approving an agreement with the USDA Commodity Credit Corporation in relation to a permanent reduction of the direct and counter-cyclical corporation program base acres for what is called “Farm #2804″. Approximately 70 acres will be used for the Mamtek factory. At this time, the remaining 63 may be farmed, according to City Manager Andy Morris. However, this number of farming acres will be reduced as more is sold to the Mamtek Company in succeeding phases of its production.

“We may have to do it like a deed of release but we’re not releasing them,” said Morris.

In work session, the council is considering the proposal for an agreement with Morris and Munger, an engineering firm, for development of a storm water, erosion and sediment control ordinance and supporting manuals.

The Public Utilities Department has put in a request for an International dump truck. Mayor Bob Riley asked Keith Phipps, director of public utilities, why he wasn’t seeking a different model that could be purchased locally. Phipps explained trucks purchased locally in the past broke down more frequently and encountered problems with transmission and wiring. Phipps said with an International model, parts could be interchanged and the department would be able to stock parts. Also, an International would be bigger than the F-800 the department had before and it would have more capacity.

The Council also discussed items such as a cell tower contract, check acceptance policy, appointments to Moberly Missouri Public Building Corporation and the Fire Prevention board.

The next regular meeting of the Council will be at 7 p.m., Monday, September 20, at City Hall.