Moberly Council Warns Against Dangers of Throwing Candy during Parades

Janet Morales

Moberly Mirror

It was a small crowd with even two councilmen absent but it was business as usual with the regular meeting of the Moberly City Council Monday.

There was little new to the Council that had not be discussed previously in work session. Trinity United Methodist church was granted permission to hold its annual Thanksgiving 5K walk/run at 8 a.m.; the Moberly Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Christmas parade at 5 p.m., Sunday, December 5; and the Parks and Rec Frosty 5K run/walk will start at 6 p.m.

Council member Nancy Copenhaver stressed the importance of reminding parade participants not to throw candy. While receiving candy is something children look forward to, it is also potentially dangerous if children run out in front of a passing float or vehicle in order to pick up candy from the street. Copenhaver said a search of policy was done and there seems to be nothing on the books prohibiting the practice but the Council has indicated an interested in passing such an ordinance. Mayor Pro Tem Don Burton pointed out there is nothing wrong with someone walking in the parade and handing out candy to children.

The council accepted the low bid of Blue Valley Public Safety Inc., Grain Valley, in the amount of $33,148.16 for the purchase and installation of two Early Warning sirens. According to Fire Chief Robert Creed, one of the sirens will be installed in Rothwell park near the Aquatic Center. The other will be erected at the intersection of East Urbandale Drive and Six Mile lane.

Creed told the Council during work session that he had looked at mapping with a service provider to ascertain the best locations for the sirens. Creed said the sirens take about four weeks to be delivered, schedule installation about two weeks later and two to three days to install.

Discussed in work session but tabled from regular session was the Leak Detection Study. Three options of oversight and payment are being considered, said City Manager Andy Morris, so a final proposal is not ready to go before the Council.

An ordinance was passed authorizing the city manager to execute a settlement agreement with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in regards to penalties assessed against the city for sewer violations. At the last meeting, Keith Phipps, director of utilities, said the settlement amount was about half of the original fine.

Two change orders were approved regarding the Karrenbrock Construction Inc. In regards to the Urbandale Drive Trail, increasing the total contract amount by $21,851.

Two change orders recommended by MECO Engineering relative to karrenbrock Construction were approved to increase the total contract by $20,994.35.

The Council approved an ordinance that would allow parking on the north side of the 400 block of union Avenue beginning at the east right of way of porter Street and extending east along the north side of Union Avenue, a distance of 290 feet.

The low bid of Rosen Construction was accepted in the amount of $16,886 for the painting of Moberly Police and Fire Station #1. Chief Creed said the company is repainting the police and fire station, tightening screws and sealing anything needed before painting.

David Weis’ term on the Moberly Area Economic Development Board has expired. Tim Carter was chosen to fill the vacancy.

The next meeting of the Moberly City Council will be at 7 p.m., Monday, December 6, at City Hall.