Youth Take Part in City Government

All officials were present with an additional member taking part in Monday night’s Moberly City Council meeting.

Katie Vestal, a junior at Moberly High School, sat with the council as a member of the newly-formed Moberly Youth Council. The group consists of middle and high school students who are interested in reaching out to their communities.

The purpose of the group, which began last November, is “to bridge the gap between school and community and to get the youth more involved,” said sponsor Tom Hairston, MHS teacher. “It gives youth a chance to have their ideas heard.”

Vestal gave the council a summation of some of the group’s activities and invited councilpersons to Friday night’s courtwarming game and coronation.

Construction work was evident in the council chambers as the new HVAC system is installed. Greg Hodge, finance director, reported “pretty good progress.” He said they were in the final stages of completion and with the last half of the council chambers finished the last of the 12 units would be in place. Insulating pipes and replacing the ceiling should be finished by the end of this week or the first of next week, he said and an air exchange – a “fresh air” system, which was lacking in the old system, was being installed and would add to the efficiency.

City Manager Andrew Morris reported the deer culling program had concluded for this year and was deemed a great success. The program, in its second season, removed 76 deer from the local population as compared to last year’s total of 23. Morris attributed the increase to the inclusion of the bow hunting component this year.

In work session, the council agreed to move forward to the next council meeting items concerned with banking, insurance and demolished properties. An item of discussion involved funding two projects approved by the Tourism Advisory Committee. The NEMO Bow Hunters and Pheasant Hunters Unlimited are each seeking $2,000 to help support events they plan to hold in Moberly this year.

In regards to the NEMO Bow Hunters, Councilman Dick Boots said, “I believe last year all their (NEMO) profits went to the 4-H.They arranged for a hotel discount if the club was mentioned and that helped them to determine how many people the event brought in to town.”

Boots went on to say Pheasant Hunters Unlimited was a for-profit group and the council had recently decided not to fund events that would “enhance the profit line”.

Mayor Pro Tem Bob Riley said he agreed with that policy but, “I’ve changed my mind a little bit” noting the Pheasant Hunters were holding a national event that would potentially bring in a large number of people. He said, if that were the case, the city might “subsidize it to make sure it did happen here.”

After much discussion concerning determining merit and standardizing the method of establishing need, Mayor Burton asked that representatives of each organization come to the next meeting to present more details.

The council moved forward an ordinance in regards to “rehabilitation” of the terminal parking apron at Omar Bradley airport, and bids for painting at the Water Treatment Plant. The airport repairs would be funded through state dollars that come via the federal government.

The council received a request from Moberly Early Childhood Educators to hold its annual “parade” downtown on April 12 beginning at St. Pius. Moberly Radiology also sought permission to hold its second annual Mother’s Day Walk/Run May 9.

Due to the observance of President’s Day, the council will next meet Tuesday, February 16.

Picture above: Katie Vestal, left,. Sits next to City Manager Andrew Morris during Monday night’s City Council meeting. Vestal participated in the meeting as a member of the Moberly Youth Council. Members of the Youth council learn more about local government and how they can better reach out to the community. Vestal will return for the February 16 meeting as students serve as youth representatives on the city council through May.