RV park request for Commercial Street denied

In some last-minute housekeeping chores as Pierce City’s mayor, Kenny Smith saw the near completion of the water system improvements project, with aldermen approving a $555,283.97 pay request from Goins Enterprises, Inc., the contractor for the job.

Two change orders were approved, one of which requested additional time in the amount of 150 days to complete the project due to material shortages and to accommodate schedule delays due to COVID-19. That change was not monetary, but extends time for the contractor to complete the project from 365 to 515 days. The second change order, increasing the cost of the project by $121,485.31 for a total cost of $4,010,610.89, was due to field adjustments including added minor fittings and pipe, fittings to connect new water lines to the existing infrastructure in hard-to-reach and sensitive areas, additional meter installation and locate, install and repair services at the school due to the inability of the contractor to locate the existing service. It also included materials, labor and training to facilitate the bore that runs under the railroad track to the south of town.

The second matter of old business addressed was the request to establish an RV Park on an empty lot at Commercial and Locust, owned by Edward Golubski, who on April 5 was elected as mayor in a race against Smith. In September 2021, Golubski requested a variance from the city in order to establish some travel trailer hook-ups with water, electric and sewer service on the lot. The request was passed to the Planning and Zoning Board and returned to council, and was ultimately denied.

“We don’t have an ordinance for campgrounds,” said Alderman Scott Wahl. “We don’t want one. As far as groups or people coming into town, like the folks for Howdy Neighbor Days, those fall under special use only.”

Smith provided an update on the progress of the disc golf course at Pierce City’s South Park.

“Through the volunteer labor, donation and efforts of David Mason, Dakota Ellingsworth and Derek Mulvaney, the disc golf course is nearly completed,” he said. “There have been 18 holes installed.”

The 18-basket course, planned by Mason and Mulvaney, will need T-pads, measuring 4-feet-by-10-feet, so players can make consistent throws without having to worry about footing.

“The city will donate materials for the T-pads,” Smith said.

Smith then went on to commend city employees and residents, for their support during his term of office.

“Mr. Larry Carver, for the past couple of years, has held our feet to the fire,” Smith said. “We’ve bumped heads a few times, but he brought some good points to us and I think he has made me a better mayor and us a better council. I ask you to continue your good work, sir. Thank you all.”

Golubski was sworn in as mayor and business continued.

Aldermen approved the purchase of a new computer, monitor and printer for the Police Department, totaling $1,579.96. The current CPU is loaded with Windows 10, and will not run encrypted reports.

“MDC [in Monett] was the best in price and offered three year’s service,” said Police Chief Mike Abramovitz.

Abramovitz also noted the 1996 SUV had been subject to a recall, but parts were not available as of Monday night’s meeting. He said one of the full-time officers was looking for grants for patrol cars, noting the city was already qualified for a United States Department of Agriculture grant.

“They came to us,” Abramovitz said. “It’s the best one out there at this time.”

Justin Noone, Public Works Department director, reported the current plan for repairing and painting the municipal pool.

“We have zero paint,” he said. “We will need 26 gallons at $82 per gallon.”

Aldermen approved the purchase.

Golubski called a halt to any proposed repair work.

“I have a contact in Monett,” he said. “I want to bring him over to take a look at it.”

As far as disposal of the chlorinated water at the end of the season, Noone and Bert Bond, wastewater superintendent for the city, said pumping it out into Clear Creek would be a violation of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) guidelines.

Bond said he could bring a sludge truck to pump the pools, which would amount to about 15 loads, and dump it into the wastewater at the Elm Street manhole.

“Our other option is to allow the chlorine to become exhausted in the pool before pumping it out into the creek,” he said.

Bond also reported the ultraviolet lights for disinfecting wastewater should arrive this week.

The main lift station has once again suffered an issue, this time a pipe at the bottom of the chamber has broken free of its bolts.

“It’s beyond me how to get in there safely,” Bond said. “The pipe is swinging freely. Even if it is just putting bolts back in [to secure it], that will be a $4,000 to $6,000 job. It’s hard to get bids on this.”

Mallory Erwin, pool manger, reported that plans are being finalized for a Memorial Day weekend opening. She said she had several returning life guards but needs to hire one more, for a total of six.

Aldermen requested she provide a proposal for both a 6-day and 7-day operating schedule to be reviewed and voted on at the May meeting.

Erwin proposed hosting game nights from 5-8 p.m. on Saturdays.

“Pool parties are booking fast,” she said. “I already have 18 scheduled this season.”

Erwin also said she planned to host a series of fundraisers throughout the season to aid in replacing equipment, tables and chairs.

Aldermen also approved the purchase of the Aqua Buddy Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant pool lift, funded through the Lawrence County Tax Board for Developmental Disabilities at a cost of $3,794.27. The equipment will assist in lifting disabled clients from wheelchairs and lower them into the shallow end of the pool.

In new business, aldermen were called to approve the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, an agenda item Golubski asked to table.

“I didn’t receive a budget and would like to be able to look it over,” he said.

City Attorney Darlene Parrigon advised tabling the matter was not an option, as cities are required to reconcile their budgeted amounts each fiscal year to expended amounts, whether under budget or over.

“State laws require that we do this,” she said.

Nearly all cities operate under balanced-budget requirements, meaning that cities almost always plan on ending the fiscal year with a surplus to carry forward. The budget is generally composed of an operating budget, which shows current expenditures, and a capital budget, which shows the financial plans for long-term plans for improvements or replacement of facilities and equipment.

Agenda items concerning emergency brake mufflers (jake braking), code book updates, and payment plans for utility customers were tabled.

Aldermen approved changing the meeting time to 6 p.m. on the second Monday of the month going forward.

Golubski questioned why Pierce City does not have a city-wide garage sale, like other surrounding communities.

City Clerk Julie Johnson reported the project was one undertaken by the now-defunct Pierce City Chamber of Commerce, and that the event had fallen by the wayside in recent years.

“No one has contacted the city in regards to a city-wide garage sale,” she said.

Alderman Jerad Jarvis recommended picking a date and sticking with it going forward, and Golubski recommended Pierce City host one the same weekend as Monett’s, which is on April 30.

Aldermen were reminded that donations were needed for the community food pantry, located next to the caboose at City Hall, as there was a growing need for non-perishable items.

It was noted that the Thyme to Buy Local farmer’s market in Pierce City will hold its grand opening from 8 a.m. to noon today at the intersection of Highway 37 and Highway 97 by the Veteran’s Memorial. The market will run each Saturday from now through mid-December.

John Archer, Pierce City alderman and Southwest Missouri Solid Waste District N liaison for the council, noted that recycling efforts were beginning to pick up and that he had six good people, paid a nominal stipend by the city, to help sort.

“No one wants to sort in the snow or the rain,” he said. “With better weather coming, we will get the pile-up taken care of quickly.”

Recyclable materials do not include cardboard, plastic shopping bags, appliances, electronic devices, chemicals or paints. No hazardous waste will be accepted.

No. 1 through No. 7 plastics, aluminum cans and clear or colored glass with lids removed are accepted. The trailer is manned from 9 a.m. to noon on the second Saturday of each month, but citizens may drop off the accepted recyclables at any time at the collection bins located in the 800 block Linzee Blvd. at well No. 3.