At its regular meeting held Jan. 21 at city hall, the Perryville Board of Aldermen discussed whether or not the city would be willing to provide tree cleanup services for noncustomers following the winter weather the city incurred in recent weeks.
“We have been questioned by noncustomers whether and how debris removal will work for their addresses,” said City Administrator Brent Buerck. “This is typically a part of one’s refuse services — and accounted for in the pricing of such services — but the staff is asking the board to enact such a policy that would officially state the board’s position and allow the staff to quickly answer related questions.”
After a brief time spent discussing the issue, the board decided that city would pick up the tree debris as long as the households prepared them properly for removal.
The board recognized eight city employees with service awards marking their five, 15, 20 or 25 years with the city.
Among those honored were 5 years: Benjamin Favier, Ray Jackson, Michelle Priest, Paula Terbrak and Jacob Ward; 20 years: Gary Schneier and 25 years: Ryan Worthington. City Administrator Buerck was also honored for his 15 years of service to the city.
In the consent agenda, the board approved a number of items that included the transfer of $500,000 to cover the debt payments on the wastewater treatment plant; a pay estimate of $111,332.59 to the Zoellner Construction Company for the School Street Lift Station Improvement project and $11,352.50 for the project’s new trunkline; a pay estimate of $45,154.03 to Centermark Construction for the wastewater treatment plant’s administrative building renovation; $25,662.45 to Bootheel Fencing Co. for the Parks & Recreation department’s South 61 Maintenance Building Security Fence project; $140,028 to Lappe Cement Finishing, Inc. for the Park Concrete Improvement project base bid, as recommended by City Engineer Baer; authorization for the staff to negotiate with Sentinel Emergency Solutions to design and price a new first out pumper truck for the city fire department.
Speaking about the pumper truck, City Administrator Buerck said, “This truck has been discussed previously with the board of aldermen for some time, and the city has been actively escrowing money each year for its eventual purchase. For several well-documented reasons, including close proximity, we would like to work exclusively towards purchasing a Rosenbauer truck. We are also requesting permission to work towards a truck design and corresponding price. This will be a purchase order until delivery, which is estimated at 30 months."
The board also approved a location change for the Mom Prom event to the Perry Park Center and authorized the sale of alcohol there.
“Park staff continue their efforts to create new and unique programming for our community, aptly titled ‘Mom Prom,’ which will be marketed as a mom’s night out,” Buerck explained. “Originally, this event was scheduled for the American Legion Hall, but we learned they were double-booked with a webbing that evening.
During the meeting, a discussion of the Perry Park Center Weight Room project was held.
“The board previously expressed concerns with the cost of the upstairs multipurpose room,” Buerck said. “Staff has worked with the lowest bidder and architectural firm to value engineer the project and remove the upstairs room. As proposed now, this project will expand the weight room, add a glass wall to the remaining racquetball court and install footings for the multipurpose room upstairs to preserve this option in the future.”
The board held a discussion regarding the possibility of simplifying the city’s business license code. Buerck presented each of the aldermen a list of identified businesses that no longer exist today.
“If the board is willing to allow the staff to pursue this endeavor, we will work with legal counsel on a revised but greatly simplified schedule, most likely limiting business licenses to around five to eight categories — although other cities have gone even further by only offering one or two.”
Buerck said seven categories were being considered: 1) Large Industrial 9e.g. TG, Gilster); 2) Industrial (e.g. Atlas Foam, TNT Plastics); 3) Large Commercial (e.g. Walmart, Buchheits, gas stations); 4) Commercial (e.g. restaurants, bars, retail stores); 5) Service (e.g. barbers, nail salons, spa, etc.) 6) Contractors that do business in the city, but don’t have a physical address in town (e.g. HVAC, roofing, tree work, electricians, etc.); and 7) Home Business/Other.
The aldermen also had a discussion regarding the vacating of city-owned alleyways. Buerck remembered this being discussed previously with the board, but he was unable to locate the relevant minutes, so he wanted to bring the subject up again, but this time proposing a policy resolution for what he described as posterity’s sake.
“Several alleys were previously vacated since they were unnecessary, but those that provide access to interior parking areas, sheds, or other structures on the rear-side of properties were maintained by the city,” he said. “This seems to be a good standard, and staff is asking the board to enact such a policy officially stating the board’s position and allow staff to quickly answer any related questions.”
In other action, the board heard committee reports, as well as reports from the city administrator and city engineer.
