City Tax Spending Plan Gets Nod

The Chillicothe City Council approved spending nearly $770,000 in Capital Improvement Sales Tax funds on a variety of city projects during the next fiscal year, which starts April 1. The unanimous decision was made last (Monday) evening during a public hearing held in council chambers. City Administrator Dean Brookshier told council members the hearing would “lay out” the Capital Improvement Sales Tax budget for the entire year. Brookshier is predicting sales tax revenue in 2009-10 to reach $761,855, based on the current tax plus 2 percent growth per year. Following $769,592 in expenditures, the fund is projected to have an ending balance of $611,262.50.

Money from the Capital Improvement Sales Tax Fund will fund asphalt work on West Mohawk Road, just east of the water tower to Litton Road. The cost of that project is estimated to be $58,755. Then, $25,000 of sales tax fund will go toward asphalting 900 feet of Litton Road, south of West Mohawk. The cost of that project is estimated to be $25,000. Hugh Musselman, city street superintendent, told council members that he will approach the Chillicothe Township board and ask for funding help as a portion of West Mohawk is in the Chillicothe Township.

The council also approved $496,375 for the Green Hills Community Golf Course which will effectively eliminate the city-owned golf course debt. Also on the list is the $72,000 annual payment for the Grand River Family Entertainment Center, as is $50,000 for two police cars, $7,750 for prison legal work, $9,500 for the purchase of two copy machines, $25,462 for interest paid to the General Fund for the purchase of the ground for the new Chillicothe Correctional Center, and $7,500 to purchase land for the Chillicothe Municipal Airport runway expansion (5 percent match of federal funds). Brookshier also noted that $2,250 is earmarked to purchase a used Cushman golf utility vehicle and $15,000 in interest will be going to the city’s pool/parks fund.

The hearing was called because expenditures beyond $50,000 are subject to a public hearing to help ensure that the taxpayers have a voice in how the money is spent. Voters approved the extension of the Capital Improvement sales tax in November 2005 after proponents argued that funds could be used to purchase land and cover other costs associated with the construction of the new Chillicothe Correctional Center. Third Ward Councilman Candidate Tom Douglas provided the only public comment during the hearing, and asked where the city would come up with the funds for the $72,000 annual Grand River Family Entertainment Center payment if the council failed to approve it.

In other business, the council approved a request from Chillicothe Parks and Recreation Director Ron Krammes to close Simpson Park for the following festivals: Easter egg hung, April 4, 1 to 10:30 a.m., Washington to Walnut Street; Relay for Life, June 12-13, 5 p.m. to 7 a.m., Washington to Walnut Street; Cultural Festival, June 20, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Washington to Walnut Street; Freedom Festival, July 4, 4 to 10 p.m., Walnut Street to Country Club Drive; Chillicothe Car Show, July 17-18, 10 p.m. to 6 p.m., Washington to Walnut Street; and Chautauqua in the Park, Sept. 11-13, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., entire park.

The council also approved a request from Krammes to hold a Civil War reenactment in Simpson Park on armory hill during the cultural festival on June 20. Krammes said the event would be a small Civil War reenactment using replica period weapons throughout the day of the festival. He advised there will be no camping or campfires for the reenactment.

Council members also approved an ordinance regarding a utility easement and right-of-way agreement with TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, LP. The TransCanada Keystone Pipeline company is building a 36-inch crude oil pipeline that will cross the city’s railroad right of way in southern Chariton County. For the permanent easement, the city will receive $1,440. Matthew Clark, of TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, told council members that the pipeline is currently in construction in North Dakota and South Dakota, and will continue through Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois. The pipeline, he said, will follow along the same path of a pipeline constructed in the area last year.

In other business, the council...

• Approved invoices of $212,176.93 and payroll of $106,733.79
• Approved a conditional use permit to Chillicothe Middle School to place a mobile classroom unit at 1529 Calhoun Street
• Heard a report from Crystal Narr, Chillicothe Main Street Chillicothe, who presented an annual report
• Recognized Darrell Wright as the new director of Emergency Services and two new street employees, Neal Bigelow and Jason Moore
• Adjourned into executive session where no action was taken
• The meeting concluded with a lively discussion among 1st Ward Councilman Earle Teegarden Jr., City Auditor Theresa Kelly, 3rd Ward Councilwoman Donna Preszler and City Administrator Dean Brookshier involving procedural issues in the budget preparation process.

City Hall Slated for Weatherization Work

Chillicothe City Hall will receive some much-needed weatherization work this spring after city council members approved a change order involving the issue last (Monday) night. In a previous meeting, the city council approved a contract with Mid-Continent Restoration (MCR) to clean, tuck point and waterproof the brick on the building (and the fire station), and make repairs to the stonework at the northwest corner of City Hall. However, after more analysis, officials determined that the City Hall building needs additional weatherization work.

So, Ron Urton, of the city’s contracted engineering firm Shafer, Kline & Warren, Inc., advised the council to keep the contract with MCR and make some modifications to the document. The discussion was held during the city’s open workshop held prior to the council meeting. By modifying the contract (specifically removing the cost for cleaning and waterproofing the City Hall brickwork in the contract), Urton said the city would avoid the cost of terminating and rebidding the project.

He then advised the council to add into the contract the work for the caulking around the windows and doors at City Hall. “This will allow all of the work at the fire station to be completed and the fire station weatherization would be completely finished,” Urton said. He noted that by including the caulking work now, the contract price will stay close to the $51,600 amount the contractor has planned on doing.

Urton said the work would be done in two phases. Phase 1 would include tuck pointing and water proofing the fire station brick, effectively finishing the work at that building. During that phase, tuck pointing would also be done at City Hall, and the stone work at the northeast corner of the City Hall building would be stabilized. Work would also be done to caulk around the windows and doors at City Hall. Phase 1, which is estimated to cost $54,429, is included in the 2008-09 budget and is scheduled to start about April 15, when weather permits.

Phase 2 would involve stabilizing, repairing and sealing all stonework on City Hall, installing a metal cap on top of the wall at City Hall and cleaning and waterproofing the brick. Phase 2, Urton said, is estimated to cost around $55,000 and would be included in the 2009-2010 budget. The city is slated to advertise and accept bids for Phase 2 in March and April.

Council Tables Decision on City Administrator’s Duties

In a 3-1 decision, the Chillicothe City Council voted to table an ordinance which would grant the city administrator additional power in dealing with city personnel issues.

Councilman-at-Large Darrel Rinehart told council members that he would like to give the issue more thought and also noted that the full council should be present to vote on the decision (4th Ward councilwoman Pam Jarding was absent during the regular council meeting Monday night). “I have reservations about relinquishing the power that was given me when I was elected by the city’s voters,” Rinehart explained.

If the council votes in favor of the ordinance next month, the city administrator would become the “personnel officer” of the city, and would be responsible for appointing, promoting, demoting, setting compensation and removing employees of the city, with the exception of the city’s department heads.

Under the ordinance, the city employees would be allowed to appeal any decision made by the city administrator. However, the council would no longer see recommendations regarding personnel from the department directors. Third Ward Councilwoman Donna Preszler, who voted against tabling the issue, said those personnel issues should be in the city administrator's hands.

Council Approves Bids for Garage Doors, Mowing Service, Concrete, More

Chillicothe city council members on Monday night considered a handful of contracts and bids for the new fiscal year which begins April 1. More bids and contracts will be considered at their March 30 meeting when it is anticipated that the city will approve the 2009-10 budget. Council members unanimously voted to accept a bid of $22,376 from C & S Custom Door, of Chillicothe, for the replacement of six overhead doors and four door openers at the Chillicothe Emergency Services building.

The city received two bids meeting the department specifications. The other bid — that from JD’s Overhead Doors of Chillicothe — was for $28,081.27. The city did receive two other bids — one from CSI Overhead Doors of Trenton, Mo., and another from Case Contracting, of Chillicothe. However, Chillicothe Department of Emergency Services Director Darrell Wright told council members those bids did not meet the department specifications.

Council members also unanimously voted to accept a bid for mowing services from Alexander Lawn Care, Chillicothe for supplying mowing services for code enforcement purposes. Alexander Lawn Care submitted a bid of $36.50 an hour for walk-behind mower work and tractor mower work. The other bid submitted for consideration — that from Figg’s Lawn Care — stipulated a fee of $35 an hour for walk-behind mower work and $50 an hour for tractor mowing work.

Council members also unanimously voted to approve the bid from Green Ready Mix of Chillicothe for supplying concrete for the city sidewalk improvement program. Green Ready Mix was the only company submitting a bid. The council also voted to contract with MFA Oil Company for fuel. (MFA was also the only company to submit a fuel bid for consideration.)

Council members voted unanimously to approve an $11,185 bid from D & D Sealants, Inc. of Faucett, Mo., for cutting out, cleaning and re-caulking the joints in all four pools at the Chillicothe Family Aquatic Center in Simpson Park. The funds to pay for the project, which will be completed by April 1, will come from this year's budget.

The council also approved bids from Schwann's, Graves Menu Maker and St. Joseph Distributing for Chillicothe parks concession supplies. The only other bid up for council consideration was that for city and CMU audits. However, council members voted to table that decision until next month and advised City Administrator Dean Brookshier to gather additional information on the issue. The only bid submitted for consideration was from Lockridge, Constant & Conrad, LLC, of Chillicothe.