Hayti City Council meets

The Hayti City Council met in regular session on Monday, July 10, at 6:10 p.m. in the Council Room of City Hall with the following members present: Alderman Wendell Lockridge, Alderman Gary Moore, Alderman Kathy Sanders, and Alderman Chris Wooten. Also present was City Attorney Lawrence Dorroh, Fire Chief Glen Whitener, Code Enforcement Officer Frank Rose, Street Supervisor Tim Sumrall, Nutrition Center Administrator Rhonda Green, and City Clerk Karla Laws.

Mayor Green informed the Council June had three payrolls which didn’t help the General fund. Green asked if an Ameren invoice was available for the street lights; she thought the street light bill could be taken from Tourism. Dorroh replied a portion of Tourism is paid into the General fund already. Laws replied she’s never paid the street lights from Tourism. Alderman Sanders asked who the uniforms we bought for. Mayor Green replied Street and it’s paid from their scrap fund. There being no further questions for comments, Alderman Lockridge made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report with none opposed. Alderman Lockridge stated the General fund is $75,000 in the red.

One water adjustment was presented to the Council. After discussion as to whether the meter had been replaced yet, Alderman Sanders made a motion to authorize Alderman Lockridge to adjust the water bill after verification the meter has been replaced and there is no leak. Alderman Moore seconded the motion. On a Call by the Chair for ayes and nays, the motion carried, with the vote, with none opposed.

Alderman Moore made a motion to approve liquor license for Andrea’s at 103 North Walnut, none were opposed.

No discussion was held in the Council meeting since Hayti Facilities Corporation held a meeting immediately prior to the Council meeting and discussed the project. Lawrence Dorroh stated at some point, the Council will need to appropriate funds to the Corporation to pay for the services. Dorroh added the Council will need to do the same in respect to his dual representation of the City and the Corporation. Alderman Sanders made a motion to approve Dorroh’s dual representation of the City and Hayti Facilities Corporation, with none opposed.

Alderman Lockridge made a motion to allocate funds from the Capital Improvement Fund to Hayti Facilities Corporation as needed to fund the City Hall/Police Department project, with none opposed.

Bob Summers of Horner-Shifrin informed the City they were awarded a $30,000 SEARCH grant from Rural Development. The grant is for a preliminary engineering report for the replacement or retro-fitting of the lagoon with either a land application system or a plant. Summers added the lift stations and gravity lines will also be looked at. Alderman Lockridge asked Summers of any grants available for going green at the lagoon. Summers replied he only knows of one right now which is to replace motors with high-efficiency motors. Summers added the City has been interested in the land application system. Summers added an environmental assessment will also be included with the report. Alderman Moore made a motion to accept the SEARCH grant, with none opposed.

Code Enforcement Officer Frank Rose informed the Council of the properties he’s been working on around town.

Randy Ralston stated the ditch on his lot on Highway 84 hasn’t been touched one time this year and it’s grown up really bad. Mayor Green replied he needs to contact MoDOT; it’s their highway. Ralston then asked if the City can help him dispose of some bricks from him tearing down a shop. Mayor Green replied the City has had so much with the backhoe, unless it’s a small project we can’t help. Ralston then stated his water bill more than doubled; he’s not sure if he has a leak. Mayor Green told Ralston to call Martin in the morning and she can send a Water Department employee out to check the meter to see if there is a leak.