Council sends group home zoning request to planning commission

Changes in zoning and ordinances like this usually go through the planning commission before the city council consider them.

"I have been coming to the city council and working with the city staff for over two years to develop five ICF-MR homes for the Nevada area," Jhan Hurn, Community Support Services executive director, told the city council Tuesday night.

Hurn told the council that they had secured property for the group homes, contingent on the city council making necessary changed in the city ordinances to allow them to build the five group homes on the property. When completed the five group homes will house a total of 30 residents.

"We are ready to proceed," Hurn said.

He told the council that each of the five facilities would cost about $500,000 to construct and the annual operating budget would be about $3.75 million. The project would employ 70 professional and para-professionals.

Hurn said that they plan to build the project in two phases. The first phase would construct two group homes. When those are filled and there is a waiting list, for the other three homes the company would build them.

Hurn's proposal was met with concerns from several neighbors of the proposed facility.

"I moved back here after 40 years and chose the area for the amenities," Rosemary Larsen, 315 E. Highland, told the council.

Larsen told the council that she did not think they would like to have this kind of facility as their neighbor.

Hurn told the council that they have similar homes located in a residential subdivision in Joplin, two blocks from a school.

He said that each of the units would be staffed with at least two people at all times and the reason for clustering the homes is to make it more cost effective to provide the necessary care for the residents.

Many of the residents of the proposed group homes are severely mentally retarded and in many cases are in wheel chairs.

Councilman Tim Wells told Hurn that if the purchase of this property falls through he would welcome these houses on a vacant lot behind his house.

"I think we need this to happen for economic development," Jayne Novak said.

In other business the council:

* Passed on first reading a special ordinance adding $286,588.88 to the budget to replace the city's wastewater treatment plant and north interceptor sewer line. The additional money will pay for the replacement of the south interceptor line. The city and Missouri Department of Natural Resources have received complaints about the south interceptor line leaking. Because the south interceptor line is made of corrugated metal it cannot be slip lined and must be replaced. City Manager Bill McGuire told the council that the contract the city had with Rossetta Construction included replacing the line, but had never funded that part of the project. The city is currently working on getting easements to work on the line and as soon as the easements are granted the contractor can start work on that part of the project.

* Passed on first reading a special ordinance amending the public safety department's budget to add a $15,000 Rural Development Grant to lay fiber optic cable from the Public Safety Building to the Vernon County Regional Jail Facility. This would allow the two departments to combine their communications departments in the future if that is decided to be in the best interest of both city and the county. It will also provide the fiber optic line the Sheriffs Department needs for daily operations. Vernon County will pay their portion of the total cost of laying the fiber optic line.

* Passed on first and second readings a special ordinance approving a contract with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for wayfinding signs. The cost of the signs will be paid for with money from the city's guest tax.

* Passed on first reading a special ordinance approving an agreement with AT&T for local telephone service.

* Gave final approval to a general ordinance regulating the density of tint applied to windows of vehicles.

* Passed on second reading a special ordinance declaring a centrifuge press surplus property so it can sold by bid.

* Adopted Resolution No. 1239 approving travel expenses for council member Joyce Wilson to attend the Missouri Municipal League Conference in Springfield, Sept. 7 and 8.

* Approved postponing a council work session scheduled for Sept. 5 to a later date due to scheduling conflicts.

* Voted to have the city resume removing the clay from Davis Park and to retain the material to be used in a different location for a bicycle track.

* Voted to allow the city clerk and city manager to send council members e-mail reminders, city council meeting minutes and Bill McGuire's weekly update without needing any response.

* Approved allowing the city to request bids for dirt work at Twin Lakes for a new softball and baseball complex.