Tense Schell City council meeting
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Emotions ran high and questions went unanswered during the Schell City council meeting Wednesday evening.
The meeting was moved from the normal location of the city clerk's office to the community room due to a larger than normal audience of 12 people.
Following the housekeeping approval of the minutes and the monthly bills, Mayor Tom Haddix yielded the floor to visitor Gina Ensor.
Ensor said, "Good evening, I am here tonight on behalf of the Community Development Planning Commitee. We wanted to bring you updates of our progress and engage in democratic discussion with our city aldermen this evening."
Ensor continued, expressing concern about the decay and decline of the community and her desire to connect the city with outside resources.
In trying to determine interest in community development projects, Ensor had posted an online survey on July 22. There were 62 people who responded to the survey during the three days it was open. An open meeting followed on Aug. 10, which brought in representatives from a number of agencies including Missouri Department of Transportation, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and others.
At Wednesday evening's meeting, Ensor said the committee is working with Kathy Macomber, community development specialist and county program director for the University of Missouri Extension.
"Tense isn't always a bad thing, because sometimes to get to the root of an issue or to get anything done hard things have to be discussed and faced head on," Ensor said. "Tonight may be a hard night. We are at a crossroads right now, our community has real and serious issues that need addressed."
Ensor said the committee members thought the city's amendment to Ordinance No. 41-2005 was a step in the right direction but they were concerned about potential ramifications and sought clarification.
"How will this new ordinance effect home owners who wish to sell their home if they do not have the proper septic system? What if they do not have enough land for a proper septic system?" Ensor asked.
"If they put their house up for sale, is their septic tank currently useful? -- Yes." Quentin Goodman said. "How does that affect their property value? This was basically for houses that were having run over."
The amendment to Ordinance No. 41-2005 passed last month by the city council regulates activation of water meters.
Council members Vicki McKinney and David McCubbin said the septic system is only a problem if sewage if overflowing, but would not be a problem when someone sold their house.
Ensor said, "This is a question that was brought up at our meeting, for homeowners who wish to sell their home, are they grandfathered in? What are the ramifications going to be?" [for septic systems that are not leaking, but also do not meet city codes].
McKinney said, "this does not address that issue -- I'm stating that if there is raw sewage coming up out of the ground and the water is shut off, that is the problem. That is what we addressed, period."
Responding to a request from the audience, City Clerk Erin Lee read the ordinance aloud.
The amendment to Ordinance No. 41-2005 reads "No water meters, new or pre-existing, shall be activated without a city approved pre-installed septic and waste water management system. All systems must meet or exceed Missouri State and County standards and described in Missouri Statues 701.025 through 701.059."
"We're just asking everyone to follow the state guidelines. That is it, that is the entire ordinance," Lee said.
Ensor said, "That brings me to my next question, who is to inspect the septic systems and by what code?"
McKinney said, "no one is inspecting anybody's system."
"How do you know it is a proper system?" Ensor asked. "These are the questions your constituents have, that is why we are posing these questions tonight."
Ensor asked Lee to reread the system requirements part of the ordinance and Lee obliged.
Ensor asked if alternatives to septic systems, such as composting toilets, are allowed or had the city determined septic systems to be the only acceptable method of waste disposal.
"That answers it," Lee said.
Ensor asked if existing customers must bring their existing systems up to date.
McCubbin said existing customers must bring their system up to code if there is leakage or drain.
Lee said only two people came to city hall seeking clarification on the amendment to the water ordinance.
Ensor asked the council if they are interested in working with any of the agency representatives that were at the Aug. 10 meeting in order to get money for community development projects.
McKinney said the council only has time for specific proposals.
"Are you saying you are too busy to be part of any planning process?" Ensor said, "There are people willing to work with our community."
McKinney said, "We don't need someone else's money. We have all the volunteers we need in this community."
"With all due respect, this community is past looking just at us to fix this problem because its too big," Ensor replied. "I'm talking about the demolition, I'm talking about the sewer issues."
McKinney said, "If you have a specific thing you want us to address. Don't give us generalities."
Ensor said, "I am asking you all if you are willing to be a part of the planning process."
McCubbin said he volunteers for the city approximately 20 hours each week.
Goodman asked if Ensor has not seen the progress made around town.
Ensor acknowledged the progress but said there is more work to be done and said, "It's going to take more than just what's in this community."
McKinney said, "In that meeting, your panel of experts, bottom line said, you need to look at where you are, you need to set your priorities, you need to realize the resources you have available, that is what we do. We cannot go beyond the resources that we as a council and a city have and we have to set our priorities as a council. A lot of these other things, we would love to see addressed, but it is not the council's priority. We do not have the time or the resources, the money to do that. We have volunteers, if somebody wants to organize something I am sure there will be volunteers coming out of the woodwork.
Ensor said there are solutions to Schell City's problems.
However, the city would have to apply for the financial assistance from the agencies Ensor talked about.
Discussion turned to the feasibility of a wastewater lagoon.
Mayor Tom Haddix said the voters had previously rejected the city building and operating a wastewater lagoon.
Van Tellman asked "How many households are going to be able to afford sewer when they couldn't afford the water rate increase?
"I know other communities have done it. I know it's possible and I would encourage us to look into things." Ensor said.
"I have spent considerable time looking at grant funding for several things in this town," Lee said. "The bottom line is, none of these places will give us money to do anything on a property until we are the property owner. Once it's in our name, we've got free help to take the building down so we no longer need funding."
Ensor said there are people who want change.
"And we are working on it," McCubbin answered, explaining how much of his time and own money that he devotes to the city.
Ensor said there are a number of things the city can do to increase revenue and gave a city sales tax as an example.
McKinney said that accepting money from the state or federal government would bring additional regulations. Ensor acknowledged there would be oversight on how grant or loan money was spent.
Following an offer of a cash donation, McCubbin said the city should open a bank account for such donations.
* In other business, Lee updated the council on the collapsed building on the south end of Main Street.
Wayne Cline bought the property at a tax auction in 2014 but has never transferred the property to his name.
Lee said Cline has offered to proceed with getting the property into his name, and will split the cost of the title search with the city, and if the title is clean with no liens, then sell the lot to the city for $300.
* Lee reported a leak on East Third Street was found and repaired on Sunday.
* Lee said a lot progress had been made on the softball field.
* Jim Goodman said a few loads of gravel had been put onto the streets before the Fall Festival and will probably add more before winter.