March 13,2001

The City Council met in session on Monday evening, March 12, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Harold L. Ludwig presiding and the following Council members present: Griesbaum, Lowe, Rossiter, Martin and Sherwood. Absent from the meeting Wiewel.

*Copies of the minutes from the February 12, 2001 meeting were given to the Council. Mayor Ludwig asked for additions or corrections. Lowe motioned to accept the minutes. Sherwood second the motion. Motion carried all five yes.

""Copies of the minutes from the February 22, 2001 meeting were given to the Council. Mayor Ludwig asked for additions or corrections. Rossiter motioned to accept the minutes. Lowe second the motion. Motion carried all five yes.

""Copies of minutes from the March 03, 2001 meeting were given to the Council. Mayor Ludwig asked for additions or corrections. Martin motioned to accept the minutes. Rossiter second the motion. Motion carried all five yes.

*A listing of bills were given to the Council. Mayor Ludwig asked for any questions or comments. Griesbaum motioned to pay the bills. Rossiter second the motion. Motion carried all five yes.

""Copies of the Treasurer Report were given to the Council. Mayor Ludwig asked for questions or comments. Martin motioned to approve the treasurer report. Lowe second the motion. Motion carried all five yes.

 ""Visitors: Larry Seckington from Mark Twain Casino, spoke to the Council, stating the construction was on schedule and on or around the first part of May the Casino should be turned over to them. They will have 30 days from that date to get all of their equipment in and tested. Seckington stated they should not have a problem filling the 70 game dealers positions. They currently have 90 in training. The Casino has hired Kevin Preston as their General Manager, and he is currently being trained in St. Joseph, MO. They have 3 or 4 more managerial positions to fill and hopefully sometime this week they will have completed this. Rossiter stated he had been ask by several people regarding handicap parking. Seckington stated the handicap parking will be right next to the Casino. There should be 30 to 40 spaces. Martin asked if the State regulated the number of parking spaces to be provided. Seckington stated yes. Mayor Ludwig spoke to the Council, stating Mark Twain Casino did not like the proposal of taking the additional $200,000 off of years 2 and 3 of the dockside rent. Seckington stated they would like to place this $200,000 along with the previous advancements on the first two years of the dockside agreement. Martin stated he was against this, because it would not leave the City any options for future unexpected expenses. Seckington stated their lenders had suggested moving the advancements up to the first two years. Seckington stated the City should received 1.5 of revenue from the Casino and this would be paid on monthly basis. Seckington stated if they should be opened by June first, the City should receive their first check by July 15, 2001. Seckington stated if a problem came up within the City after the Casino is up and running they would be more than willing to set down and work with the Council. Seckington stated he did not have the authority to take any action other then moving the advancements to the first two years of the agreement. Martin stated the Council is looking at paying over $300,000 in a police budget before the Casino is even allowed to open. The City is already looking into replacing our sewer treatment plant. Seckington stated he was asked to see if the Council would revise the agreement and take the advancements off of the first two years. Seckington stated they have proven in the past if there is a problem, they have been willing to set down with the Council and try to work out a solution. Rossiter asked Seckington if the Council should go with the agreement of taking the advancements off of the first two years when would the City see any payment. Seckington stated June 2003, but with in that time the City should be receiving monthly payments from the State. Martin stated the Council can not rely on expected tax payments, because if the City is not getting the funding then the Casino is not getting the funding. With the dockside payment this will give the City a back door, should a problem occur. Rossiter since the City is looking into replacing the sewer treatment plant and other entities coming into the City, we will have to have money available to work with and apply to any grants. Kruse stated according to the agreement the dockside rent if the Casino opened in June of 2001 the first dockside payment would be June of 2002. Seckington stated he did not have a problem with amending the document to making monthly payments once their revenues have been set. Rossiter stated it look's like were both up a creek, we need the money to get the adequate protection before the Casino is opened and you need to get the licenses. Seckington stated the Council has to understand they have to work with their lenders. Martin motioned to reject the offer of taking the $400,000 off of the first two years of the dockside agreement. Lowe second the motion. Motion carried with the following roll call vote: Griesbaum YES, Martin YES, Sherwood YES, Rossiter YES and Lowe YES. Seckington stated he would be speak to Mr. Grace and their lenders.

'"Visitor: Casey Powers from BFI presented a proposed extension agreement to the Council. Powers stated the current City contract runs out in November 2001. Rossiter asked if the Council should allow the current contract to run out would this agreement still stand. Powers stated no, if the contract runs out this proposal is voided. Griesbaum motioned to table the matter and look over the current contract for next months meeting. Lowe second the motion. Motion carried all five yes.

"''Committee Report: Sherwood stated the Rural Fire Board has agreed to reimburse the firemen for half of the cost on mobile radio's and air packs they purchased on their own. Sherwood stated they agreed to help pay for the cost of relettering the door on the new fire. Fire Chief Heindselman stated he has received paper work regarding grants that are going to be available. According to Heindselman the grants are 10% match and can be gotten in the amount of $175 thousand. Heindselman stated he would get the information to the City as soon as possible. Sherwood motioned to get the lettering done on the door of the fire truck. Rossiter second the motion. Motion carried four yes with Martin opposing. No other reports were received.

 UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Mayor Ludwig stated Klingner and Association submitted an Engineering Services Agreement. The agreement broke down their cost and various items they would be doing for the City towards getting a new sewer treatment plant. The cost of the proposed agreement would not exceed $8,000. Martin motioned to have Mayor Ludwig sign the agreement. Sherwood second the motion. Motion carried all five yes.

NEW BUSINESS: Mayor Ludwig stated Jon and Shari Tobias has approached him regarding closing an alley by their residents to build a garage. Further discussion was held regarding the location. Mayor Ludwig stated they would even purchase the needed property. Martin asked the City Attorney to look into actions taken by the Council on property sold to Terry Childers. Mayor Ludwig stated he would go up to the Tobias's and see what area's they are wanting to have closed or purchased.

 ""Public Survey: A sample survey was given to the Council. This survey will be sent out and asked to be returned prior to next months Council meeting. After discussion on rewording the survey, Rossiter motioned to send out the revised survey. Martin second the motion. Motion carried all five yes.

""Proposed Ordinance for City Administrator: Griesbaum stated the Committee has been working on setting up an ordinance regarding the Administrator. The Committee has increased the amount of bond and changed the wording in the qualifications needed. Rossiter stated the Committee worked with three to four other City's ordinances. Griesbaum stated the Council would need to call for a special election of the Citizens to have them approve changing the City Charter to allow for an Administrator. Kruse stated it would take 60 days from the date in which the Council called for a vote before a special election could be held. Rossiter stated he would like to go head and approve the ordinance. Griesbaum and Martin both disagreed, since the Council was going to have survey's sent out. Martin stated why have the survey asking the Citizens what they would like and then approve the ordinance. Martin stated the survey should have one questions are you in favor of an administrator, and by going with an administrator the Charter will have to be changed. Sherwood stated if you don't want the Citizens opinion they you should not ask for it. Ayers asked if the City's Charter stated an election had to be held. Kruse stated it had nothing to do with the Charter, it has to do with State Statues. No further action was taken.

Griesbaum motioned to take a five minute recess. Sherwood second the motion. Motion carried all five yes. Lowe motioned to go back into open session. Rossiter second the motion. Motion carried all five yes.

 *Rossiter stated he has received several complaints regarding a culvert at third and Marion street. Powers stated they were working their way up to that location. Power stated he was going to ask the Fire Dept to help unplug the culvert.

*Rossiter stated he would like to make the motion, to have the City Council start meeting twice a month once the new administration took over. Griesbaum second the motion. Motion carried four yes with Sherwood opposing.

 *Martin stated after the Police Committee met and held interviews he would make the motion to hire David Godman. Lowe second the motion. Motion carried with the following roll call vote: Griesbaum YES, Martin YES, Sherwood YES. Rossiter YES, and Lowe YES.

*Mayor Ludwig stated there are several items of interest received in correspondence for the Council to look over. Mayor Ludwig stated the Youth Center will be holding a ground breaking ceremony on March 18, 2001. Mayor Ludwig stated he would like to apologize for not bringing this matter up sooner. In the past the Council has donated towards the Youth Centers when they held their fund drive. Mayor Ludwig asked the Council if they would like to make another donation this year. Lowe motioned to make a $200 donation. Rossiter second the motion. Motion carried all five yes.

*Rossiter made the motion to go into closed session for discussion of personnel. Martin second the motion. Motion carried all five yes.

*Griesbaum motioned to go back into open session. Lowe second the motion. Motion carried all five yes. *Rossiter made the motion to hire Melissa Brookhart as the full time dispatcher with the conditions that she move to LaGrange as soon as possible. Sherwood second the motion. Motion carried with the following roll call vote: Griesbaum YES, Martin NO, Sherwood YES, Rossiter YES, and Lowe NO.

*Lowe motioned to hire Jessica Lewis as the part time dispatcher. Griesbaum second the motion. Motion carried with the following roll call vote: Griesbaum YES, Martin YES, Sherwood YES, Rossiter Abstaining and Lowe YES.

*Dennis Phillips spoke to the Council stating he has been in contact with Ford Motor Company and they have approved a lease agreement with the City. The agreement is a Municipal Track Lease. According to Phillips there are several options the City can take. Phillips went on to discuss the different options and availability of the car's to the City. Griesbaum asked Phillips if he could get all of this information in writing. Phillips stated no problem. Phillips stated he would have Jeff Johnson prepare the information and hand delivery the information himself to the City. Having nothing further before the Council. Griesbaum motioned to adjourn the meeting. Martin second the motion. Motion carried all five yes.