The La Grange City Council met in session on Monday evening, May 08, 2000 at 7:00 p.m., with Mayor Harold L. Ludwig presiding and the following Council members present: Ayers, Burbridge, Lowe, Martin, Sherwood and Wiewel.

*Copies of the minutes from the April 10, 2000 meeting were given to the Council. Mayor Ludwig asked for any additions or corrections. Ayers motioned to accept the minutes. Sherwood seconds the motion. Motion carried all five yes.

*Copies of the minutes from the March 20, 2000 special meeting were given to the Council. Mayor Ludwig asked for additions or corrections. Wiewel stated if there is no discussion, he motioned to accept the minutes. Sherwood seconds the motion. Motion carried all five yes.

*A listing of bills was given to the Council. Mayor Ludwig asked if there were any questions or comments. Ayers asked how much longer would the Scotties Potties going to charged to the new buildings. Wouldn’t it be fair for the City to stated picking up the cost of the rental? Mayor Ludwig stated they would not be finished until possibly another week or two. Mayor Ludwig asked Ensor if this was correct. Ensor stated he should have the concrete poured for the maintenance building by Friday 05/12/00 weather permitting and the concrete at the Fire station by the end of next week. Ayers motioned to pay the bills submitted. Lowe 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. Ayers asked about the money in the Fire Equipment investment, if this total was the balance after taking out the $7,553.00. City Clerk Spindler stated that money would not be moved from the investments unless needed. It was stated in the new budget that money would only be moved from an investment on an as needed basis. Sherwood asked if someone has given the City water since this month, there was a negative number on the water loss. Mayor Ludwig asked J. Vaughn if he had any explanation for this. Vaughn stated no. Ayers motioned to accept the treasurer report. Sherwood seconds the motion. Motion carried all five yes.

*Visitors: John Morthland, the Attorney representing Mark Twain Gaming, was present and Mayor Ludwig turned the floor over to him. Morthland spoke to the Council about the Mark Twain was wanting to lease or purchase this property for a holding area for water run off. Also a small section in Block 2 will be needed for semi parking. Ayers stated it was voted that the new Council will discuss this matter. Mayor Ludwig stated he had spoken to Gene Priebe and he had recommended that the City lease the property. Mayor Ludwig asked Morthland how soon they needed an answer. Morthland stated he was not sure, but assumed it was needed as soon as possible. Morthland stated he understood, that they presently were leasing ground from the City. Mayor Ludwig stated they are leasing FEMA/SEMA buy out property. Lowe asked it they were still planning on having a ground-breaking ceremony. Morthland stated he did not know. Lowe asked about the sign Seckington was going to see about having placed, stating the future home of Mark Twain Casino. Morthland stated he did not know. Ensor asked how soon the City needed to have the two maintenance buildings removed. Morthland stated he did not know. Ensor asked if he knew where they were going to start. Morthland stated he did not know. Morthland stated he would check with Seckington and try to get an answer to all of the questions. Mayor Ludwig asked if there was any further questions or discussion for Mr. Morthland. Having no further discussion. Mayor Ludwig thanked Morthland for coming. Morthland stated he would stay around for a while longer in case any of the new Council had any questions.

*Committee Reports: Mayor Ludwig asked if there were any committee reports to be given. Fire Chief Heindselman stated the Council was given a rough draft, of their proposed by-law and they would be submitted to the firemen on Wednesday evening. Lowe stated they will have a final draft for the Council by the June meeting. Lowe stated if any members of the Fire Committee wanted to attend this meeting they were more than welcome.

No further reports were received.

*Unfinished Business: Mayor Ludwig spoke to the Council about contacting the individuals who had bid on the older maintenance buildings. Discussion was held on the amount of time needed to get all of the equipment from both buildings and moved to the new building. Ayers stated he did not want anything that did not belong to the fire dept. going into the new Fire Station. Mayor Ludwig stated that was no problem. Mayor Ludwig asked K. Powers how much time he needed. Powers stated 2 or 3 days for both buildings. Mayor Ludwig asked J. Vaughn what all he had to get out of the buildings. Vaughn stated pipes, but he would need a trailer, because they are in 20' sections. Ensor stated Vaughn could use his trailer. Lowe stated he had spoken to Steve Ayers regarding a tank for the Street dept. Further discussion was held and Mayor Ludwig stated he would get in contact with Ayers.

Ayers asked if the City Clerk had heard anything regarding the invoice sent out to the former storeowners. City Clerk Spindler stated the notice was sent and nothing had been received. Ayers stated the matter needed to be turned over to the City Attorney. No further actions were taken.

Ayers asked the City Clerk if she had heard anything further regarding the City getting the grant for the chipper/shredder. City Clerk Spindler stated she had not heard anything further and that she has tried to call several times. Ayers stated he did not know who was going to be appointed to replace him, but they should look into this matter and not let it slip by.

*A listing of incomes and expenditures were given to the Council regarding the Maintenance Building and Fire Station. A balance of $12,435.74 would remain after all of the approved expenses. This did not cover the electrical to the maintenance building. Discussion was held regarding what would be needed for each building. Ayers questioned the differences in the totals submitted at last month’s meeting to this month’s meeting. Mayor Ludwig stated Theresa Gunsauls had gone through all the bills, and there are copies of each bill paid. If anyone wanted to go through the bills they were more than welcome. Theresa Gunsauls stated the only way a bill was charged to the new buildings was if Vaughn, Powers or Ensor stated that was what they were for. Mayor Ludwig stated again if someone wants to go through the bills they are more than welcome to do so.

*Wiewel motioned to take a five minute recess. Sherwood seconds the motion. Motion carried all five yes. Martin arrived during the recess. Wiewel motioned to go back into open session. Sherwood seconds the motion. Motion carried all six yes.

*Mayor Ludwig turned the floor over to Martin who chaired the Finance Committee regarding the presentation of the budget. Martin stated he would like all of the Dept., head and Committee Chairperson to understand with the budget, it is set on expected revenues, which usually start coming in, in the later part of the year. So the money their request may not be there today or tomorrow. Also at the end of a budget year if there is money not spent that does not mean it is lost money. It gives a better start for the next year’s budget, and since he has been on the finance committee a dept., has not been cut because all of the budget amount was not spent. Martin stated he would like to thank Fred, Mike, Mayor Ludwig and Patty for all their time spent working on this budget from January until now. Lowe stated he would also like to thank the Dept., head for working with the Finance Committee. Martin asked if there were any questions regarding the budget presented. Martin stated since there is no discussion he would like to make the motion to accept the 2000 - 2001 Budget. Lowe second the motion. Motion carried the following roll call vote: Burbridge YES, Wiewel YES, Martin YES, Sherwood YES, Lowe YES and Ayers ABSTAINED.

Mayor Ludwig asked for any further unfinished business. Lowe stated at the break Ensor stated a minimum of 12 lights for each building would be needed. Further discussion was held on the matter of financing to getting materials needed for both buildings. Ensor stated it would cost approximately $5,500.00 to get all of the supplies needed for both buildings and probably another $2,000 to hire an electrician to do the maintenance building. Lowe motioned to allow Ensor to purchase the needed materials for both buildings not to exceed $5,500 and to hire an electrician for the maintenance building. Martin seconds the motion. Motion carried with four yes and both Burbridge and Ayers voting no.

Having no further business before the Council. Ayers motioned to adjourn. Lowe second the motion. Motion carried all six yes.

Sine Die

Mayor Ludwig sworn in the following new Council members: Roger Sherwood for South Ward, Steve Griesbaum for North Ward and Tim Rossiter for Middle Ward.

The City Council met in session on Monday evening May 08, 2000 with Mayor Harold L. Ludwig presiding and the following Council members present: Griesbaum, Lowe, Martin, Rossiter, Sherwood and Wiewel.

*Copies of newly appointed Committees were given to the Council. Mayor Ludwig stated he would like to make the following appointments to the Committees. Water Committee - Steve Griesbaum Chairperson, Tim Rossiter and Roger Sherwood, Street Committee - Tim Rossiter Chairperson, Ralph Martin and Roger Sherwood, Cemetery/Park Committee - Tim Rossiter Chairperson, Steve Griesbaum and Fred Wiewel, Police Committee - Fred Wiewel Chairperson, Ralph Martin and Mike Lowe, Finance Committee - Ralph Martin Chairperson, Fred Wiewel Chairperson, Mike Lowe, Fire Committee - Roger Sherwood Chairperson, Steve Griesbaum, and Tim Rossiter. Mayor Ludwig stated for the new members coming on the Chamber of Commerce has asked the City to join them with Appreciation Days and last year he had appointed the Cemetery/Park Committee to work with the Chamber and he is going to appoint this committee again this year. So the Chairperson needs to contact Brad Davis. The Council and himself needs to do all they can to help the Chamber make this day a success. So when the committee attends any of the Chamber meeting and there is something the full Council needs to do, please let them know.

*Ordinance#400 - An Ordinance Amending and Establishing the City Building commissioner’s Duties, and Establishing Procedures for Demolition of Unsafe and Dangerous Buildings. Mayor Ludwig stated this ordinance is to update the current ordinance on file. Wiewel stated then this ordinance basically cleans up the existing ordinance to match the State requirement. Mayor Ludwig stated yes. Mayor Ludwig stated there is no hurry to pass this ordinance, and it is up to the Council if they wish to proceed. Martin motioned for the first reading of the proposed ordinance. Sherwood seconds the motion. Motion carried all six yes. Lowe motioned for the second reading of proposed ordinance. Wiewel second the motion. Motion carried all six yes. Griesbaum motioned for the third reading of proposed ordinance. Lowe second the motion. Motion carried all six yes. Sherwood motioned to adopt ordinance #400. Martin seconds the motion. Motion carried with all the following roll call vote: Griesbaum YES, Lowe YES, Wiewel YES, Rossiter YES, Martin YES and Sherwood YES.

*Insurance Quotes: New insurance quotes were provided to the Council. Mayor Ludwig stated the new quotes came in and were at a higher cost. Mayor Ludwig stated the City Clerk had called for other quotes, and what is presented to the Council is what was received. Mayor Ludwig stated the Finance Committee had discussed option five for the employees. This would be like their current insurance but the deductible is higher. Griesbaum motioned to go with option five. Lowe second the motion. Motion carried all six yes.

*Scotties Potties: Mayor Ludwig asked about getting these for the parks. Martin motioned to get the Scotties potties. Rossiter second the motion. Motion carried all six yes.

*Mayor Ludwig stated Theresa Gunsauls stated a gentleman from Senior Housing asking about the City putting in a horse shoe pit in the park. This gentleman stated the City has installed items for the younger citizens they could do this for the senior citizens. Wiewel motioned to have the City employees when convenient do the work. Rossiter second the motion. Motion carried all six yes.

*Discussion was held on the results from Westrum Leak Detection. Mayor Ludwig asked Vaughn if they got all of the leak and hydrants fixed. Vaughn stated all of the hydrants but the one next to Elmer Logan. The two valve have been repaired.

*Flood plain Management: Mayor Ludwig appointed Tim Rossiter to the committee since he had taken the Middle ward position that was held by Burbridge.

*US HIGHWAY 61 Meeting: Mayor Ludwig stated he was planning on attending this meeting in Hannibal. Lowe stated he would see about getting off work to go.

Having no further business before the Council, Sherwood motioned to adjourn the meeting. Griesbaum second the motion. Motion carried all six yes.