City Council fails to approve building permits

The Board of Aldermen of the City of Drexel, Missouri met in Regular Session on Monday, March 9, 2009 at City Hall. Citizens present were Tyler Black, Darrell Gilbert, Tina Harris, Phyllis Hocker, Windy Jones, Rose Marsh, Marilyn Nickell, Sheila Reece, Boyd Smith, Julie Snodgrass, Bob Strange, and Jerry Williams. Presenters present were Chad Harrington of Larkin Engineering and Phyllis Sheak and Doris Sherrick of Cass County Sustainability. City Staff present were Water Technician Russ Ream, Public Works Superintendent Martin Doughty, Chief of Police Jon Carpenter, City Treasurer Peggy Moles, and City Clerk Kara Smith. Mayor Kenneth Reece, Alderman Sue Bush Wishon, Alderman Terry Mayfield, and Mayor Pro Tem Doug Musick were all in attendance. Alderman Gale Allman was absent.
Mayor Reece called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Mayor Reece informed the council that there would be two additional building permits that would need to be heard by the council. Alderman Musick asked that the Healthcare Discussion be moved to Executive Session as it involved a personnel matter. Smith explained that no action would be able to be taken on that matter and Council agreed. Alderman Wishon then made a motion to approve the amended agenda, seconded Alderman Musick and was approved by a 3-0 vote.
Doris Sherrick with Cass County Sustainability introduced herself to the Board and gave information regarding the recycling efforts that are coming to Drexel. She explained that due to a grant given by MARC, their organization has teamed up with Town & Country Trash Disposal to offer a recycling stop every full weekend in the month to south Cass County cities on a rotational basis. She said the schedule would be Freeman on the first full weekend, with Peculiar the second, Drexel the third, and Garden City the fourth full weekend. She told Council and citizens that she had given Smith flyers and brochures on the effort and that she hoped it would be a success for our city. She impressed upon those attending the importance of the participation of our businesses and noted Freeman’s Post Office as an example. She notified Council that volunteers are going to be needed to assist in this effort and she hoped Drexel had some citizens or organizations that would volunteer to take part. She further explained that all recyclables could be combined together and did not have to be sorted. She stated that they would accept paper, paperboard, cardboard, phone books and catalogs, tin and aluminum cans, plastics #1-7, and steel. They will not be able to accept glass at this time. Doris thanked the Council and citizens for their time and reminded them that they could pick up flyers if they so desired.
Chad Harrington with Larkin Engineering Group gave an update regarding the water project and its status. The city has received from the Department of Natural Resources a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) report and then a revised one to correct the mistake in relation to the transmission line. He informed the council that the priority of the City at this point is to get the easements completed. There was a discussion regarding easements that could not be obtained and the process of receiving condemnation on those properties. He informed the council that is a very long procedure and they would be best suited to really try to obtain the easements. He also discussed the possibility of bypassing certain pieces of property if absolutely necessary, but advised of the additional cost of such an effort as well. He advised that the railroad permits should be going out soon, and Smith stated that after the bills were approved by the Council,....
Read the complete story in the March 19th print edition.