Swearing in of newly elected and re-elects at Council meeting, several permits approved

With a large crowd in attendance and after making a few added changes to the agenda, Drexel’s City Council opened all bids for the Community Center door, basketball court area, as well as the center’s roof at last Monday night’s meeting. The door bids were put to the side as the door has been fixed rather than replaced. Council approved the bid from David Kimbrough and Ron Neal on the basketball court area and Roger Fink’s bid for metal roofing.
In other business, Chad Harrington of Larkin Engineering Group gave a brief update regarding the water project and its status. He stated that the biggest job for the City at this point was to see that all easements be obtained, as it will not be able to place the project out for bid until that time.
Alderman Sue Wishon inquired about the financial packets from the accountant. City Clerk Kara Smith explained that they have not yet arrived, but that all bill payments being asked of the Council have been included in their packets. Mayor Reece stated that as soon as those statements arrive, they would be delivered to the Council.
Mayor Reece stated that a sample of the new codes ordinances had been included in the packets and that books have been ordered. Council discussed Ordinance 549, an ordinance repealing Ordinance 438 and establishing a new fee schedule for the issuance of building permits for the City of Drexel. The ordinance was adopted and approved with a 3-0 vote of the council.
Next, Council reviewed water and sewer hook-up fees. Alderman Musick made a motion to make residential water (3/4 inch) hookups $1,500 and commercial (2 inch) hookups $2,000, with sewer hookup remaining at $500, with all to include a rock clause for work over $1,500. Alderman Mayfield seconded and the motion was approved by the Council with a 3-0 vote. Mayor Reece stated he would like to see this put into an ordinance for the next council meeting.
Mayor Reece explained that the City has submitted the Engineering Contract for Construction Inspections to Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) for the sidewalk project and that Ordinance 548 cannot be approved until the contract has been accepted by MoDOT. Therefore Ordinance 548 was tabled by the Council.
City Clerk Kara Smith administered the Oath of Office to Doug Musick, newly re-elected East Ward Alderman, Kevin Shannon, newly elected West Ward Alderman, and Kenneth Reece, newly re-elected Mayor. Mayor Reece then asked if the Council had any objections to his appointment of Alderman Musick to the position of Mayor Pro-Tem, to which there were no objections.
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Read the complete story in the April 23rd edition.