Mayor Richard Mara says the city has to be fair by making the rules the same for everyone, when discussing city ordinances at the city council meeting at Hornersville Monday night. Staff photo by Trina Bell [Click to enlarge]

HORNERSVILLE, Mo. -- What's good for one is good for all. That's the rule the Hornersville board of aldermen is having to stick with in order to ensure the city is equally fair to all its residents.

After reviewing all the city's bills and documents, City Clerk Penny McLarty updated the council on where some of the city's residents stand in reference to nuisance violations.

"Harold Lewis McGrew has been put on two years supervised probation," McLarty said. "He is required to check in with his probation officer who will notify us and let us know if he is making continuous progress. "If progress ceases, he will be facing up to 360 days in jail."

The City of Hornersville has been on a mission to get the city's and resident's properties cleaned up and has been issuing citations for those who do not comply with the city's nuisance ordinance.

Resident Tommy Brown approached the council requesting he be given a little more time to find a part for his vehicle which the city ordered either to get repaired and running or to get it out of the city.

"I wanted to let you know that I am not trying to be hard to deal with," Brown said, "but I am trying my best to find the code for it," he said. "I'd like to keep my little truck. I've got everybody I know of looking for me," he said.

The city advised Brown that he had up to 30 days to get the vehicle running before he would be cited or asked to remove the vehicle from the city limits.

"You still have more than two weeks," McLarty said. "Hopefully by then you will be able to get it running."

Alderman Glenn Burress informed his fellow councilmen that he thought Brown should be given a little extra time, considering the fact that he is searching for a part and plans to put the vehicle on the road once he gets it repaired.

"Although the decision is totally up to the council," Mayor Richard Mara said, "the problem with doing that is that if you do that for one person, then you will have to do the same for everyone else that has vehicle sitting around not running."

Mara explained that, although Brown is legitimately looking and making an effort to get his truck running, if the city waivers the 30-day time frame for him, it will have to do the same for everyone else. "Anyone can say that they are looking for a part then," Mara said, "and we'll have junk cars all over town."

Aldermen Bruce Miller and Phyllis Hamrick agreed with Mara but Aldermen Rondia Rauls and Burress did not. Having to break a tie between a divided council, Mara voted in favor of enforcing the ordinance as it stands.

"There are those cases where you want to give someone a break because you know they are trying," Mara said, " but it's the law and it has to be the same for everyone."

McLarty informed the council that she had tallied the votes for those residents whose yards were chosen as Yards of the Month.

"For the month of May the north ward yard of the month went to Mary Ridings and the south ward went to Buddy Hines," McLarty said. "June yards of the month are Shawn and Aaron Koller and the north ward tied with Leonard Glueck and Charlene Lee, who have adjoining yards," McLarty said.

Each month the City of Hornersville will award a new residence with the Yard of the Month for the upkeep and maintenance of their lawns.

Mara advised the council that residents Bob Randle and Cathy Cain have been appointed to the Housing Authority Board.

McLarty said she was proud to announce that the city only had one individual who is two years behind on their property taxes. "We're doing pretty good to have only one person whose taxes are delinquent by two years," McLarty said. "We only have a few that are one year behind. "There aren't any that are three years behind," she said, "so we are doing pretty good in the tax collection department."

Other business included hearing reports sent in from Sarah Jo Morgan, the city's financial advisor, and Mitzi Dell, the city's grant writer.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Monday, July 14, 2008, at the city hall.