On the ballot

Kennett City Attorney, Terry McVey, reads an ordinance placing the trash hauling issue on the April election ballot. During the election, the voters will have the choice of remaining with the current trash hauling arrangements or moving to a city provided trash service.

Staff photo by Joshua Payne

The Kennett City Council approved four ordinances during the City Council meeting hosted on Tuesday. The ordinances places two subjects on the April election ballot, along with establishing fees for the compost facility and authorizing the mayor to accept a grant for the airport.

The first issue being placed on the April election ballot covers an ongoing debate involving trash hauling within the city of Kennett.

City Attorney Terry McVey read the ordinance which stated, "An ordinance calling a special advisory election to the city of Kennett, Mo., on the question of whether the city shall provide trash pick-up and disposal service within the city."

McVey added that this does not restrict the city in any way. He added that the city would have the option to provide a city trash pick-up or contract a third party.

The second issue to be placed on the April election ballot surrounds the proposal of a sales tax of one-eighth of one percent and calling a special election on the city of Kennett, Mo., on the question of whether to oppose the proposed sales tax.

McVey noted that a previous resolution had been passed to place the issue on the ballot in the upcoming April election.

Another ordinance passed by the council established user fees for commercial users at the compost facility.

"This was presented at the last meeting and is for commercial users at the compost facility," McVey said. "Anything that is brought has to originate in the City of Kennett. This is not a revenue producing ordinance, it is designed solely to try and offset the expenses to provide this service."

He added that all of the users would still have to comply with all rules of the compost facility.

The last ordinance, passed by the council on Tuesday, involved the acceptance of a grant for the Kennett Airport.

The ordinance authorizes the mayor to accept a Federal and State aid grant, which will total approximately $1.8 million.

McVey noted that the airport board had recommended acceptance of the grant.

Additionally, during Tuesday's meeting, Assistant Fire Chief, David Horton, presented the Kennett Fire Department report to the City Council, noting that the department had 91 responses in the month of October.

"Total calls for the year are 1,078, which is up substantially," Horton said.

We had three structure fires in the city and one structure fire outside of the city.

Horton added that the department used the new tanker truck on two occasions during the month of October and explained that the vehicle worked very well.

Wheeler presented a letter of recognition to the City of Kennett and the Kennett Fire Department.

The letter thanked the city and department for "tireless efforts," explaining that firefighters recently visited children at the headstart delivering a "very important message."

Kennett Police Department Captain, Steve Cook, presented the Kennett Police Department report informing the council that accidents were currently up within the city with 46 accidents being investigated in the month of October. He added that he believed this was due to the traffic grant's fiscal year ending.

Cook noted that Halloween night went "extremely well," and he thanked the citizens of Kennett.

Kennett Street Commissioner, Randy Carter, explained during his report that the department 'had been staying behind on street repairs.'

He informed the council that the city needed to complete required stormwater ordinances, along with expanding education to the citizens of Kennett.

He added that stormwater drainage areas in need of repair include, an underground drainage pipe along Franklin Boulevard, a drain box on Ricky Road, and a street collapse in Spence Alley.

Also in need of repair, eight locations along Buffalo Ditch need culverts replaced under city streets and one location along Snipes Slough needs culverts replaced under Eighth Street, according to Carter.

In other matters coming before the council:

* The council decided to examine solutions to problems with parking around the courthouse square and to present ideas on correcting the issues at the next council meeting.

The next Kennett City Council meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., on November 17.