City Council Chambers filled Monday night; Trash Department services discussed

There are times when one goes to the City Council meeting there just is not too much happening, or items may be tabled until further information is received.

Not so Monday night, when the Portageville City Council held their first of the month meeting, one item of discussion made for plenty of conversation, not just from the council members and city employees, but other several interested residents as well.

The topic, looking into bids for trash trucks, or taking bids for securing an out side trash service.

Joey Walters brought to the council two bids for a new trash truck. Next, a representative from Republic Services presented her bid for the board to look at. Then, a representative from Sonny's Solid Waste made their sales pitch.

Before the council could even have a chance to discuss all of the bids, citizens from the floor began asking questions to the council about what they were going to do. The main concern was, if the council contracted out the trash service, what will happen with the current employees that work the trash trucks?

Mayor Floyd Simmons assured the folks, that the trash department crew would still have a job with the city in another department.

After a few more minutes of lively discussion, Alderwoman Lynn Doering said, “We are going top let you know in just a few minutes.” She picked up one of the bids for a new trash truck, one that Joey Walters recommended, and she made a motion for the City to purchase this truck. A second to the motion was from Alderman Vince Berry, and the motion passed. The trash truck is a 2018 Mack GU533 with a Heil 25 Yard PT-1000. The cost of the truck is $167,885.98 and is being purchased from Armor Equipment in Arnold, MO. Project delivery date will be between May and June of 2017.

In the January City Council meeting, the water department talked about needing to replace a service line next to Missouri Grain, and Mayor Simmons mentioned that Liberty Utilities was to move and relocate a four inch gas main for SRG Global's new plant.

The council also passed an ordinance amending the sewer use rates for the City. It was deemed necessary by the City Council to increase the sewer use rates by reason of the cost of the improvements made or to be made to the wastewater system.

The base sewer rate for usage of up to 2,000 gallons of water shall be $15.00. In addition to the sewer rate, usage in excess of 2,000 gallons of water per month will be assessed at the rate of $3.00 per each 1000 gallons of water used.

At the meeting Monday night, several of the Portageville residents questioned the board about why their sewer rates had increased. Basically, the increase is due to help pay for the new waste-water plant. Last April, the citizens voted and passed for the City to get a $3 Million Bond. There was also a town hall meeting with information packets that provided some facts.

Below is some information from that packet:

“ 'The project for a new waste water plant is estimated to cost about $5 million.

The state has already pledged $2 million through a Community Development Block Grant.

Simmons said, as it stands, if the bond passes, residents could see a $12-15 increase on their monthly sewage bills.

However, Simmons is hopeful that cost will go down once the city hears back on state and federal grants it applied for to help with the cost.

In a fact sheet provided by the City Council, it provides a narrative of an approximate increase this will have on the water bills. “These numbers are on the top end, and we are hopeful, it will not be this much,” added Simmons.

According to the fact sheet, “...The City has studied this rate issue and believes that the monthly rates will be between $14.35 and $16.85 for 1000 gallons of effluence. The rate will increase $2.35 for every additional 1000 gallons. Again, these rates will be dependent on the amount of bond financing necessary to complete the project. In other words, more grant funding - less bond financing-less rate increase.”

“The importance of SRG Global to the financial health of the City cannot be overstated. The City must do all it can to protect both its employment AND tax base. In the event the proposed bond issue does not pass, the City will need to find alternative funding sources through commercial loans. This would more than double the interest rate on the financed amount, as opposed to receiving financing through the State Revolving Fund or USDA Rural Development, which both REQUIRE the bond issue to pass.”

“The additional interest cost would be passed along as higher usage rates. While City officials understand that ANY increase in our user fees are a financial burden to OUR citizens, especially low and fixed income households, the failure of the proposed bond issue would cause a significantly larger increase in user fees. City officials will continue to relentlessly pursue ALL funding options that limit the financial impact to our citizens,' ” according to the bond issue fact sheet.

Another question that was asked, “How come we have not been seeing financial statements in the paper? It is kind of hard to know what is budgeted for.” All eyes then looked to Scott Seal, editor of the Portageville Missourian. His response, “I have asked for the financial statement several times, and the city's accountant has said each time, that he would get it to me and thus far has not.” The last time a financial statement has been published was in December 2015.

According to the Missouri Sunshine Law, communities that are a Fourth Class community must publish their financial statement twice a year, every six months. Since the fiscal year for Portageville is May through April, a statement needs to be published in November for the proceeding six months and in May for the proceeding six month.

Another question to the board of Alderman, concerned the new drainage system along McCrate, “where do we stand with that?” “Right now, both sides have pleaded their cases and will be seeking a change of venue,” according to City Attorney Terry McVey. “Most likely that will take place next Tuesday, as to whether which county it will be in, probably in Stoddard or Scott County.”

In other business, the council voted to have Shirley Estes be a members on the Portageville Planning and Zoning Board.

Also in the January meeting, another ordinance recently passed, is for a sales tax to be placed on the is a one-fourth of one percent tax to be placed on the Municipal election in April. The question of whether to impose a sales tax for the purpose of providing revenue for law enforcement services. This tax would expire in 10 years.

The approval of doing so will authorize the levy and collection on one-fourth of one percent sales tax in addition to the other sales tax provided for by law on all retail sales made in the City, which are subject to taxation.