~Miner Board of Aldermen
MINER - The conflict between two Miner businesses continues.
Mark Hinton of Hinton Park appealed once again to the Miner Board of Aldermen during their regular meeting Tuesday about loud music from J.D.'s. Saloon.
"It never has gone away - we've been dealing with it for many years," Hinton said.
Police Chief Roger Moore said his department receives an average of around four complaints per month about loud music from J.D.'s. Moore said an officer is sent to tell them to turn down the music when complaints are received.
"Any suggestions?" asked Mayor Mitch Thompson.
Hinton said Sikeston has a noise ordinance and Cape Girardeau is working on one. "J.D. says he doesn't have a noise problem," Hinton said. "If that's true, then he shouldn't have a problem with this ordinance."
Board members noted J.D.'s is a licensed business.
"Just because he has a business license doesn't mean he has a right to disturb," Hinton countered. He suggested that, just like alcohol, the music "should be contained within his building."
Hinton said the noise is affecting people's sleep, resulting in unhappy customers at his recreational vehicle park who don't return to Miner to spend their tourism money.
"This is not just a Hinton Park issue," he said. "This is a whole-town issue."
Hinton said he has a stack of letters from customers complaining about the noise, some off which who "vow not to come back" along with a copy of a Standard Democrat news article "from the last time I was here a year ago."
"We'll look into a noise ordinance," Thompson said. "Thank you for your input."
In other business Tuesday:
* A new sewer district for the Heckemeyer Acres area could enable Miner to upgrade its treatment facilities, according to Norman Lambert. "It may be a good way to improve your lagoon," he said.
The proposed sewer district would include about 200 homes, according to Lambert.
"They would pay the city a hook-up fee," he said. The fee would be calculated so it paid for improvements to the city's facilities enabling it to handle the additional sewage.
"Rural Development is encouraging this type of arrangement," said Marvin Nesbit, director of business development for Schultz Engineering Services.
Hooking into existing sewer systems to reduce the cost of establishing new sewer districts while helping existing systems pay for upgrades is part of Rural Development's "regionalization" strategy, Nesbit said.
Janet Tuttle, city clerk, said the city will have to upgrade its facilities in a few years anyway.
"I think it makes economic sense," said Alderman Justin Medley.
The new sewer district would hook up directly to the city's lagoon so it would not increase the load in the city's lift stations, Lambert said.
* A cost-of-living pay increase of 2.4 percent for city employees was approved by the Board.
Medley said once a complete set of figures for the increase in the cost of living for 2004 were available, board members determined the pay increase was necessary.
"We do need to take care of the employees we have," he said.
* As Dub Higden of the Department of Public Works has taken on the duties of city building inspector, an air conditioner for the public works shop is even more necessary, according to Medley.
"I don't know how Dub can do his business in his office without an air conditioner," he said.
Higden said he did not actually seek bids but found a unit for $1,650 to get an idea of the cost.
Thompson said board members need more bids before approving the purchase to "see if we can get a little bit better price, or if this the best price, we need to know."
A special meeting can be scheduled to approve the purchase so they don't have to wait until the next regular Board of Aldermen meeting in July, Thompson said.
* Medley said he sees the need to hire an additional police officer but wants to go over the department's existing schedule to make sure.
"I think it is a big decision," he said, noting the total cost for the officer would be about $38,000 per year.
Moore said he presently has only five officers. Hiring one "would get us back up to six officers plus me," he advised.
The department previously had six officers in addition to the chief, according to Moore. "We've been this way a year and a half," he said.
* The annual test for the fire division's Pumper No. 2 was approved by board members.
Randy Baker, fire division chief, said Battalion Three of Arnold will do the test. "They come down and do it here," he said. "They make sure it's all up to standards, but it has to be done every year."
* A decision on purchasing a gas monitor for the fire department was tabled so board members can research the need for and cost of a calibration kit.
The department presently has to call Sikeston to check on carbon dioxide and other gas leaks.
* The annual renewal of liquor licenses for the Raudmont Inn, J.D.'s Steakhouse, Drury Inn, Larry's Pit Stop, MFA-Breaktime, Ruby Tuesday and Piggly Wiggly were approved by the Board.
* Board members approved paying annual dues of $325.32 to the Missouri Municipal League and $1,000 to the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce.