City creates routes for through-truck traffic

By TERESA RESSEL
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:56 AM CDT

BONNE TERRE — Truck drivers will soon be getting tickets for driving on Church Street or Lake Drive to get through the city.

On Tuesday night, the City Council amended the truck route ordinance, removing those two streets from the through-truck route list. The amended ordinance will only include U.S. 67, Route K, Highway 47, North Division Street, Berry Road, and Raider Road.

Trucks would be allowed for local deliveries and a land-locked business. There is a separate and more extensive list for trucks making local deliveries.

Police Chief Doug Calvert said he would begin enforcing the ordinance Monday morning because truck drivers have already been warned.

By ordinance, a driver must follow the routes if the truck or commercial vehicle’s gross vehicle weight is more than 15,000 pounds

Also during the meeting, the council approved a fund transfer of $118,000 from the General Fund to the Transportation fund. City Manager Larry Barton explained this money came from a CD and would be an addition to the funds currently budgeted for transportation projects this fiscal year, which began Oct. 1. Before the council could start on a new set of paving projects, they would have to put out the project for bids.

Joe Tyree asked what streets were on the new list to get paved and he asked if streets in the Hillcrest Subdivision were on that list. Mayor Fritz Gower said they don’t have a list completed yet but Hillcrest was a priority for him.

In other matters, Mike Johnson asked the council if they would be interested in hearing about his proposed program to clean up town and help the elderly make repairs.

Gower said he was interested in hearing about this program but added a resident involved in World Changers asked him to come up with a list of elderly residents who needed help with house repairs. He asked Johnson to come up with a list, as well.

Johnson also asked if they could get a volunteer to serve as a park and recreation director, a position the parks board has asked for. The city would have to use general funds to hire a park director — not park funds. The city has a park sales tax but that money can only be used for capital improvements to the parks.

Tyree asked why the city needed a parks director when they’d never had one before. Barton, who is working on a job description for the position, said the city has had parks directors before, and he had been one of them.

Tyree asked if they could use the money they are thinking about spending on a park and recreation director and spend that on streets, too.

Alderman Ed Hottle said he is looking at a community development block grant to make paving improvements to Hillcrest Subdivision. Barton said there’s also a neighborhood improvement grant where residents could share in the cost.

Alderman Ron Elders and LeeRoy Calvert reminded the audience that the city could be eligible for more grants if it had a property tax. Voters have turned down proposals to reinstate a property tax several times.

Elders said they are one of only maybe two cities in the state without a city property tax. He believes they would only need a minimal to moderate property tax to help them get grants.

Also during the public comment part of the meeting, a resident who lives on Columbia and owns several houses in the neighborhood, complained that water coming from culvert pipes is causing problems for his house and his neighbors. He said his foundation is settling and his house is getting mold. He said there are other residents in the area being affected.

Gower said it sounds like this is a real critical problem that needs to be addressed.

Also during the meeting, a veteran said he didn’t think the bench in the Wedge should be painted like a flag. He said flags should be flown and not sat on. Johnson then said he thought the flag was not a full replica so it was socially acceptable.

During the mayor’s report, Gower said he is in constant contact with the Missouri Department of Transportation and the county commissioners to try to get the bridge on Berry Road reopened and the Hedgeapple crossover replaced with an outer road.

Alderman Calvert asked Chief Calvert if Out R Mines was under new management. Calvert said the bar will be under new management.

In the police’s monthly bar report, there were two incidents listed at that bar in September. One involved a person who was causing a disturbance in the bar and refused to leave. The other involved a minor who was “over-served alcoholic beverages.” The minor was arrested, as well as an employee, who was found in possession of a controlled substance.

Also during the meeting, the council approved a pay request from Essex Contracting for work at the Northwest Wastewater Treatment Plant. The council lowered the sewer tap connection fee from $1,500 to $1,000 and changed the water connection fee from a flat fee of $450 to $500 plus the cost of materials.

The council decided to discuss the parks and recreation director position and park pavilion reservation forms at their work session. They also welcomed members of Boy Scout Pack 432 who sat in on the 70-minute meeting.

Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.

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