Board approves ordinance for low-speed vehicles

In the first formal meeting of the new year, the Fayette Board of Aldermen passed an ordinance for low-speed vehicles, discussed options for the fire department to secure a new ladder truck, moved forward in its address of abandoned houses, and revisited the topics of a building inspector and progress of the Bell Block building, during a busy agenda on Tuesday, Jan. 7.

Although this was the first regular meeting of 2020, four council did congregate for an emergency meeting on Thursday, Jan. 2, in order to approve an insurance plan for city employees for the new year. The four members present gave unanimous approval for the plan, which increased by $15 per month for each full-time employee. The increase was reflected in the 2020 budget.

The council also approved an increase by $250 of the monthly fee paid to Prosecuting Attorney Deborah Reikhof. The increase was requested after the budget had been passed, and therefore required separate approval by the council. The reason for the fee hike is a greater workload.

Both matters were to be addressed during the council’s meeting Dec. 17, 2019, which was cancelled due to lack of a quorum.

Vacant houses

The council during its regular meeting Jan. 7, did make progress on the long-term problems concerning abandoned houses on South Park Ave. in Fayette. Neighborhood spokeswoman Marsha Broadus has been asking the city for years to help curb the use of abandoned houses by squatters. These houses have no city utilities, such as electricity, and water and sewer services, and the people occupying those residences have been defecating outdoors. One of those houses is next door to a daycare.

“I feel like I’ve been spinning my wheels,” Broadus told the council.

The city’s major obstacle has been the ability to make contact with the owners of the houses in question, some of whom do not live in Fayette. A letter was sent to the owner of the house located next door to the daycare. A 10-day notice of hearing will be sent out later this month. A hearing will then take place at the start of the following city council meeting. At that time the council could decide to demolish the house.   

The problems tie in to further discussions by the city council to hire a dedicated building inspector. Currently, Public Works Director Danny Dougherty is also tasked with the duties of building inspector. Mayor Greg Stidham had previously suggested that the city hire at least a part-time inspector and raise related fees to pay for the position. This strategy, however, may be a little more complicated. In order to comply with the Hancock Amendment, city attorney Nathan Nickolaus explained, the city’s fees must reflect the actual costs in providing services. The fees must be calculated based on the true cost of those services, which would include all expenses associated with paying the inspector along with some additional overhead.

“Marsha (Broadus) has been here for a couple of years working through a situation that at times I think we should have been able to resolve a long time ago,” said southwest ward alderman Grafton Cook. “Whether it’s a lack of a building inspector that can really spend full time doing it, or whether there are various ordinances that we can change, or strengthen, or add, in order to alleviate these situations, I think it’s of paramount importance that the city endeavor to undertake what it takes in order to make that happen. A credentialed building inspector that has the authority of ordinances to come in and clean some of these places up I think is going to go a long way to keep the city from becoming a magnet for illegal activities that are happening between Kansas City and St. Louis, and now Columbia.”

The “illegal activities” Cook mentioned were in reference to a possibly drug-related homicide that took place Dec. 30 in Fayette. The suspected shooter was later found at a residence on South Park Ave. 

“If we allow the condition of the city to deteriorate, we will continue to be a magnet for this sort of activity,” Cook said. “I’m a firm believer that if we keep our properties in accordance with a strong ordinance and keep the property owners and the ownership of various rental properties accountable to this community for the condition of the properties, that we go a long way to alleviate the problem.”

East ward alderwoman Stephanie Ford echoed Cook’s sentiments and added that the job of building inspector is too much for one person to do. She advocated that the city pursue the hiring of an inspector.

In the meantime, the council voted unanimously to obtain a warrant to allow the city to enter and inspect one of the homes in question for evidence of someone living there illegally.

In a related matter, Mayor Stidham acknowledged that work had finally been done on the south side of the historic Bell Block building located on the corner of Church and Morrison Streets on the downtown square. The sidewalk along Morrison Street had been closed for nearly a year before repairs were made to the top of the building from where bricks had fallen. City attorney Nathan Nickolaus met with the building’s owner, Dan Ruether of Columbia, to serve him notice of a hearing before the council scheduled for Jan. 21. “I got a report from him that he’s done some substantial work on the inside,” Nickolaus said. The city had provided Ruether with a list of problems. Ruether claims to have corrected a majority of the problems.

“There are a couple of problems he’s still working on,” Nicholaus said. He recommended allowing Ruether more time to complete repairs. The council agreed. 

Low-speed and abandoned vehicles

The council gave unanimous approval to amend the city code regarding low-speed vehicles, such as golf carts and utility vehicles, on city streets. Such vehicles are now required to display badges on the backs signifying them as low-speed vehicles. They must also have upgraded lighting and be licenced by the city.

Council members also discussed with Fayette Chief of Police Jeff Oswald the city’s right to tow away unlicensed vehicles. Oswald explained that unlicensed vehicles parked on city streets can be towed, but those on private property fall under a separate ordinance. “Just like the derelict houses, there is a process we have to go through,” he said. 

Unlicensed, inoperable vehicles are in violation of city code, Nickolaus explained.

Mayor Stidham suggested the car sitting at the abandoned property next the the daycare should be first on the city’s list.

Fire Truck

Fayette Fire Department Chief Chris Baylor and fireman Gary Kunze spoke with the council regarding the ongoing search for a new ladder truck for the fire department. The situation is not a new one. The department had secured the option to buy a used truck from the City of Columbia in late 2014. The council at the time instead opted to fix the aging ladder truck at a cost of $7,265.50. But even after repairs the model-year 1980 ladder truck was deemed unsafe and therefore did not meet National Fire Protection Association standards.

Now more than five years later the situation remains unchanged. The department is still in need of a functioning ladder truck that meets the height requirements for buildings on the Central Methodist University campus. CMU had originally pledged $30,000 toward the funding of a new truck.

Chief Baylor told the council that the Columbia fire department will be getting new trucks and selling used ones later in the fall of 2020. Fayette would need to get on a list of departments requesting the option to purchase a used truck. “We need something,” Baylor said. He said there are plenty of available trucks for sale, but needed to know his budget before he can shop. Nearly $200,000 currently exists in the fire department’s fund. “The advantage of Columbia is we have guys on the department,” Baylor said. “We have ties with them. They use the trucks every day and maintain them.”

Council members inquired on the department’s ability to lease a new truck rather than purchase a used model. Baylor said he will explore the options to lease and report back to the council.

Kunze told the council that the department’s main pumper truck is now 20 years old. It will likely need replacement in the near future.

The council also inquired with Chief Baylor if he would be able to lead the ISO committee. ISO stands for Insurance Service Office. The city’s ISO rating was raised in its last report and must take steps to improve safety to avoid possible rate hikes to insurance policies for property owners. One of those requirements is that a committee be formed to address the improvements. East ward Alderman Anthony Shiflett had agreed to lead the committee, but recently asked to back out citing increased work responsibilities. He also announced he would not run for re-election for the same reason.

Several improvements have already taken place, but the committee still must meet. Also, there are a few fire hydrants that are not working properly. And the Givens Road water tower is out of service. The city does not intend to restore the tower to service due to its contribution to high trihalomethanes (TTHM) levels in the city’s drinking water. This lowers the city’s immediate capacity of usable water in the event of a fire. However, more water can be pumped to the city from the regional water supply.

Baylor said the Fayette and Glasgow departments were going to hold a meeting to discuss providing automatic aid to one another in the event of a fire. This is a tactic municipalities have employed to help improve ISO ratings.

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Dougherty, the city’s Director of Public Works, reported to the council he met with a forester at DC Rogers Lake to examine the city’s tree inventory. He said the city unlikely to make much money selling timber, but that work there will improve the forest. He is awaiting the official report.

Dougherty said the city has ordered cold mix to begin repairing some of the potholes on city streets. 

He also informed the council that two new homes will be built on Cooper Street by Stark Construction Systems. They are expected to be completed by late spring. Should the venture succeed, Dougherty said, the company may build more homes here in the future.

Dougherty met recently with a tree-trimming service. The city is not able to properly trim trees around power lines and Dougherty suggested the city hire the service. A representative from Poor Boy Tree Services will meet with the council at a future meeting.

City Administrator Robin Triplett reported to the council that more than $100,000 has now been pledged toward the construction of a splash park to be located near the city’s swimming pool. The majority of pledges came in the form of an anonymous donation of $75,000. The city hopes to pull in at least $175,000 in donations to put toward the project which is estimated to cost approximately $250,000.

The next meeting for the Board of Aldermen will take place at 7 p.m. on Jan. 21 at City Hall. The public is invited to attend.