Editors Note: This article was originally scheduled to appear in the October 5, 2022, edition of the Fayette Advertiser but was pulled due to space constraints. It will be published in full in the October 12, 2022 newspaper.

The Fayette city council last week voted in favor of accepting a proposal by a company to host and update the city’s website, discussed the public safety tax that will appear before voters in November, vacated ownership of an unused portion of Davis Street, and heard issues with Fayette’s new splash park.

Alderpersons gave unanimous approval to enter into a year-long contract with Megaphone Designs to host and support the City of Fayette’s website, cityoffayettemo.com. The city’s former website service, Re-Kreate, asked the city to find a new service as it changes its business model.

The annual cost to the city to hire Megaphone Designs is $1,700, with a one-time cost of $300 to transfer the site to its servers. Paying annually will save the city $100 over paying monthly.

Southwest Ward alderman Grafton Cook said he thought the bid was reasonable but suggested the city seek an additional bid with which to compare the bid from Megaphone. 

East Ward alderman Joe Parisi called Megaphone’s website extremely mobile and responsive. “The guy who owns it is in Jefferson City. He does a bunch of websites for churches and other agencies. I think it's a good proposal.”

Council members gave unanimous approval to vacate ownership of a section of land originally laid out to be a part of East Davis Street, where the roadway intersects with Louisana Court. The council, during its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 26, was asked by Debbie and Marty Shaw, owners of Mos Investments, which already owns Eagle Landing Apartments there, to vacate the land so that they can build a second apartment building. The land in question will be used as a parking area for the new building, according to plans shared by the Shaws.

The land is now divided equally between the landowners on either side of it. However, the city continues to maintain an easement for the land as it houses below it a part of Fayette’s sewer system. 

Splash Park

Fayette’s Director of Public Works, Danny Dougherty, told the council that the city will close down the new splash park for the season on Saturday, October 1. With the arrival of autumn, the weather has cooled down, effectively ending the summer water recreation season.

Dougherty also explained that maintaining the splash park has become quite time-consuming.

Mayor Jeremy Dawson said the splash park has become a maintenance challenge with pieces breaking, tree debris, and issues with water pressure.

“The maintenance department is out there two or three hours every day getting it ready,” Dawson said. “It's a daily challenge.”

Dougherty explained that the water filters are constantly clogged with debris from overhead trees and mud. He even once found a pair of socks causing a clog.

“It's clogging up the filters, it's clogging up the nozzles,” Dougherty said. “The pumps are quitting because they get stopped up.”

In addition, features on the section of the splash park designed for older kids break often. And while under warranty, the city still must wait until new parts are delivered and then install them. 

“The way it was explained to me, to get in budget, we bought the cheapest stuff we could get,” Dougherty said. “And that’s what we got.”

The city still owes nearly $17,000 to Ideal Landscaping, the company that built the splash park. Dougherty suggested the city withhold final payment until these issues are resolved. 

“I’m so tired of dealing with that every day what we have to put up with trying to get that thing going and keep it going,” Dougherty told the council. “It's a nightmare.”

Public Safety Tax

The council briefly discussed the half-cent public safety tax that will be put before voters during the upcoming mid-term general election on Tuesday, November 8. 

Revenues from the proposed tax will be split by the Fayette Police Department and the Fayette Fire Department. However, details regarding how the funds will be divided are not been ironed out.

If approved, the new tax is expected to generate between $115,000 to $150,000 annually for improving public safety. It is expected to fund the purchase of new equipment for both departments, as well as to help pay for salaries. 

In other business, the council:

• discussed inquiries from the Historic Preservation Committee over the new downtown building that will soon be erected by Central Methodist University;
• Heard complaints regarding the grounds around the former Daly Elementary School that now serves as a private residence;
• Learned that the Golden Study Club next plans to paint the bleachers at Lembke Field;
• And learned that a sugar maple tree will be planted at Paige-Liberty Park.

The city council meets regularly at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month in City Call. Meetings are open in the public is invited.