Anderson Residents Call For Ordinance Enforcement

THE PEOPLE WANT ACTION TO REMOVE EYESORES FROM TOWN

A number of residents voiced their opinions on ordinance enforcement within the city limits during Anderson’s City Council meeting on Dec. 15. Many spoke about the need to more vigilantly enforce city codes and “rid the town of eyesores.”

“We have the ordinances, but they are not enforced,” said property owner Diana Miles.

Mayor John Sellers commented that the city has recently acquired a code enforcement officer who checks on ordinance violations weekly. He noted that violation complaints for this officer can be made at City Hall.

“We handled between twenty and 30 complaints last month.” said Police chief Donavon Pierson. “Our goal is to write no tickets, but to fix all of the problems.”

Departmental

Reports

Pierson gave the council an update concerning a new patrol vehicle. He has received a bid from Cassville Ford but is still waiting to hear back from Machens Ford and Smith Auto Group.

Pierson reported issues with Unit 4’s driver side window coming off track occasionally. He believes it to be the result of a warped door.

Since last month’s meeting, one additional officer has left the department. Four people have applied for the position so far. Qualified candidates will be identified at the beginning of January.

“I know that we pay better than any other department in the county. That’s why it’s kind of hard to understand why they’re leaving a better paying department with more benefits and going to a different department,” said Alderman Seth Kirk.

Pierson explained that there could be a number of factors that play into that. He said that there is often a “flip-flop” during election time — where officers will become county deputies under a new sheriff or return back to a city department after a change in management. In addition, he noted that there seems to be a high rate of burn out in all emergency services.

“There’s always stuff we can do better and that’s what we’re looking at right now,” said Pierson.

Alderman Kirk asked that the council begin meeting with newly hired officers to establish positive relations.

Alderman Rusty Wilson relayed a request he received to heighten patrol around churches after a suspicious SUV was spotted parked at a church in town near midnight on Sunday.

Fire Chief Shelby Turner spoke to the council about his ongoing search for a new fire engine. He suggested that, to stay within budget and still provide high-quality service, the city take on a 7-year lease rather than a 5-year lease. This wouldn’t increase the cost, only the span of the lease.

“We’ll be committing longer to the one unit that replaces two,” explained Turner. “It’s the rescuestyle truck, it’s got the 1,500 gallon per minute pump, it’s got the 1,000 gallons of water capacity.”

Public Works Director Brandon Forcum reported that Water Department employee Brandon Males has earned is DS2 licensing with high scores. Mayor John Sellers noted that Don Wiles complimented the water crew on their helpful and professional attitudes while hooking his property up to a new water meter. In other business: • The council voted to open accounts with Arvest and transfer funds to the location in town.

• Mayor Sellers met with David Taylor of Missouri Department of Transportation and Brad Lett, an engineer with Empire Electric District, to discuss complaints about poor visibility at the intersection of Business 71 and Highway 76 after dark. The council voted to install a 45-foot tall, 250-watt street light behind the guardrail on the west side of the intersection.

• The council tabled voting on the revised City Code Book until Alderman Chester Neel has had time to review the ordinances.

• C.D. 63877 was cashed in the amount of $16,800 in anticipation of purchasing a new fire truck.

• The council voted to give city employees the regular Christmas bonus of $100.

• Charlie Zitnick, a financial consultant with D.A. Davidson, met with the council to discuss the pros and cons of various bond options for the city. The council voted to begin meeting with engineering firms to decide what issues need to be addressed.

• The council tabled voting on the Missouri Public Entity Risk Management Fund insurance contract until other bids are received.

• Mayor Sellers noted that the easement for a pressure regulator in Meadowbrook Estates has been granted and recorded.

• The council voted to transfer $1,000 from General Fund to the Summer Recreation Fund to pay for the bills during the off season and the foot bridge that was recently constructed at the ball field.

• Ken Schutten, Director of the Anderson Betterment Club, met with the council to talk about the Visioning Project and the steps needed to bring some of these renderings to fruition.