Future Highway Construction Project Planned For Noel

Mayor Lewis Davis announced a future highway construction project at Tuesday’s meeting of the Noel City Council.

He reported that he met with some representatives of the Missouri Department of Transportation regarding Highway 59 and Highway 90 between the two bridges in town. He said he convinced them the city is facing a major shutdown if it floods. He said the representatives are proposing an 8-foot walkway between the two bridges and widening the roadway by 2 feet. He did not know when funds would be available, but probably in the fall, Davis said.

Davis also reported a FEMA representative told him the city would have to pay the bill on the Scout Mountain project before

FEMA would pay its part. Scout Drive had to be repaired following last year’s spring floods, and the repairs were only recently completed. The total bill is $46,620, according to city clerk Tina DePriest. Davis said the city could use street funds to pay the bill and repay the street department after FEMA pays its part. The council approved using street department funds to pay the bill.

Davis told the council an ad for building inspector had been in the newspaper for two weeks and the city had not had any calls. He proposed making Greg Buford building inspector.

Alderman Allie Peck objected, saying Buford owns too much property and it would not be in the city’s best interest for him to be the building inspector.

Davis said he would stipulate that Buford would not inspect his own property.

The council approved the appointment.

In department reports, fire chief Brandon Barrett told the council he needed to repair the ladder truck, which has a leaking outrigger. He estimated the repair at $1,500. He said the need is bad enough that the department needs to stop driving it if they aren’t going to fix it.

The council approved fixing the ladder truck.

John Poynor of the Noel Betterment Association told the council that it has a few projects in mind that it needs to work with the city on to get grants. It has in mind a parks project and a sidewalks project, he said. The council gave its approval.

In other business, Steve Powell was sworn in as south ward alderman.