Board of Aldermen - Regular Meeting

Aaron can No, I see light. They're on. Hello, Aaron. Hello. Mine's not working. Can you hear me? Nobody's working. I can hear you. Can you hear us? Yes. Can you hear me? Order. Will you be using the app tonight? Okay, I have a coupon.

All right, let's uh call to order the January 22nd Board of Alderman meeting. Uh our next item of business will be the pledge of allegiance, but I'll ask that uh we observe a couple minutes for several of our residents that have passed away that were involved with the city. Thank you so much. J, may I have a roll call, please?

Alderman Bright Shaft, here. Alden Westbrook, here. Alderman Harrell here. Alderman Hills here. Alderwoman Jokers here. Alderman Maserang here. Alderman Lang and Alderman Rogers are excused absent. Six for the quorum.

Thank you, ma'am. So, as I mentioned, we had two of our uh longtime residents just recently pass away. Uh I met mentioned at the last committee meeting, Jack Brandt. Uh but for the record, I'd like to uh just give you a little bit of his history. Jack moved his family uh to the Riverside subdivision back in 1963 uh when that was first being built. Um Jack uh was always involved in the community in one way or another. Um he actually ran for office twice, one in 19 once in 1970, another in 1971 until he was uh appointed to the planning and zoning in 1987 to 1991. Um Jack is survived by his wife Diane and their five children. uh continuing her father's legacy of service. His daughter uh Mary Brandt Heinman currently serves as our vice chair of our parks and recreation tree advisory board. Our condolences to that family. Recently, Rich Kramer last week um my neighbor passed away. Rich uh probably has been in the city since the late 1970s. Um he would reminisce about uh coming out to his u grandfather's place where he lives currently now uh telling us a lot of stories of of the old days and so forth and so on. So well when his grandfather died he bought that his place on Lark and Williams there. Bridge served on the planning and zoning commission from 1992 to 1997. He also served on our building code commission, which not many people realized we had back in 1998. He was also uh a temporary part-time commercial plumber inspector for the

city of Fenton when we had our own inspecting. Rich uh is the owner of one of the oldest uh plumbing establishments in the city of St. Louis, Guer Plumbing, uh which has been around since 1925. So he was uh pretty pretty versed in the plumbing and therefore had that commission. Um and his final service to the city was back in 19 or I'm sorry 2016 where he served as an industrial development authority on that commission. So our condolences go out to Rich and his family and uh thank you for the time. Uh we're going to go then to the approval of the minutes. Reading of the minutes is waved since copies were given to board members in advance of the meeting and made available to the general public. First up is the December 18th special meeting of the board of alderman. Alderman Brightcheft.

Yes. If there aren't any objections or changes, I make a motion accept the minutes. Second. Alderman Hules. I'll second. We have a motion by Brit. Second by Hules. Do we have further discussion? All in favor? I one abstension. Did you get that Jane? Alderman Mazerang. All right, we're going to move then to uh the December 18th board of alderman meeting. Alderman Whisbrock. If there's no changes, corrections, I would make that motion. Okay. Need Alman Jokers. Second. A motion by Whisbrock. Second by Jokers. Do we have further discussion? All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. One abstension.

We'll go to the January 8th board of alderman committee meeting. Need a motion. Alderman Whisbreak. If there's no changes or corrections, I would make that motion. Alman Mazerang, I'll second. Motion by Whisbrock, second by Mazerang. Further discussion. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Next is the approval of the warrants. The term warrant is used in state statute and by definition means invoices or bills submitted for payment of goods or services from external sources. Alderman Whisbreck. Uh, first I would make that motion for approval. I do have we need a second. Alderman Brit second.

Okay, we have a motion by Whisbrock, second by Bright Shaft. Further discussion.

Further discussion. So, uh, I did have a couple items that I did ask questions on. Um, so the first one was on page three, Lorenzan Associates. It's the roof repair at the YMCA. So, it's 525. So, they did do some work while they were up there. Got clarification on that because I thought we approved a much larger invo or a much larger uh repair than $525. So, I did ask a question on that um and got that clarification. Um, and then the other one I guess for Nikki. Uh, so if you look on page seven, so it's for Ingle Meyer and I know it's but I guess they uh they're catching up billing October, November, December.

Yes. So they I thought we used to because I looked back at a couple older ones and they were billing like monthly. Yes. and then and kind of stopped and then towards the end of the year we let them know they have to get everything in because we have to close out the end of the year. Okay. I just I had asked a question as well. Um there were a bunch of um December top cares. So I spoke with Dan and just for the record that's just when the bills came in. They weren't cutting the grass in December. Just good deal. Okay. So we have a motion and a second. Further discussion. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Public comments.

I have no public comments. No public comments. I don't see anyone on Zoom. Nobody in the audience. Okay. We're going to move then to the planning and zoning commission report. Alderman Herald. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, tonight we have no announcements from planning and zoning. We have no public hearings. Um, other recommendations from planning and zoning. We have an ordinance approving a final subdivision plat for Gravoy Bluffs Plat 14. This will be considered under new bills. Um I see Mr. Applebomb is here. Would do you have it? Would you like to speak on this before we go? Okay. Okay. That's all I have.

Thank you. We're going to move then Parks and Recreation Tree Advisory Board. Alderman Hules.

Thank you, sir. Announcements from the Park and Recreation Committee Tree Advisory Board. The January 5th, 2026 meeting was canceled. Recommendations from the park and recreation committee tree advisory board. None. Other items from park and recreation. An ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute a city contractor agreement with Legacy Codings LLC for sand blasting painting of the outdoor pools and resurfacing of the indoor and outdoor pool slides, stairs, and sports. This will be considered under new bills. Approval of a quote from Lorenz and Associates to repair the roof at Riverchase YMCA under the city's small public works contract. This requires a motion and make that motion. Okay. Alderman Jokers. We have a motion by Hill, second by Jokers. We have further discussion. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries.

Approval of a quote from Ideal Play and Surfacing, Inc. for inspection of the city's playgrounds, including impact attenuation testing under the city's professional service contract. This also requires a motion. I'd make that motion. Second. Second. Motion by Hughes, second by Herold. Further discussion? All in favor? I. And I do have one more item just to add. I don't know if anyone's gotten a chance to see it, but the new sign is up at Riverchase with the uh YMCA and City of Fenton logo. They replace the the uh electronic one, and it it looks really nice. That's all I have. I saw that tonight. It looks very good. All I have.

All right, then we're going to move to the mayor's report. Uh under the mayor's report, the reappointment of Gary Johnson, Ward One, to the parks and recreation Tree Advisory Board. I need a motion for that. Alderman Britsh. I would make that motion. Need a second. Alderman Whisbrock. Second. We have a motion by Brit, a second by Whisbrock. Do we have further discussion? All in favor? I opposed. Motion counter. Motion passes. A mere appointment of Jennifer Mueller, Ward 2, to the parks and recreation Tree Advisory Board. Need a Alman Herrell. I will make that motion. Okay, we need a second. Alman Whisbrock. Second. Motion by Harold, second by Whisbrock. Further discussion. All in favor? I

opposed. Motion carries. The reappoint of Thomas Burn Byron Ward three, the parks and recreation tree advisory board. Alderman Hules. I'll make that motion. Okay, we need Alderman Jokers. I'll second. Motion by Hules, second by Jokers. Further discussion. All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Next would be the appointment of Jay Erenss ward 4 to the parks and recreation Tree Advisory Board. Alderman Jokers. I'll make that a motion. Alderman Mazerang. I'll second. Motion by uh I'm sorry. Motion by Susan Jokers, a second by Mazerang. Do we have further discussion? All in favor?

Opposed? Motion carries. Uh still looking for an appointment to Ward three if anybody has one. All right. City clerk's report. I have nothing to report. All right. We're going to move then to the reports from the standing committees. First up is Alderman Lang who's not with us this evening. Police municipal courts. Uh, somebody want to take that? Alderman Harold, read that through. Don't think you have too much to do there. We have the big guy with us. Uh, yes. Captain, can I ask you to come up and give your monthly report? The big guy.

Good evening, everyone. Uh, I just like to go through the report for December 2025 and then if I am allowed, I'd like to just kind of go over some end of end of review um statistics from 2024 uh to 2025. Uh, but first I'll go through the December 2025 uh numbers. calls for service uh in this month, this past month, December, were 670 compared to 696 previous month to 772 December of 2024. Self-initiated assignments uh rose oh 150 from 1419 to,280 last month to 1519 in 2024. arrests did go up um from 32 uh this last month of December to 23 uh November to 20 previous year. Uh DWI arrests increased by one uh for the Fenton officers. We did have one in December, none by us. We did have a highway safety one last month and we had a highway safety one previous year. uh radio calls in the um business districts were 45 where they're actually spot on from December and November 454 compared to 581 year prior. arrest in the district uh business district district 21 versus 23 last month 21 previous traffic citations did go up a little bit 119 December November was 107 compared to a 60 in December of last year or I'm sorry yeah December last year was 60 uh warning tickets 48 to 68 to 21. Uh the stealth stat radar um I know that was down the last couple of months or last couple of my reports. Uh credit cards were reactivated that needed three new batteries uh was the the problem with that. So those

batteries have been ordered are in the new stealth or are in the stealth stat and it was not deployed in December but it is now deployed. So I'll give you that in the January report next month. Uh crime remained pretty consistent. Um with the neighbors crimes against persons, it was really good. We didn't have any crimes against persons in December of 2025, which is cannot get any better than that. Uh property crime, there were some areas that remained the same. There were a couple areas that increased. Uh the big increase was destruction, damage, and vandalism. And with neighbors, we do get two reports. So, we had some car windows broken out and uh some items stolen out of some cars in some of the business districts. Um, so that did rise uh our property crime a little bit. Uh crimes against society. Um the only rise the big rise there was uh drug narcotics violations and again I attribute that that to proactive policing. Um we got a couple people with lararsenies that did have drugs on them also. So again, we uh get a lararseny number out of that. Plus, if it's a male and a female, which a couple of these were, we get two drug uh arrests out of that as well as far as knivers goes. So we had we had five of those in December as compared to zero last month. Um,

as far as 2024 compared to uh 2025 numbers, uh, I know countywide, we saw a decrease in crime. Uh, we didn't we had a a small increase here with a couple things, and I'll explain that. Um, we'll start off with crimes against persons. There's different categories here. There's homicide, kidnapping, forcible sex offenses. We have a lot of aggravated assaults and they're broken down from firearm to a knife or a cutting instrument. Other dangerous weapon that could be a bottle, a bat, um anything other than a firearm or a cutting instrument. Then we have aggra aggravated assault which uh includes hands, fist, feet where there's um kind of a major injury versus a minor injury uh like the simple assault. Then we have intimidation, non-forcable sex offenses and human trafficking. We had an increase. So, our numbers were zero with homicides, kidnappings. Um, we didn't have any of those. Uh, we were negative unforcable sex offenses. We had four in 2024. We didn't have any in 2025. Therefore, we had a 100% reduction in that. Um, we were even five and five with aggravated assaults with firearms. I know we had a couple of road raid I can't even speak English. Road rage incidents um that involved firearms. Nobody was injured in those. They were just flourished. However, that remained cons constant at zero. Um the aggravated assault with a knife or a cutting instrument. Um we didn't have any of those in 2025. We had two in 2024. So there was a huge reduction in that. Uh the other dangerous weapon. We had a 66% increase in that and we had a 57% increase in simple assault. And those sound like huge increases which ultimately raised our number to 9%. Um so when we're talking about the sample

size with this the aggravated assault with an other dangerous weapon. In 2024 we had six incidents and then in 2025 we had 10. Um then with the just simple assault could be a domestic just couple people hitting each other. um that rose uh we had 19 of those in 2024 and 30 in 2025. So the sample size of those is so small that you go one direction low or high and it really increases our numbers. So I hate statistics. I was horrible at it in college and today I still hate statistics but I guess the numbers are the numbers. Um crimes against property you saw I won't bore you with all the statistics here. robberies, arson, burglaries, autothefts, shopliftings, um fraud, deceptions, destruction of properties. We saw an almost 9% decrease in those. And the only category in all of those that had a a raise or a rise was shoplifting. And that was 127 incidents 2024 to 139 in uh 2025. So, we had a 9% decrease. Some of these were zeros. There's a lot of robberies were zeros. Robbery with a knife was zeros. Um, robbery with all of our robberies were were we didn't have any. We had we had one strong armed strong armed robbery. Um, crimes against society, that's the last neighbors category. Um and that showed an increase of 20% and that was just for the um drugs and narcotics saw a 77.8% increase in drugs and again the numbers are 9 versus 16 from 2024 to 2025. Uh drug paraphernalia was a negative 20% that was a reduction. weapon law

violations. That was a 60% decrease in animal cruelty was a 60% decrease. There was an increase by two. We went from zero to two with pornography or obscene literature and um objects. And that was contributed to our uh special investigations unit served a couple warrants, search warrants uh towards the end of the year in 2025 where they did search warrants on some houses with uh um pornography in them. of child pornography. Any questions? Don't think so. It's a lot. If you have any questions, please let me know. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. Thank you.

Next, we have the MU municipal division summary reporting form that attached in your packet. And then in addition to that we had we have an oh total disbursement dispersements was $19,993 and beyond that we have the an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute a fourth amendment to the memorandum of understanding with gravoy bluffs transportation development district relating to license plate readers and this will be considered under new bill and that That is all I have.

All right. Thank you. We're going to move then to uh Alderman Hules. Personnel. Thank you, sir. I just have the monthly update prepared by our city clerk, Jane Hungler. The city is currently advertising for the following open positions. Public works department maintenance worker one, maintenance worker two, maintenance worker three, maintenance worker seasonal, and parks and recreation department, recreation supervisor, sports and rentals, and athletic field ground maintenance worker. That's all I have this evening. Thank you, ma'am. We're going to move then to community development and affairs. Alderman Rogers with his absence. Um, Alderman Brightchef.

Sure. Thank you, Mayor, Mr. Mayor. Um, so we have the monthly update for community development and affairs, uh, which presented by Amy Stark, our community development director. Uh, new businesses during the month of December in 2025 were as follows. Um, Above and Beyond Wellness, 50 Fenton Plaza, it's a massage therapy and wellness treatment facility. Fleetway Sales LLC at 1600 Headland Drive, uh, administrative offices for equipment sales. Tender Hearts Child Therapy Center at 558 Gravo Road, Sweet L102, uh, is a mental health counseling um, facility and that's an expansion of an existing business. Neighborly at 1564 Fen Corp Drive, the property service contractor. Um the next item would be the approval of the gift cards in lie of the 2026 appreciation dinner as discussed at our January 8th committee meeting and it takes a motion to approve this and I would make that motion.

Okay. Alman jokers. I'll second. We have a motion by Bright Shaft, a second by Jokers. Do we have further discussion? All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. And the last we have is um approval for our police officer Dilks to distribute the bicycles donated from Waste Connections as discussed at our January 8th committee meeting. And officer Dils, thanks again for volunteering so wonderfully. Um I'd make that motion. Okay. Alderman Mazering. I'll second.

Okay. We have a motion by Bright Shaft, second by Mazerang. Do we have further discussion? Uh, I want to thank Waste Connections uh for their generosity and I think we should send a letter to them under the mayor and board's uh signatures if we could please. Okay. Yeah, thanks Aaron. He wasn't paying attention. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. That concludes community development and affairs, sir. Yes. All right. We're going to move to Alderman Mazarang under capital improvements.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Tonight, I have the uh monthly report prepared by public works director Dan Howard. The 2026 concrete slab replacement program has started. Work for 2026 will include the com final completion of a few slabs on Cassin's Drive, Ocelo Drive, Fen Cororp Drive, and San Simeon subdivision. The stair replacement project at Budwe and and the Fabic Nature Preserve is ongoing. The stairs have been poured but still require power washing and sealing. Gateway Tree Care and St. Louis Tree Service are removing dead or diseased trees in the park system in the city's rightway. Installation of the players bench coverings is continuing at the softball fields at Fenton City Park. The following bids are currently active. Concrete repair replacement through the parks and field leveling services and attaches the copy of the expenditure to the capital projects through November 30th. Uh the uh next item is approval to apply for a storm water grant through the Metropolitan Sewer District for the Fen Park Drive storm water project as discussed at the January 8th committee meeting. And that requires a motion. I'll make that motion.

Okay, we need Alman Brech. I would second. Motion by Mazing, second by Brit. We have further discussion. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. That's all I have tonight, Mr. Mayor.

Thank you, sir. We're going to move then to Alderman Brit with public works forestry. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, this evening we have the monthly update for um December um from Dan Howard, our director of public work. Works continues on invasive species removal at a Fabric Nature Preserve and as time allows, work continues to clear the Fabric N nature preserve overlook area and a shoreline around the upper Fabric Lake. Um, and then we have one more item this evening. um an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute a second amendment to the contract with Firetech LLC to renew the contract with 2026 rates and to also remove um the 900 Gregory Lane property from the contract. This will be considered under new bills later this evening. That's all I have, Mr. Mayor.

All right. Thank you, sir. If you haven't had a chance, uh you you owe it to yourself to go up to the Fabic property and look at the work that's being done. I know the two ladies on this end have and it's getting restored to the way that it used to be when the Fabic own the property and uh I think will really save our forest. A lot of the vines and stuff are exposed now and you can see the damage that the the invasive honeysuckle and the the the vines have done to our our pristine forest. So hopefully we'll get that back. All right, we're going to move then to the information services. Alderman Harold as chair.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Tonight in front of you, you have a memo from Nikki Fininkbinder, city administrator. Uh information services monthly update per ENT. Below are notes of open service tickets and ongoing projects and sales. Open service tickets. We have critical network element offline. Conc concession stand is offline. Typically, this has been a power outage and requires the UPS to be powered back on. Open projects, we have firewall replacements in the planning phase. And open sales, we have Fabic restroom, camera, and cellular gateway quoted pending approval by the board. And we have PC refresh cycle and tech plan project is in the 2026 budget. and your December service ticket report is attached. And that is all I have.

Thank you, sir. We're going to move then to finance. Alderman Whisbrook.

Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh first item of tonight is the monthly financial update as of November 2025. Our a sales tax summary generated $517,987. Redistribution was $296,65 or 57.2%. Bool sales tax generated $34,540. Redistribution was $115,67 or 37.8%. Combined, total generation was $822,527. Redistribution was $411,132 or 50%. If we skip to the back, uh, total cash and investments for all accounts, 29,553,755. That's all I got tonight, Mr. Mayor.

Thank you, sir. We're going to move then to Alderman Joker's health and safety. Um, well, all I got is thin ice signs have been placed at the city lakes and ponds, and that's all I got. Okay. Thank you so much. Um, we are now going to move to consideration of pending bills. We have no pending bills. We'll move then to consideration of new bills. Um, the copies of these bills have been made available to the public. They're in the back in advance of the meeting. Uh, city attorney, I know you're not feeling up to par. Uh, are you able to read or would you like for one of us to to take that?

I can read as long as you can hear me. All right, we can hear you. Ready? Aaron, please. First reading bill 26-01, an ordinance approving a final subdivision plaid for Grace Bluff Plat 14. At this time, I'd like to seek a waiver of the rules for a second reading. Alderman Brit, I would second. Mr. Motion by Harold, second by Brit. Further discussion? All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Second reading of bill 26-01, which if enacted will become ordinance 4612, an ordinance approving a final subdivision plat for Gravo Plus plat 14.

At this time, I would like to make a motion for bill 2601 to become ordinance 4612. Okay. Alderman Wizrock. Second. We have a motion by Harold, second by Wizrock. Do we have further discussion? All in favor? Opposed? I'm sorry. Alderman Harrell. Hi. Alderman Whisper. Hi. Alderman Brightchef. Hi. Alderwoman Hills. Hi. Alderwoman Joker. Hi. Alder Mazerang. I. Motion carries. Erin, if you would please.

First reading a bill 26-02, an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute a city contractor agreement with Legacy Codings LLC for sand blasting, painting of the outdoor pools, and resurfacing of the indoor and outdoor slide stairs and supports. I'd like to make a motion to seek waiver of the rules for a second reading. Alman Mazerang. I'll second it. Motion by Hule, second by Mazar. Further discussion. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries.

Second reading of bill 26-02, which if enacted will come ordinance 4613, an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute a city contractor agreement with Legacy Codings LLC for sand blasting, painting of the outdoor pools, and resurfacing of the indoor and outdoor slide stairs and supports. I'd like to make a motion that bill 26-02 become ordinance 4613. Okay, we need a sec. Alderman Whisbreck. Second. Motion by Hu, second by Whisbrock. We have further discussion. Roll call, please. Alderwoman Hills. Hi. Alman Westbrook. Hi. Alderman Harrell. I. Alderwoman Jokers. Hi. Alderman Mazarang. Hi. Alderman Brightf. Hi. Motion carries.

Alderman Harrell, would you like to sponsor the next in the absence of Alderman Lang? Aaron, please. Yes. First reading of bill 26-03, an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute a fourth amendment to the memorandum of understanding with the Gravo Bluffs Transportation Development District relating to license plate readers. At this time, I'd like to seek a waiver of the rules for a second reading. Alderman Jokers. I'll second. A motion by Herold, second by Jokers. Do we have further discussion? All in favor?

I oppose. Motion carries. Second reading of bill 26-03, which if enacted would come ordinance 4614, an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute a fourth amendment to the memorandum of understanding with the Gravo Bluff Transportation Development District relating to license plate readers. Uh at this time, I'd like to make a motion that bill 2603 become ordinance 46-. Okay. Alman Hills, a second. We have a motion by Harold, a second by Hills. Do we have further discussion? Roll call, please. Alderman Harrell. Hi. Alderwoman Hills. Hi. Alderwoman Jokers. Hi. Alderman Mazerang. Hi. Alderman Bright Shaft. Hi. Alen Whisper. I. Motion carries.

Aaron, please. First reading of bill 26-04, an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute a second amendment to the contract with Firetech LLC to renew the contract with 2026 rates and remove 900 Gregory Lane from the contract. At this time, I'll make a motion to wave the rules for a second reading this evening, please. Okay. We need a second. Alderman Whisbrock. Second. Motion by Bright, second by Whisbrock. Further discussion. All in I'm sorry. Go ahead. All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries.

Second reading of bill 26-04, which if enacted become ordinance 4615, an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute a second amendment to the contract with Firetech LLC to renew the contract with 2026 rates and remove 900 Gregory Lane from the contract. At this time, I'd like to make a motion that bill number 26-04 would become ordinance number 4615, please. Okay, we need a second. I will second. We have a motion by Bright Shaft, a second by Harold. Do we have further discussion? May I have a roll call, please? Alderman Brit, I. Alderman Harold, I. Alderman Westbrook, I. Alderwoman Hills. Alderwoman Hills. Hi, Alder Mazerang.

Hi. Alderwoman Jokers. I motion carries. That's it. I'm not aware of any executive session. There is no executive session. Motion to adjurnn. Need a second. Alderman Whisbrock. Second. Motion by Hill. Second by Wizrock. Further discussion. All in favor? I opposed. Stay stay warm. Erin, I hope you feel better. Thank you so much. Sorry I missed you guys. Wow. Stay safe out there.