Board of Aldermen - Regular Meeting

You're getting better. All right. Good evening everyone and welcome to the city of Fenton board committee meeting for Thursday, April the 9th. We'll begin with the pledge of allegiance. If everyone would please rise and join us. City clerk, may I have a roll call, please? Alderman Lang here. Alderman Brightf here. Alderman Harold here. Alderman Rogers here. Alderwoman Hills here. Alderwoman Joker. Alderman Maserang here. Alden West excused absence. Seven for the quorum.

Thank you, ma'am. Uh, I'm going to forego the mayor's comments. Uh, we have a rather lengthy agenda, but the attorney would like to make some comments at this time.

Uh, yes. For the record, technically the agenda was amended with less than 24 hours notice because the planning and zoning meeting was literally last night um due to the election. So, we had no way of knowing what the planning and zoning commission would actually recommend forward to this board. However, on the agenda, we did put notice that the agenda would be updated as well as a link to the planning and zoning agenda to give the public notice of any items that could possibly be forwarded. Therefore, we do believe we gave sufficient notice to the public. Um, but I would ask for a motion to find that there was good cause, including for the reasons I just stated to amend the agenda for less than 24 hours notice. Need a motion. Alderman Harrell, I'll make that motion. We need a second. Alderman Rogers,

I'll second. We have a motion by Harold, second by Rogers. We have further discussion. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you, city attorney. Uh, public comments. I do have one request, Kelly Krooks. Kelly, would you like to speak now or when your item comes up on the agenda? Um, you you can have it either way. I would suggest that you make your comments during the agenda item that you you can speak to it as it comes up. Okay. Thank you. I don't see anybody else on Zoom. Anybody in the audience? Uh, Alderman Hules, I'd like to make a motion to move miscellaneous to the top of the agenda. Alderman Mazerang,

I'll second it. We have a motion by second by Mazerang. We're going to rearrange the agenda this evening to accommodate some of our guests. So we need all in favor. Opposed. Motion carries. The first item that we'd like to consider under miscellaneous and there are copies of the agenda on the table in the back along with other information is the consideration of employee benefit renewals for 2026 and 27 is provided by Daniel and Henry Company. As you may recall, they were with us uh the last committee meeting and gave us some information. June, if you'd like. Appreciate it.

Good evening. I'm June Evers from the Daniel and Henry Company. Um as the mayor stated, I was here last week and presented the city's employee benefits renewals for medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and the employee assistance program. I am here again this evening to answer any further questions and to get the decision on these June 1st renewals. Okay. Who wants to uh handle that? Nikki, you want to help? Yeah. Um I know we did receive one one question that was sent out to the board uh via email regarding how the risk is determined and we did not receive any other questions from the board.

Okay. So what we discussed the or we actually had a uh a meeting uh with a company for the ICRC uh I'm sorry IC H IC Rha Okay. Yeah. So our discussion last week was we're going to look at that again next year. Is there sufficient information that was the statement that was made during that is that that for not this year but to possibly look at that for next year as a as another option. That is a because that is a plan where the employees would just obtain their own insurance through the um American sorry the the ACA.

All right. Well, do we have any further questions? What plan do we want to work with? Um, I thought that we had kind of looked at the two. The current was the 2500 with the 5,000 and 100% after that. And then the other one was a little bit less, but it was the 3500 and 7,000 also paying the 100% after the deductible is satisfied. So those were the two. One was a I don't have it in front of me. One was a 21% and what you

have it in front of you. So, the original Anthem renewal came in at 31.14%. I was able to negotiate 2.62 relief, bringing it down to 28.52%. However, I presented some alternate plan options. Um, the one that we were specifically looking at would increase the individual deductible by $1,000, bringing it up to $3500, the family deductible from 5,000 to 7,000. Um, and it comes in at a 21 um% increase.

N, have you had a chance to discuss this with employees at all? As far as discussion, um I have not because the this would remain the same plan. The only difference would be the it would be a higher either plan that you choose would be a higher deductible. Currently, we're at 255,000 I believe. Yes.

And the next step up would put the deductible at 357,000 um for family individual 3500. And the the one that comes in at the 14.2 would make the um individual deductible at 5,000 and the family at 10,000. But it would be the same plan that we're currently on there. And we were able to pull it up on the I can

the 10 seem a little high for the 10 seems a lot. 5,000 also seems a lot for individual with the we're we're talking lower salaries. You know, the salaries, you know, these employees that were for the most part are 5,000 I think would be a bit of a hardship to be honest. So, I think that the 3500 Well, that's that's back to where we were. We're currently at the 2500 5,000. Yeah. Is that the negotiated one?

Oh, I thought that that was the prior one. Yep. No, the negotiated is the 21.55 increase from this year. Um, we did budget for Yeah. And the very front don't have the but yes is the existing at the very front is what we have currently um which came in at 28.52 and the board did budget for 25% for this year.

I just I I do think that 2500 deductible with a 5,000 for family that that's that's obtainable for the majority of our employees. So, if if I'm reading this right, maybe you can answer this. The negotiated premium is basically per employee what the city would be paying. Correct. No, it's well the negotiated premium is what they're showing on Do you have the or I don't know if the mouse shows up show up on here talking about right

that is what the increase would be over what you're paying currently at 20. It'd be a 28.52% increase annually over what you're currently paying. $58,000. I know. But I'm talking about the first row across. Is that the basically what the city is paying per employee? Yes. Per employee. This is what you're paying. So it's going from um 617 per employee to um 793. Okay. But so then if we went with the with the 5,000 10,000 a city be paying 646 per employee or the 3500 to7,000 is 678 per employee. Correct.

I'm reading that correct. So you would be going to 750 versus 67. All right. No, no, she's this year. This year she will be in 65 next year. So basically we're talking per employee. If we go from the 2500 5,000 to the 35007,000, we're going from 793 per employee down to 678 per employee. Correct. So we're talking about what? $110 savings per employee.

Sorry, you'd have to repeat the question. And I was trying to find me on the somebody online. So if we went from the 25005,000 we're paying 793 per employee. Mhm. And then or we would be and then if we went up to the 35007,000 we'd be paying 678 per employee. No middle the middle. No 750. The 750 this one over here. Okay. 750. So it's a $14,000 difference overall for the year.

Overall for the year. But it's it's per employee. We're saving about 43 bucks per employee then. Okay. And the 2500 5,000 is what we currently have, right? And

we need action on this pretty quick, correct? Because you need to get in for renewals. So, is anybody where where is it? I mean, I'll make a motion if you want, but is anybody else falling on the others plans or what are you guys thinking? Nikki, what was your suggestion last week? The suggestion is is if you wanted if you're not wanting to do the renewal knowing it's at 28.52, the suggestion was you look at the last two plans because they're at the 100% because the 80% if it it's a cost savings, but that means that you're only 80% covered once you've hit your max.

Oh, so the Oh, so not the So we'd want to look at the lab too. Only 80% plan 17. Yes. even though it's a smaller deductible. Okay, I'm I'm going to just throw it out there for the $43 roughly savings per employee. Um I think it's a kind of a burden to put on them to come up with another $1,000 for the individual or another 2,000 for the family. Which plan are you looking at? But this is only 80% covered. That's what they're saying. So if you look at plan four is plan four is where we're currently at,

right? or plan eight or plan currently at the last two right here. This Yeah. So, this is not an option. I think you would go with the 100. Yeah. This is our current plan. If you stay with this and you approve this, it would be a 28.52% increase from this from this year. Everybody's got to have if you the other two plans we were suggesting if you want to look at the other plans would be the two down here because again the big difference is where it says here it says co insurance they're 100%. The two in the middle they're at 80%. Right. We don't want those. The last column is the one I think everybody was leaning towards last.

Yeah I I think we try I think is everybody's got skin in the game unfortunately. you know, no fault to anybody. You know, 28% it's really hard to Yeah, I I would say we go with the last plan, the 35007,000. I'll make a motion that we go with plan 17, which is the 35007,000 with 100% coverage after that. Okay, we need a second. Alderman Lang, I'll second. We have a motion by Huels, a second by Lang. Now, this will be on the next board meeting. So, there will be further time for everybody to look at this again. And if you change your mind, then we can obviously do that at the board meeting.

Yes. And these will be approved by ordinance. I'm sorry. This will be approved by ordinance. It will be approved by ordinance. So, you have till the end of the month to look over it again if you want to reconsider. So, we have a motion, a second. We have any further discussion? All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Thanks, Jane. And then I'm sorry that um that wasn't we still had the other items that were on there such as and I think everyone agreed that we will move over to Mutual of Omaha for the cost saving. Yeah. And then stay with the stay with allowing Daniel and Henry every year to file at the $5 per um I think the $5 per form that they that they've done for us in the past and also using the navigator which is free of cost.

Yes, that too. That's all in my motion. Okay. And oh and staying with H&H with the cost reduction of 10,000. Yes, this will but I will mention is that yeah I understand that we would have time for further discussion but we're I think you said we have to have something in by April 30th. Um and this has to be approved by motion so that or it has to be approved by ordinance that night. So if there is a change that's something that would definitely need to be discussed in advance. I'm waffling. Hey, speak real loud in there.

I'm waffling between four and 17 because I think $4,000 more a year with the gas prices, food prices, everything going up, that's that is a lot. Okay. So, all in favor? I I opposed. I think I said that already. We'll make it a double. All right. Thank you for your that all you have. Thank you. Thank you. All right. We're going to move then under miscellaneous to consideration of a request by Burn and Jones uh to utilize code L for the new playground construction in Budwe Park. Dan, you want to address this? And I know you have a guest with you.

Yeah, Doug Higs with uh Vernon Jones is here also to answer any questions you have. As you all know, we were kind of hung up by St. Louis County on getting our permits to get started on this project for the uh playgrounds. Since then we've had excessive rainfalls, 11in snows. Um the moisture content in the soils is extremely high, too high to get proper compaction uh to continue with the lifts and the construction of the project. Vernon Jones expect to see there. Vernon Jones has uh has uh proposed incorporating Kodell lime into the soils to aid in the moisture control and the compaction and uh Doug will be able to answer any questions you have about that because I have very very limited experience with the code line.

Would you state your name and address please for the record? Doug Hicks, 5538 Countrywoods Lane, Hillsboro. Okay. explain to us what dilemma what what what we're looking at.

So on this site, it's a west facing slope. First off, that's going to dry slower than most. You have a south facing slope that's optimal. East is second. West and north, you don't want uh put that in in the slope. The material in that has a high plasticity, which means that it's going to hold that moisture a lot longer in that that material. So the Kodell itself would take out and you also have a problem getting compaction with that plasticity. Also the Kodell itself takes out some of that moisture, helps with the compaction also. Your optimal moisture out there from Holland Engineering who we had do the soils testing out there and they're also doing the compaction testing. Your optimal moisture is 14%. Right now we're running at 25% out there after us spending tens of thousands of dollars opening it up every time the sun was out and we had that good weather where it was 85 degrees for a week left it open that entire week. After all of that it came down two degrees 2% came down to 22 to 23% of moisture. Now, with a 5 ton sheep's foot roller, we're able to barely get the compaction that we need, but you got to have that moisture down. Also, for that, we have a sixoot lift, 6 and 1/2 ft lift that we have fill that we got to make. We'll be making that in six different lifts to make that fill. We can accomplish this in less than one load of the Kodell and in less than three days with the right weather. So we wouldn't even attempt it, wouldn't look at it until we had the right three dates to do it. But without it, we could be into July, August if you're want to wait for it to dry out because that plastic will hold that moisture and not let it go.

Um question. So was I felt like we were in a drought for a while here. Is there some other issue? Could there be I I just don't It kind of surprises me that it's taking this long just because we were pretty much in a drought, you know, for a while here. That affects the top layer, but I did a rock test pit out there. Actually, seven rock test pits out there just to see if there was going to be rock because we saw it up on the top left of the construction site and I wanted to uh let you everyone know if we were going to run into the rock. Luckily, that's the only spot with the rock. It's up on the top left, but we dug down seven foot in several places. It's just that high plastic just moist all the way down.

Thank you. So, what exactly like code lime like lime I do think is a natural? It is,

but you know, so I was just wondering what is there an environmental impact? Is there leeching into you know like that amount of lime? What? No, once it's incorporated into the soil, which it'll be incorporated in with the teeth of a a high lift, bigger tractor with a bunch of the teeth and everything on the bucket. I don't know what it is or not, and then incorporating that in back and forth up and down until it mixes in with it. It takes that plasticity out, makes it a lot harder. Once we get those lifts in, it's never coming out. That line's never coming out.

Okay? because that would be my other uh concern because I I way back when like if it was too cold than if you did this to concrete and it just it never was as good. So my fear or concern is that if we're just kind of like okay we want this to happen faster so let's just throw some lime on it and make it work and it's not a quick fix that could fall apart. I mean, it's costing me nothing right now to wait. And if that was the right thing for the job, I would want to wait. Want to do this now so that we can get this in. Okay. So, what happens if you put the lime down and we get a whole bunch of rain?

I didn't do my job. That's wait for the right weather window. Get it. If popup storm was coming, whatever, you just cover it up with dirt so it can't hit it. Rain washes off. You uncover it cost you money. But oh, sorry about that. I could I didn't know you couldn't hear me. Sorry. So, the short you would just cover it with dirt and just wait for that to pass. Wait for it to dry out again. Uncover it. Cover it. It would cost me more to do all that. But we wouldn't have that.

Okay. So to be clear to maybe to clarify with Susan here, the lime is just all the dust from crushing the limestone when they So the white rock you see everywhere. It's just the byproduct of that pulverization and you incor So it's a natural product incorporated into the dirt. It's it's burnt lime though, isn't it? They It's kil drying. Yeah. Yeah. But it chemically changes it so it bonds with moisture and creates like carbonate. Even rock has moisture in it. So it's one. So this is a cost over $10,000. Correct. Correct.

Did we Did we do core samples when we did that? That wouldn't detect that plasticity. Plastic soil. We knew that it had plasticity. Well, we did core samples, right? So we kind of knew that. I'm just I'm just a little confus. So, how long do we wait if we don't want to do the the lime? How long do we wait? I know we can't predict the weather, but I wouldn't even try it again until July

until it was baking. I wouldn't even try it. And then even then that might be throwing bad money after good. And if we have another uh gully washer, I mean that could just erode what

Well, they well they cover it up and then they'll make uncover it and get down there. But um yeah, I I mean I've seen this done before and I I mean are we in a real big hurry for another $10,000? We can put $10,000 more into the playground. We haven't had a playground up there for so many years, you know. question I have is um if if we do this move forward everything what's the estimated completion point from that point we might be past the season for the playground anyway we did if we do the Kodell and you move at full speed are we going to be done in July August September when do you think late May

I'm sorry late May oh late May if we did it next week which we wouldn't because the forecast is showing rain Yeah. Yeah. Right. I was gonna plate my Alderman Brightche.

Yeah. So, um I was hellbent on no when I first heard this proposal from your company. Um I was in construction myself. Usually, if we had a problem on a job site, I would call my boss and say, "Hey, I got to get trucks in and out of here. I either need rock or I need lime." And we'd suck it up and we'd do it. Okay. That's that's old school stuff. Then after reading your email chain with Dan going back to January 3rd, I felt a little better about your due diligence to try to make this happen. Okay. So, but I'm not I'm not there yet. My question was when you took the grass off and you started your knifing and and whatever you needed to get it down to your grade at that point, you knew what that soil was. That was back in January. So, I wondered if if we knew that in January, why why didn't why wasn't it brought up then? I think you would have had a little better um uh feeling from us on yes, we're going to spend another 10 grand like because it was unforeseen at the time. You know, to me a contingency is used if I run into a sewer line or an old foundation that I got to remove, those kind of things, right? Um unforeseen things. But when you took that grass off, you knew what that soil was, not even thinking about cing. Um, that was right there in front of you and nothing was said then. Um, so it kind of bothers me waited this long and you spent a lot of money too, right? and

trying and and and I have I got residents that that were really that brought this proposal forward years ago and now their kids are going to be in high school before it's even done. But anyway, that's uh well, beside the point, but um

I just thought that if you'd have brought it up earlier and said, "Okay, this this is like an unforeseen thing then, now you've known about it, you'd use up a lot of time." And again, what what Jimmy said about the drought, I've seen four days in a row now where the wind's been blowing 30 miles an hour and the sun's been beating on it and it made me think that mater's where's the water and why is it not drying up? But and Terry though, if you look at the emails, he did bring it up and and it was the city that said we were not ready to go with Kodell in February. And

so we were the ones that were saying we're not quite ready there. So it looks like he brought it up, but we were like, "We're not ready. Let's see what the weather will do." And I wanted to try from the beginning. If that was the first thing I did whenever I stripped that and I came to you, I would be skeptical of me for not trying to dry it out and methods that we've used in the past to dry it out. If that was my first thing to come to you and say I want more money just because it has elasticity in it in it without trying if I were you I would trust me less. I did my due diligence went through all the processes and this is where we end up.

Uh so try to clarify for me. I don't have the drawing in front of me. Where is this lift? This is the lower part of the hill. Correct. And so you have to cut in a footing. Get your footing in there and then and so you're moving the dirt from the higher part to the lower largely. Exactly. We have cuts on what the higher part and then fills on the lower. Right.

About six to six and a half foot at the most. Um, I'm not a soil engineer, but I have worked with lime and and what I've found is from a fill, even if we waited for it to dry out, um, it might be less. It may be okay by the by the code, but it's not going to be as good as if you put the lime in it, it turns into concrete just about. It turns really hard and it's very durable at that point. So, that's why I say once you put it in, it's in there. It's changed the composition. get the rain on it before you put in your next lift.

Yeah. So, I I kind of agree with Terry when I first saw this like, you know, this is kind of early in the game to be calling on a contingency, but I honestly believe that it would be a better product than the final say to have the lime in there on the fill. Well, our worst case scenario is not putting it in, having too high a moisture in there. If we wouldn't have done all the tests that we did, made all of our fills, put in the concrete curb, our brand new play system in in six years, we have a slope slump out there. Why didn't we do something? Mr. Lang,

yeah. had to piggyback on what Bruce said. Uh, so a couple years ago I put a pool in at my house and I did all the final grading and my concrete guy actually highly recommended that I back fill around all my I had a slope around all my concrete work with u with minus basically that's limestone with the uh dust in it and I back filled and packed that all in and then put my my top soil on top of that for a better product and it nothing has moved and that's really the it does make a for a better product with the soil I think as far as um movement and compaction and thing. Alman Lang,

just comment. You know, I was skeptical, but after conversation and kind of Bruce's last comments about it making it better for the future, I would worry about that hill if we didn't do it now, just because of how long it's taking a even after it's done, future issues. So, I would be for it, even though I wasn't, just to make sure that we don't have more issues in the future. But I think the what you're looking to do is hurry hurry the drying time up. that that's really all you're doing.

Well, we're hurrying the drying time up and the drying time itself, we don't know if it ever will get there to that 14%. We haven't even had it. We I'm sorry. We haven't had it close to the 14% yet with 85 degrees and sunny with the wind out there. So, with that, I don't know that it I Dan, have you you know, does staff have any recommendations? Uh, you know, I mean, this a half a million dollar playground that we're putting in. Um, and 10,000 seems like an awful lot of lime. Wow.

The labor. What about I mean I have some experience with this because the company next door to our shop put lime down and that lime blew and etched every 20 cars on the lot and they had to pay to have new paint or buffed out. So we got to watch those safeguards. I mean I guess what it comes down to is how fast we want to get this playground completed. Um, yes, they did come to us back in February and at that time in the middle of wintertime, more snow, rain, I was not willing to approve a $10,000 change, our contingent.

So, they did come to us early on. Um, but I guess it comes down to how fast we want to get this completed. It's also not just how fast, but it's not just how fast. It's also more stability on that. It'll be Yeah. It'll be a more solid Yeah. ground that we're building this half a million dollar playground on versus you know why build a half a million million dollar playground on crap you don't want to do that right Jeff

okay so I'm not against doing I want it done right and I want it to last bottom line um but but and if it means we we do this well then I think we should do it too um but I have another question job related Um, we took out and you gave us a credit for the retaining wall. Correct. That's what that happened pretty quickly after the engineer drawings and the design and all that. I would I'd like to just hear from you why that was removed from the project and if that'll have any any further bearing on any water flow or whatever.

It won't have last question first. They won't have any bearing on the water coming across the playground, anything because there is a swale on the uphill side. It takes it around. We also have drainage within the playground itself or any water rain that would get on it. And why it got taken out and how it got taken out the it was a better design. You can't say anything about that. Well, but initially the the the initial cost,

the sarcastic side of me, and you all know how sarcastic I am, um is that when something's taken out of a contract, I always think you don't get nickel for nickel back. So, I worry about that. Um that something was in there and then once it's approved, then it was taken out. It's like, wait a minute, what what the hell just happened? I could put it back in if it was necessary to begin with. It was. That's my question. But now it's not. I don't believe it was necessary to begin with. It was what the project manager at the time that worked for us thought. Did that come from our engineering Cochran? He was No.

No. It wasn't it like it had to be so high. Yeah. to to to get it level, you were and get the right slope, you had to they were going to put a wall up and a and a railing and a rail, which anything over. We were opposed to that anyway from the very getgo. Be jumping off it or whatever. Motion that we go go for this. Speak speak real. I would like to make a final motion apparently that we go for this just for a more solid uh base to build this expensive playground on. All right. So, we have a motion by Alderman Joker's Alderman Mazerang. Would you second?

I will make a second for the final. All right. Do we have further discussion? Further discussion. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Actually, if it's a final, do we have to do individual or no? No, we're in miscellaneous. We're not in committee. Done. All right. Thank you for your time. Thank you for explaining. Want to make a motion, Alderman Harold, to bring your committee up next. You want to finish? We have to finish miscellaneous. A couple quick ones. Oh, we do have the Okay, we do. Uh what do you want to do? The uh St. Paul consider a request by St. Paul for a temporary liquor license. Alman, I'll just go ahead and make the motion. We do it every year for the tournament. Okay. Alman Mazerang. Alderman Lang

second. Okay, we have a motion by Mazerang, second by Lang. Further discussion? All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries.

Uh, final item is consideration of change order number two under the 226 concrete uh replacement for Fenton City Park contract. I think I know what this is about. I highly recommend that we go forward with this, but Dan will give you a little briefing on that. So, I was asked to look into filling in the area between fields one and field two and then behind field three with concrete. Multiple reasons. It rains. It's a muddy mess. Um the rockets currently there gets onto the field. It is tough to sit on and chairs and now we have baseball tournaments down there on the weekends. A lot of parents setting up tents, chairs. It's kind of a unsafe situation. Um, I had RV Wagner who has a contract for uh the concrete work in the parks gave us a price for it and the price came out to be a little over $88,000 for all of it. Um, but what they did tell me was he was able to get the unit price per square yard lower on this because of the quantity than what he's they're presented to us for the rest of the concrete work around it. Uh go ahead.

I think it's a good idea. Um so my question is do do they look at um moisture content compaction when they do this or they just going to pour a a 6 in slab or what are they going to do? This can be a 4in slab but it will be poured under control conditions that you know as long as it's not 100% saturated frozen or anything like that they I don't allow them to pour on top of that. Okay. Yes. I'm I'm Oh, we have a flooding um town and I'm just I think that we should not be just doing concrete. I think we should do either a permeable surface, a permeable concrete or uh put in u rock. That's what's there now.

That's what's there. Rock. Gravel's there now. gravel's getting it's just oh yeah it's all over into the earth but I still think it should be a permeable surface of some I know that there's concrete there is there's permeable concrete and asphalt but being in a dirt environment with the fields that would be a maintenance nightmare because there's a lot of you have to actually vacuum the concrete and vacuum the asphalt to suck out the pores that allow that permeable surface And with the fields, you got to grade them all the time and or finish them off. You're going to have dust flying. Correct. Alman Hills.

Um, if anybody doesn't have any other questions, do you need a final on this? I don't need No, not necessarily. Well, if I can get a Yeah, because they may start on this next week depending on rain. Okay. I'd like to make a final motion that we go with getting this concreted for safety and aesthetic and everything else that we spoke about. Alderman Lang, I second. We have a motion by Hu, second by Lang. Do we have further discussion? All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Now we'll move, if you would, Mr. Herald, to your planning and zoning planning and zoning report. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. You want to make a motion to move to your

go to that from miscellaneous? Oh, sure. I'll make a motion to go to planning and zoning from miscellaneous. Alderman Britsh. I would second.

We have a motion by Herold, second by Brit. Further discussion. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Tonight we have announcements and plan from planning and zoning commission continued case 2026 SUP3. A petition by Seikko Auto uh limited partnership for special use permit to operate an automobile commercial motor vehicle service facility at 470 South Highway Drive. Property is zone BP3 business park district. And we we have representatives here. Would you like to speak to this or Amy?

We have Mr. Hendley and Mr. Hyel. Uh Amy, you may want to come up and give us a brief overview, please. Sure. Um the Planning and Zoning Commission um voted to continue this case. um they had some uh questions and concerns about uh potential traffic impacts and so they're requesting a uh traffic study before they go forward with the special use permit request. Would you guys like to to speak at all? If you'd state your name and address, please.

I am Patrick Hensley. Hensley construction880 Bower Boulevard, sweet 145 St. Mo 63132. Um, members of the board, uh, yes, we, uh, were here last night and I'll just give you a little update. I have spoken to our traffic engineer who's assured me that we should have a traffic report in the time that Amy has suggested I have something. So, that's what that's my update for you. So, we we were thrilled on that. So, we should be able to continue that.

Does everybody understand uh the the issue here? What uh these folks are trying to do? They're trying to take that parcel uh between South Outer Road and uh Rudder and u build a uh auto and commercial uh servicing area with a car wash. Everybody read their hand up. Okay. Want to give you due process here.

Yeah. A fleet wash. We call it fleet wash. It's more designed for the oversized vehicles. um a car wash, you really wouldn't want to take your car through there because it wouldn't be worth your money. Uh but if you have like a uh these new trucks with the the Ford F350s and they've got the beds that have been put on them that you might see an Amron UE truck or a Charter Spectrum truck, they can drive these trucks in and get them washed. Go ahead. I

I just had a quick question. So, I was at the meeting last night planning and zoning and uh I do want to start off with full disclosure. Um my auto collision shop does have a a professional relationship with Sunset Ford. We do buy all our Ford parts from them. So, just putting it out there just so that you know that there there's no financial gain or anything that my business or anything. So, I don't want any any impropriy that anyone would think or anything. So, uh, that being said, uh, the entrance off of South Highway on the MODOT side that you're sure MDOT will allow you to This matter has been this is I know I just had quick I mean is is it okay to ask a question? I mean, just

guess. But I mean, this matter has been continued by Yeah, this isn't actually this case isn't actually on the agenda. I know, but they said if we had any questions. I just Are they Are you sure MDOT's going to give you access to that? We we right though it never really went to anything. So, and I will tell you give you a little hint of what's to come after my discussion with the traffic engineer. We've got some maybe some ideas that Amy doesn't know about yet. So, um but I think it it might be a worthwhile look at. So, it's all part of the traffic stud. Okay. Okay. Yep. Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. We want to skip to the text amendment. While

you can just announce that the next one was because these items are continued or technically you wouldn't want to have any discussion regarding this because it still needs to go through planning and zoning for all open public conversations. So it's just an announcement that it's been continued. Okay. All right. So, next we have the Planning and Zoning Commission continued case 2026 SUP04. A petition by Scanl Properties LLC for a special use permit to operate a truck terminal at One Premier Drive. Property is zoned BP2 Business Park District. Amy, you help explain it.

Yeah. Again, it this was a a continued case. This was um in conjunction with a text amendment. the uh planning and zoning commission um approved a text amendment. I'll discuss that a little further. Um but again, they wanted some additional uh traffic information before they could would consider uh the remainder of the SUP request. So that will be coming in May as well.

Uh so next we have the planning and zoning commission made the following recommendations to the board of alderman. Approval with amended conditions of case 2026 SPR01, a petition by Leonard Walther of St. Louis Marble Company for site plan review of a new office warehouse building at 1565 Fen Park Drive, property of zone BP3 Business Park District. Amy.

Yeah. The uh the petitioner uh requested this case be continued um to allow him time to to come with some amendments to the site plan to provide the required parking for the proposed new office warehouse. Um so they did reduce the building uh footprint slightly. They reduced the um office area and the warehouse area and they were able to reduce the required parking down to 29 spaces. Um so they will be able they will be providing some uh parallel parking spaces along the north property line. that is the property line where they receive the variance to encroach the the buffer area. Um the vehicles using the parallel parking spaces will use the paved area adjacent to the loading spaces as an area to turn around. Um their engineer was on hand last night and and said that he ran that scenario through his software and found that that area is sufficient for vehicles to turn around. Um I did uh some I also some consulted some resources and found that that area is about 40 by 40 which will um I I I was able to concur that that um that will be sufficient for the those vehicles to turn around. The commission did request um amendments to the uh conditions of approval. They would like that area as well as the area around the dumpsters uh the dumpster enclosure to be striped as no parking and that way um that those areas will remain um uh unobstructed and allow for safe circulation of vehicles in the lot. Um otherwise all other code requirements were met for this request.

Uh Mr. Walter, did you have anything to add? Okay, thank you. Uh, for the record, Mr. Walter has nothing to add. Next, we have approval of case 2026 TXT02, a petition by Scandell Properties LLC to amend section 420.010 010 land use mat matrix of the zoning code to allow truck terminal as a use allowed by special use permit in the BP 2 business park district.

Um yeah, did I? Yeah, TXT1.

I'm sorry. We'll go back. We'll do approval of K. Okay. So out of curiosity like do we have so it's just amending or changing the definition but what was the definition like how is it changing the definition

um for case 2026 TXT1.

Yeah. Um uh so that was a petition by Seikko Auto Limited Partnership. This was in conjunction with the SUP that was continued. This is for amendments to the zoning code to amend 40030 definitions to add the term automotive automobile commercial motor vehicle service facility and automobile commercial motor vehicle washing facility and to amend 42010 land use matrix to allow an automobile commercial motor vehicle service facility as a use allowed by special use permit. So currently our code has a term and definition for an automotive service center, a service store, an automotive washing facility, and a commercial motor vehicle repair facility. They're three separate terms, but we don't have a term and definition that allows for the service of automobiles and commercials within the same establishment. So they are requesting an amendment to add that term and the definition for the automobile commercial motor vehicle service facility and the washing facility and then to add the service facility as a use allowed by special use permit in BP3. So after uh considering the purpose of the BP3 district and the fact that there are two existing motor vehicle service facilities um that are legal non-conforming that exist in the BP3 district that are operating and have operated with no issue. The planning and zoning commission did make a a recommendation to approve um the text amendment.

Thank thank you for explaining. Sure. Okay. Sorry about that. I I had marked the wrong case that I

Anyway, approval of case 2026 TXT01, a petition by Seiko Automotive Limited Partnership for amendments to the zoning code as follows. one to amend section code 4003 030 definitions to add terms automobile and commercial motor vehicle service facility and automobile commercial vehicle washing facility and two to amend section 4200010 land use matrix to allow an automobile commercial vehicle service facility as use allowed by special use permit in BP3 is a business park district

and thank you for just explaining all that. Okay. Okay. Uh, next we have approval of case 2026 TXT02, a petition by Scanl Properties LLC to amend section 420 010 land use matrix of zoning code to allow a truck terminal as use allowed by special use permit in BP2 business park district. Amy,

sure. Um again after considering the purpose of the BP2 district um where they're requesting to add a truck terminal um and uh looking at the CP1 district the purpose of the CP1 district where a truck terminal is also allowed by uh SUP um noting that those purposes are very similar and noting that the BP2 district is adjacent to um Interstate 44. The commission did make the recommendation to approve um case 2020 2026 TXT2 to add a truck terminal as a use allowed by special use permit in BP2 as well.

Any questions? Uh, next we have approval of case 2026 TXT 03, consideration of amendments to section 40030, definitions of the zoning code to add the term data center and clarify existing terms related to the same. Sure.

This is a staff initiated request. Um, this is a request to amend our zoning code to add uh the term and definition for a data center and to clarify some of the existing terms that are already in our land in our uh zoning code. Um, really the purpose of this text amendment is to avoid any uncertainty and mclassification and uh by proactively defining data centers to distinguish them from existing commercial, industrial and warehouse uses and then to clarify that those existing commercial, industrial and warehouse uses are not uh data centers. Um uh what staff is not asking to do is to add data centers as either a permitted use or a use allowed by special use permit in any district. This is kind of a bit of housekeeping um to help avoid any uncertainty about zoning compliance when it comes to data centers

just to be safe. Yes. Mhm. That is all I have. All right. We're gonna Thanks. Thank you. We're going to move to uh the parks and recck committee. Uh, Alderman Hills, if you would please. You can bring your guests up first. Thank you, sir. Um, so I know we have someone from Heritage. We'll we'll start with you. Um, consideration request by Heritage Christian Academy for a field donation. We've got a memo from Dan Howard and I think you said you wanted to speak on this.

Hi, my name is Kelly Krooks. I'm the athletic director at Heritage Christian Academy here in Fenton. I don't know what the memo included because it was actually a parent who instigated this request um and then asked me to follow through. So essentially we are a very small school. Our athletics department is funded by fees the students pay each season to be on the teams for all of our athletics other than soccer. We are able to meet our costs. For soccer we finish with a deficit primarily due to field cost rental. This is a choice that we make to have the program. So, we've chosen to have the cost. However, in the past year, as I'm sure you're aware, the field conditions at Fenton City Park are terrible on the soccer fields leading to the broken collarbone of one of our team captains. Uh, the mole problem is pretty uh significant. And while trying to be mindful and jump over a molehill, he landed in another one. Um, so it's been harder for me as the athletic director to pay this amount knowing that I'm putting our athletes in harm's way, but it's a great program. Our kids have had much success. It's a great culture and I'd like to continue it. So, uh, I think what the parent requested was that perhaps for a short time, if not for a longer term, perhaps an inkind donation could be made so that we could continue to use the fields. Um, we have a fiveweek season this spring for girls. It's our first season. Uh I had a nice conversation with the gentleman who helped me uh rent the field and he assured me that this was one of your better fields. However, when our team showed up, they were only able to use a third of it and not even in the direction that you would use to shoot on the goal. Uh because it's just it's we've got to be mindful of their health, knowing especially that one of our athletes already incurred significant medical costs and missed a season. um which I know that the parks department wants us to have positive experiences and and this was a tough one and I'm thankful that the family didn't pursue anything. I thought that was fantastic

and and the fields aren't um policed in any way, but we do like to follow the city's protocol of renting the fields, paying the fees. Um we also assume the cost to stripe the fields for our home games, and that's a a bonus for other people who use those fields as well. Um, but right now, uh, it's a very small cost on the numbers that you guys are talking about tonight. We pay about $1,000 for two practices a week in the fall and about $400 for two practices a week in the spring. So, where are you located? Are you within the city limits? I don't know. I wish I did. I am 2 miles north at Glad Gladiator and 141. I'm up on a hill that you've probably never even noticed that I'm there.

Yeah. So, that you're you're outside the city limit.

Am I? Oh, that's unfortunate. So, one of the thoughts I had and I am so sorry that that happened to uh your player um but you know we can't we we have to either come up with a guideline of for nonprofits or discount or but I I kind of feel like we can't just pro bon you know just uh free fields to anybody that asks like we have to have a guideline for it and we we don't I don't think that we do. We we just uh we have

I fully respect not wanting to set a precedent that you can't continue. Yeah. School leadership I that's how I run everything through the filter. I can say yes to you, but can I say next yes to the next 10 people? So I I mean if anything this might create a good discussion to where okay do we want to come up with a guideline when nonprofits approach us with assistance. Unfortunately that's not going to help her cause no evening. Um you know given given the unfortunate situation that you had have you tried to talk like to soccer park or one of those? I I called several other parks. I talked to TAS which is next to Riverchase. I talked to What's that?

That that that's a good choice. It's an excellent one of Great Field. Uh but it's booked. Um I talked to the parks department in Eureka, which is actually where I'm a resident, and they don't rent fields to schools. Um and then I also looked at Mini Haha Park and um Booter Park on the north side of 44. Unfortunately, fields just aren't maintained at the level that school fields are, and that's understandable. It's it's a lot of acreage to take care of. We unfortunately don't have a field at our school. So, our sports that stay within budget are basketball, volleyball, and we have a nationally ranked marksmanship team. So,

anyone else? So, the word precedent is the one that scares me the most. We have um um St. Paul's Church that we've been um working with for years. Sure. I don't know, 40 40 something years. And and we still they they still pay for the use of the fields. And the more we hear from soccer folks wanting to come in and lease our fields and rent our fields for extended periods of time, right, it shows that fields are a commodity. And I'm afraid, especially since you're not a from Fenton proper, um that if we were to the word got out that we we did this for you. Sure.

The phones will be ringing off the hook. I'm I'm afraid and from every organization. So, um in my in my opinion, I would I just hate to go down their road. Yeah. I don't think the Fenton resident is I agree with Jokers about having maybe a guidelines for the nonprofits versus other things. I don't think I'm sorry, I missed Pardon me, I missed the beginning of that about a Fenton res. I don't think being resident versus resident necessarily has any issue to bear with whether or not we should, you know, allow this. But I do agree with kind of the precedent of there being a standard. Without there being a standard, you can have issues. I I do own property in Fenton. I I lived here for 20 years before moving to Eureka. So, uh uh Where's your property? It

It's also outside the very small propert. Where? Meek Meadows Court. About two miles from here is the crow flies. It's uh behind the Starbucks at 44 and 141. Back in that area about years old. You're in zip code. I know I could never get the Chase membership because I do not live on that little spot. So, um I see that farther on the agenda is a reduced rate. Is that something that you would consider? Is that something you've done before? Well, and I think that that's what Terry was talking about like for over 40 years the St. Paul's Parish, right? Is that so this reduced rate isn't something that's that's a new request?

No. Like no, we do it for the tournament. do it for their tournament. They rent the entire park for a week for a week straight. Basically, we don't have home games that weekend as a result. Yeah. So, I mean, and that's where maybe we need to come up with a guideline for nonprofits or something. But, you know, with this, I would have I would have come up with it 40 years ago like we need a guideline. We can't just do it to St. Paul. But, I wasn't there. just well to clarify on the reduced rate that's like bulk pricing you know it's not just renting a field for an hour it's renting a park for two weekends so that's kind of the I understand

and I do believe we are hopefully going to be working on the fields to spruce them up soon so hopefully get them in better shape so that's a plus hopefully my understanding is you've um purchased a roller but according to the gentleman I spoke to on the phone you don't have the the manpower to update the fields until you can hire more. One of our school grandparents works for Fenton Parks as one of the U referee or umpires, pardon me. Um he told me yesterday at our grandparents day that he would give his time if given permission to roll the fields to try and improve. So I don't know that's obviously a secondary we have insurance requirements, you know,

just trying to on our checklist. That's what I can tell you is that it we do know that they need to be maintained. Repaired. Yeah, repaired and maintained. It's on our checklist.

Yeah, I would I would agree with Susan that um I may not help you this season, but I think we probably should may want to consider this on a future agenda to just look at some kind of a nonprofit rates for some of these. And I and again I think I think the alderman on this end made a good point that you know the soccer fields there's not enough. We got to be careful the way we structure this because we're going to have every nonprofit in the city. And you know the big problem with these fields is they're overused and they don't get their rest period. And you know, obviously, you know, I don't want to say we're negligent, but you know, it it takes a lot of time and energy and and in today's world, we we have a difficult find time finding people to work,

right? That's what the gentleman on the phone's holding. You can't even just worldwide, I guess. Yeah. So, um, but if you want to tell that grandpa, we are looking for seasonal workers. There you go. Yeah. He he, um, I think that's about all he wants to do, but he already worked. I know, but gota Well, again, we may not be able to help you tonight, but we appreciate you bring it to our attention at some point. So, what would my next steps be to to be able to understand the the approach you'll take to When does your season start? Say again, when does your season start?

Uh, we've already rented the fields that will begin uh in late July, the last week of July, and runs through the end of October for our boys and our girls are in the middle of their season right now. It's I'm calling it a sprint season because it's our first year and it's just five weeks. Okay. I I mean I kind of feel the same way. I It just when you start giving things to not people just tend to come then and then and then we're

giving them all and then not being able to rent them to people who do want to rent them for the fees that we do charge for the fe for the fields. And those fees also help us maintain them and upkeep and all the others. And if we're just constantly just donating them, then you know it's it's not a very cost-effective for us. But I do think we should look at something for nonprofits because we do get this request a lot. Um I'm fortunately I don't think it's something that we can do this evening.

Okay. Then my final question is would you wave your policy of a 30-day cancellation? Our season again, like I said, was only five weeks. So when my team took the field for the first time last week and realized they couldn't use it, I couldn't cancel the rest of the rentals. Give us a little help. Staff, speak into your mic real loud. You would absolut I think what she's asking is if she were to cancel then for this season, um she doesn't want to get a penalty. I see 30-day. And I think the absolutely has the right to wave that. I I don't I don't think anybody on this board would I'd be okay with that. Would that be a problem, Dan?

Okay. Um, so I will make a motion that we um respectfully deny your request for the donation. I'm sorry at this time and I I again, you know, express sympathy for the individual that was injured. Um, but also included in that motion that we wave the 30-day. I'll make this a final motion and that we may wave the 30 day period for you. Alderman Jokers. Second that motion by Hill, second by Jokers. Further discussion. Yes, sir.

I I just want one more comment to the uh St. Paul's where we do give a reduced rate. That's just a Thursday through Sunday. It's a one it's their tournament annual tournament. It's not like a league, you know, five, six week thing, right? So all the others that do those, they pay full price. So Sure. Understandable. So do I just follow up with who I rented from? Let them know I was at the meeting and you waved the rate. Okay. Very good. Thanks for your time. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you, Kelly. Appreciate it. Thanks for what you do. Does your church have any flat spots up there on the hill?

I see. There you go. Good night. Should I just go back to the top? I know you I'm sorry. And whom are you with? They're with St. Paul. Oh,

okay. Perfect. Consideration request for a special event by St. Paul Athletic Association to utilize Benton City Park for their annual soccer tournament at a reduced rate. Do you folks want to come up and say anything? So, these are some new individuals. Not new. They've been involved, I guess, but you're the big dog today. I mean, if you want to come up because we'll be seeing you throughout the year. And name name and address. Yeah. Ryan Glascock, 1727 Purity Court, Fenton, Missouri 63026.

I'm Jen Rafelli. My address is 922 Huntington Chase 63026. So, uh, we are part of the new athletic board at U St. Paul School, uh, president and secretary currently and Jen has taken over. Uh, we have a brand new board for our soccer tournament this year as well for the first time in about five years. So, our first time going through um the whole entire process here. So, thank you for having us uh here tonight.

I know he's a little bit concerned and you know came to me. His uh father-in-law was one of the people that initiated back in the 80s uh the St. Paul soccer tournament along with a lot of other other people, but Dave has always been involved and I commend you two for stepping up uh you know because it is a worthwhile cause. And anybody have any questions of these folks? I'm assuming that since this is something that's been going on, like Alderman Joker said, for decades, that you've got the whole, you know, the the layout, how you want it laid out, all the vendors and all that that you're following the same script that the others have.

Yes, that that is that is true. uh been fortunate enough to uh I didn't I grew up in South City but um it was part of Fenton and since high school been I refed the tournament probably 10 straight years and so I've always kind of been around it and now our kids are here and we moved to Fenton about five years ago so and now our kids are going through so been a part of the tournament for probably about 15 years now so kind of seen it throughout the years. Okay, great. Is anybody So Dan, you're working with Ryan.

If anybody doesn't have any questions, um 10,000. Has it always been 10,000? Like that that was a little sticker shock for not sticker shock, but 10,000 visitors. Expect that typical. Yeah. So, we're expecting 125 teams this year. And so, u you know, every team plays three games. So, it might not be 10,000 different people, but uh 10,000 through the doors. Actually, I we'd expect a little bit more than that, actually.

Anybody else have any questions? Okay. I will make a motion that we approve the 46th annual St. Paul Soccer Tournament, uh scheduled for August 3rd through the 9th at the reduced rate of $2,500 for the uh park rental for their tournament this year. Alderman Lang. I will second that motion. We have a motion by Hules, a second by Lang. We have further discussion. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Congrats. Thank you guys. Appreciate it. Sorry for your wait.

Next, I have consideration request by Greg Burton to hold a special event for 100 innings charity softball game in Fenton City Park. Is that you, sir? Uh this is a special event request for 100 innings softball game. As you can read, uh Greg Burton is going to explain their needs, needs, and this will be the third annual. So your name is Greg Burton? Yes. Could you do your address for the record, please? Uh 219 Jefferson Circle. Okay. Thanks,

Benton. Um, this will be the third annual memorial um cancer fight against cancer huntering softball game. My brother passed away. It'll be four years in August. Um, back in 2015 16, he put on his softball games where he would get uh listeners. He was a DJ. He would get listeners to come out, pay a fee to play in a nine inning game, but then he would bring in others and it'd be it's not two teams playing all 100 innings. It's a pay a fee to an entry fee. You come out, get your shirt. And everything that we bring in, we donate to sight camp.

Your brother is Jeff. Yes. Um, anybody have any questions? Sounds awesome.

Yeah. The the caveat to it is we need pretty much the whole day. Um, last two years we've started at 9:00 a.m. and went past 900 pm. We were out we had it out in Eureka the last two years. That's where Jeff lived when he passed away, but we grew up in Fenton. So, just trying to switch facilities, uh, organizations and try to do something back where we grew up. Dan, is there any issues with the all day thing? All right.

And you don't have a hard date yet, correct? You say August or September. And you will I mean coordinate with our public or Dan just to make sure that we don't have some other big event going that I just heard soccer tournament is uh August something through the 9th. So both that weekends are out. And then but a lot of the softball fields are now being used for baseball for tournaments too, right Dan? Baratic in the fall. Okay. Yep. Okay. Okay.

Um and that's great. I'm glad you're behind it, but like I said, I would need um we don't sell anything. At least the first year we don't sell, you know, we don't it's all donated. So Truman's donates alcohol, beer, just beer. Um then um um what's the AB over here? Oh, a Grey Eagle. Gray Eagle.

Gray Eagle donated uh a beer as well. So we don't sell anything. Last year we did sell raffle tickets. We had somebody donate a big screen TV. We had somebody donate uh my brother had a bobblehead night at St. at the Blues game and donated blue signed uh his bobblehead and we raffled that off too. Um but the couple radio stations get involved and come out and with their vans and broadcast from the site. So you know and they play music out of their vans. Um so it's not a you know slide in, slip in, go unnoticed day. There'll be people coming in and out. Um, best case scenario would be 22 teams to play uh, nine innings each and that equals up to we got short changed last year. Eureka turned our lights off before we were finished. We had two teams out on the field.

I heard about that. Yeah. Did you? I heard about that from Sean. Well, Sean. Okay. What about insurance? We have a little disagreement after that. So that's why insurance.

Our standard requires that you have sovereign immunity rate insurance. We do have abilities for waiver, but your application did not state what kind of insurance your organization held that you would be able to have for this event. This is the organization unless we can go off siteman's comes out, puts a banner, say they sponsor the whole thing. Um 1057 a point comes out, puts a banner out. Casey comes out, puts a banner out. Um so I don't know. I don't know what they require to insurance. I I don't that that didn't approach that was never approached unless it's in their contract.

It's a requirements. The city requires that if on city property, you give the city insurance. So if someone gets hurt and su the city for an event, you had the city responsible for it. I'm the organization me and my wife. So you need waiver.

So you want to give some options here? Um well I mean the city has waved insurance before when they are comfortable that the risk is low because it is city property obviously without insurance and protecting it then the city's insurance would have to come in and play if anyone got hurt on the event and decided to go against the city and you see where insurance is headed. Um but it is our general so you're going to have you're going to have several hundred people here. Yeah. Not at the same time, but in and out. Yeah.

Yeah. But you know, at any given time, you know, somebody trips over a base or falls, breaks an ankle, and insurance comes in. I don't think in that kind of insurance is that unreasonable, is it? No. I mean, you could get a I'm sure you could get an insurance policy just for that day, right? Yeah. Yeah. So that's something you need probably look into. It'll protect you as well. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. So that if somebody gets hurt, they're not coming after you as well personally for this was your event. Did they not require that at Eureka?

I I did not sign or they didn't I didn't pay. I didn't get a lean waiver. I didn't get anything. You ask Sean. I just listen sometimes, you know. Hard for me not, but I just listen. Um, so I would suggest that we have somebody on staff that can kind of guide him where to go, where to go. I don't I don't know where you buy that other than

Have we had uh insurance policies from other special events that we could guide them to? your insurance company and and try to just obtain it for most likely to create like your car insurance guy. I don't know. Yeah, I would I think it can handle that stuff.

So, I mean I don't know if it would require most likely probably setting up an LLC or something to that effect as an entity for protection. But I I that's not my advice that I can give. maybe a call to siteman, see if they have some kind of a extension on their policy that would allow for this kind of a since you know they can at least get you on the on the hunt for it, you know, and I would imagine they do because the donations going to them that they would have some resources. I this you said August or September, right? So, we do have a little bit of time. Um, yeah, I I'm behind the event, but I do I would like insurance honestly. And actually, I think that protects you as well if you're the organizer. Yeah.

Um, the option is the board could either continue this matter to see what the options are with insurance or you could go ahead and prove for the special event just knowing that if he's not able to obtain the insurance, he would have to come back to the board for a waiver at a later date. Okay. Um yeah, I'm going to go ahead and um make the motion that we allow the event with the caveat that you're going to look into insurance um and also um get with Dan to finalize the date and make sure that the park is available that day. So if you could uh get with him reaching out to Dan he said that all those

Okay, great. But if we can get that get the maybe the insurance part of it, if you make a phone call to siteman or whomever is helping sponsor the event and just get that information, that would be really helpful. That's a long motion. Alman, I would second. So we have a motion by fuels, a second by Bright Chef. Do we have further discussion? Yes, sir. Yeah. So I would also u when you research the insurance and maybe when you come back we'll have a firm date from Dan that way it's on the record for approvement. No, he doesn't have to come back to coordinate with Dan

if he's if he's able to get the necessary insurance which is you know the 3 million plus. Um if not then he would have to come back to the board and we have had organizations that are not able to obtain that the sovereign amount. So they've come back and asked for a waiver just to reduce the amount or a lower amount coverage required. What do we have to meet? It's 3.547.

It's a lot. Million 3.5 million. A million over 3.5. But don't let that scare you. Seriously, you're just paying a premium. They're not You're paying a premium for that coverage. But as we we have approved two. So yeah, we've approved a lower like a lower coverage amount. So that might reduce your rate. I would start with the the the or the help the people that are helping you organize the event and see if they have something they can maybe give you a waiver for wondering why it wouldn't were was it held here at the city of Fenton. No recap.

There you go. Yeah, that's on them.

Oh yeah. Um guess that's all the only questions I didn't other question was fees but I kind of answered fees of the soccer field the first year Eureka waved the field $55 an hour and we were there 11 hours they waved But then past year they didn't wave it. They kind of came into and then they turned the light. So that probably not worth me.

We we have to come up with that guideline. We won't turn the lights off though. Yeah. Before we call Sean. So we have a motion and a second. All in favor? opposed. That motion carries. Thank you, sir. You can work with Dan on that. Next. Oh, go ahead. Do we want to u Sorry, the Great Rivers Greenway, somebody from Great Rivers Greenway is online. Okay.

Um, well, I'll move down there. Consideration request by Great Rivers Greenway to utilize the city's logo for promotional materials related to the Missouri Greenway Bridge product. We've got a memo from Nikki. Nikki, take it away. Okay. Um, this is just a request from Great Rivers Greenway. Um, there's going to be an upcoming meeting um, actually one held here at city hall. Um, that they're going to be discussing with the public just a promotion to just or a promote just promotional materials to let people know about these open houses and the project that's coming up with the bridge, the Marramck Bridge um, connection between um, Benton and Kirkwood. Um, and they're asking to utilize and per our policy, this has to come to the board for our city's logo to be used on anything that is not a city promotion. So, their request

that is that is what they are requesting. And I and I'll ask Brian, I think the only reason the logo will be used is just to indicate that it's in conjunction with holding the meetings here at our city hall or is will it be used for other items? really that's it in promotion of that openhouse and if there was um and it it's helpful obviously if you're going to I think Nikki you had mentioned that you could promote the the uh open houses with your social media maybe even a newsletter. So it's just helpful in that and being able to to get the word out uh because what we're looking for is public input on that planning and feasibility study

and and again like you said the purpose of this is to solicit public input regarding the the project and get feedback from the public. So, we've obviously offered to host one of the meetings here. I believe Kirkwood's going to be hosting one on their side. Um, and then also we will we do plan to use our social media, our website to let people know it's happening. The open house is happening here again because we're soliciting public feedback regarding the project. Uh, f first, Brian, I apologize for your wait this evening. Um, so is Kirkwood uh you are you utilizing their logo? Yes, we're utilizing their logo as well.

Yeah, I think Nikki uh stated that pretty pretty well that we don't have a financial stake, so to speak, in this uh even though it's taxpayer dollars. This is just for um I guess advertising that it will be here. So, I don't have a problem with that, but I don't again I don't think we're advocating for or against this project. Yes, but I do think it's great to get our name out there. So, you I just don't want the public to to think that we're think we're a part of this funding source. Oh. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yes, sir.

Right. I I was just reading our city logo policy and I highlighted the board of alderman. Galla at its discretion determine if the use of the city logo will use in a manner to promote or benefit the city of Fenton and its community and our mission. So in this case I would want to make sure that it's just strictly used in reference to that meeting here. Um and we we're not affiliated with whatever is going on.

Yeah. But it does like we do support Greenway, you know, like what they do and what they're doing. And I I mean I So to me I I do think that it is, you know, we're the city of parks and we're promoting greenways to utilize parks and do bike paths and whatnot. So I don't have any problem with it. I'm okay with it.

It's a one time authorization, too, right? I guess I guess my concern is that it I just don't want it to tie us to this particular project. I have no problem with the greenway. I think they do great things. I just don't want it to this is a meeting about the greenway bridge and I just don't want it to give the appearance that this is something that the city is partnering with. I I just want to make sure that it's done in a proper way. Yeah. I just I mean I I'll state this again. I think Brian, you would agree that the only time our logo is going to be used is to promote the open house. It's going to be held here at city hall. And the open house is not held by the city of Fenton, but it is to solicit feedback from the public regarding the project. It's part of their process they're going through. Yes, absolutely.

And I think tonight he would also be seeking a final motion on that because they I think they need to get their promotional materials out the out the door for the meeting because it'll be held in May. Okay. Um, I would like to make a final motion this evening that we allow the Marramat Greenway to use our logo for their information. What regarding the open house? Regarding the open house only. I al sh first. So we have a motion by Hule, second by Brit Shaft. Do we have further discussion? All in favor? Opposed? That motion carries. Thank you, Brian. Appreciate it. Hey, thank you very much. Good to see you. Sorry for your wait.

No problem whatsoever. Do we want, now that he's done, can we look at having the parks board look at guidelines for uh discounts for nonprofits? It'll have to go on a future agenda. Yeah. Yeah. On a f obviously a future agenda, but just to kind of look at do we want to consider it because we do do it for St. Paul. Do we want to

My opinion is is is probably more uh city-based organizations if anything if anything but I mean or but we could also look at Fenton resident or Fenton community versus non-Fenton community nonprofits get a certain discount. My my only fear is every single entity that rents anything is not for profit. every single one that now what's the point of having fees? Okay. So, what about then nonprofits based here in

kind of the same thing? Do we want to just put on a future agenda or Yeah, but anyway, just just I think it's a good talking point. Let's brainstorm this one. See where it fits best.

All right. Sorry. Next is a consideration consideration of a request to seek bids for a Can-Am UTV for the parks. We got a memo from Dan. So within the past about year, year and a half, um we have found that we have uh needed to utilize at the gracious donation, I guess you could say, of the mayor, uh his canam to take around um our native species, uh Mo native, um multiple contractors, Missouri Department of Conservation in areas that a vehicle cannot get to, normal vehicle cannot get to. As much as we appreciate the mayor's usage of his side by side, there's times we want to be out without him.

No offense, Joe. Mine mine pretty much will stay out at the farm. I needed it today. So,

I can't imagine. Anyway, um with everything that we're doing at Favic Nature Preserve, all over the greenway, um and also other uses of this, um I know we have never plowed the bike paths before, but I realizing it is becoming more and more common for uh municipalities to plow bike paths. Um Eureka is doing it now, Sunset Hills, Crestwood. I'm getting hounded after snows on why we plow a pass. We don't have anything right now to do that, especially in the extreme colds. So, it'll be used for that also. Um, and but please understand that would be on, you know, as as we can get to. It would be a pri priority. So, I'm just looking for permission to look out for some bids.

I'm okay with you getting bids. So, um, I guess you chose Can-Am. Was there a reason? I mean um I think they make great products but they are Canadian and I was wondering if we wanted to consider a US manufacturer Polaris or communication that's the one that has been highly recommended um you know other manufacturers make good product but uh the workmanship it's just they they're highly recommended

to to that point and then I'll move on I know there's others um I chose it because I did an extensive research arch on them when we bought them. My son-in-laws own Polarises and other ones that didn't seem to hold up. Uh Amaran UeE here in Missouri just bought 28 of them and are having them um retrofitted to their purposes, but they did extensive ser searching on what the better ones are and they chose Can-Am over the others. That That's the most I can tell you.

Go ahead. Oh, I I thought years ago, I know this slightly off topic. Didn't I know maybe it was the the Fenton precinct properties like St. Louis County Police, didn't they have an ATV or was that ours or was there an ATV at one time? Yes. Was that are they still is that the cities or was that the police department? Who own who actually owns it? The city of Fton does. So, we still own that. Okay. But when it's 15 degrees out, I don't want to be out there plowing on that. Oh, I understand. I just I just was wondering what happened to that vehicle if I was next. 40,000 is a lot. That's pretty That's pretty reasonable cuz I look trade at 10,000 for the play.

You know what? I'm going to I'm going to tell you something. This wasn't my This was not my push, but I'm going to tell you that's a pretty good price. And for me, this is not mine is not a play toy. Mine is used to work with, right?

I I don't when I go to the farm, I get on that. That's my mode of transportation. If I go into town, if I do anything, but I'm not advocating. I didn't push this one, guys. I just I just think that they had an opportunity to use this thing and realize it's pretty beneficial. It's a tool. It is not a toy and I wouldn't expect anybody to just to be able to jump on this thing and utilize it. Go ahead. I'm sorry. You stole my point. I think it's a good idea, but I would uh leave it for a select few like Dan uh Nikki. Um expect you put that one out there.

That's just for any of our guys you jump on to run over there to empty a TRA can or something. No, this would not be used for common daily use. Okay. Okay. So, then you br you brought up a point or somebody brought up a point uh Scott did about a vehicle that we have that we don't use anymore. How many other vehicles do we have? And is there a potential to if we've got something sitting here we don't use? I think we've got a a work vehicle that Doug used to drive. It's sitting there now in maintenance in the yard. The one with the boxes on it or whatever. No, he still uses it. He does. Oh, you're talking about We've been trying to sell that one. You guys approved to surplus it. Uh, nobody wants to uh purchase it, I'll probably be coming to you guys uh looking for just basically to scrap it.

Okay. Well, with that thought though, if we got, you know, that vehicle and then we got the other UTV that you're talking about, maybe we we uh put them out for sale somehow, take whatever we can get and add that to the cost of this guy. Plus, um, Susan, the the snowplow comes with this package, too, which Oh, brought the price up a little bit. the the police have one and they do use it on occasion.

And then the ATVs, I do see I have seen public works use the ATV to go up the trail up by my house over to Westside Park. Westside Park. So, I I have seen them use the ATVs occasionally to go up. You know, um a um a comment that just popped in the head when we were talking about this. Um talk about plowing the bike trails and I thought that's silly. Who's going to be out in the middle of the winter on bike trails? Oh gosh. But there are I mean I was

Dan will tell you how many people called me, came to my house and I said, "Dan, can't we run a truck?" which I rather run something like this in a truck. I got a lot of people walk their dogs. When I was out doing that radio that thing over the hill, I couldn't believe how many people were out riding bikes and it was the middle. It was cold. They were out there in shorts riding their bikes up and down the trail. So, people want to walk their dogs and not have the salt on their paws. A lot more utilization of those trails than I expected with that. And one last question, Dan, if we do uh go forward with this, you have a place indoor to store. Yes. Okay. Thanks.

I mean, I can tell you that well, two things. One, the when uh STL and Nikki and the mayor and I were taking him around and we went from pretty much across from the feed mill to the 44 bridge. If we would have had to walk that, it would have taken us hours. And if we would have had to take a city vehicle, we would have had to pull up, put the flashers on on lark and on the river road, have people go around us to be able to take it down and with the vendor Missouri native stewardship, Missouri Department of Conservation. The one thing I will say though is that we've gotten stopped a couple of times by residents walking and this will have an identification on it that will say city of Fenton because when stopping they'll say you're not supposed to be on this path and then we'll have to say well we have our public works director or city administrator in here. This will be identified as a city of Fenton vehicle that will be specified for those tasks and I think the identification of it being a city vehicle will be helpful and we also won't have the wear and tear on Joe's if we tear it up.

I you know what Nikki drove it and she didn't tear it up and we won't almost drive off a cliff. That was Joe. Amy was in there. That's right. Amy went with us. Maybe he was in there that time. Anyway, um at this time I'm going to make a motion that we go out and seek bids for a Canam. It is a final. It is a final. Okay. You made a motion. Yeah. Lang second. So we have a motion by Hules, a second by Lang. Further discussion.

I have one quick question. Um in insurance, these are going to be just restricted. certain drivers will only be Is this going to fall under our normal vehicle policy? Yeah, I have full coverage on mine. So, if you drive it, you're covered and it's pretty cheap. It's So, it's um And then the other question was um the snow plow I mean it I guess are we like maintenance, repairs, things like that? I mean, are we confident that this is not going to be a big money pit that it has to go in the shop all the time to get when it gets broken? I mean I I I know you can't we have looked at it a little bit and they do offer a 5year warranty. Okay.

Um but you know I we do have you know on occasion repairs have to be done to our our two our side by sides and our mechanic is very competent doing them. Okay. My my son has one like mine and he he just he runs his hard. I baby mine, you know, cuz it's a lot of money. But he's neither of us have had any problems with him. You know, can BRP bombader is makes great stuff. I mean, I I'm a big believer in him, but I just wish it was US made. Does it have to be white? But no. Okay, that's all I had. Thank you. Anybody else? All in favor?

I opposed. Motion carries. My last item is consideration of an agreement with MDC for a floating wetland in Westside Park. We've got a memo from Nikki. As the board may may remember, last year we had some Sorry, I forgot the fabic nature. We'll come back to it. Um the but with the floating wetland and we discussed with uh Missouri Department of Conservation and they said if to do this, they would be launching it this spring. Um, this is just the agreement we need to sign in order to um, obtain the funds for the floating wetland. Do you need a final? Um, no, because this will most likely have to be done by ordinance.

Okay. I'd like to make a motion that we can that we enter into the agreement with Missouri Department of Conservation for the floating wetland at Westside Park. This is actually something they suggested to cut down on algae and that whatever that what is that weed? The thaton tail. Alderman Mazerang. Second. Um motion by Hugh, second by Maserang. Further discussion. All in favor? Opposed. And I got to go back up here. Approval of improvements to the Fabric Nature Preserve outlook as suggested by staff with the addition of a bench for the former helicopter pad site. Is are we talking about this whole packet? Uhhuh. Just what do you mean? Oh, is this an amended thing?

Oh, it's just different improvements for the overlook area because I love it. saying love all of it except for I was just Yeah. around the I love the old site. If we could kind of like fix the planting, get some native plants up back in the back. That's the plan. I love it. I want a second. I want to be second on that one. If you get your hand up right now, you got it. Okay. I don't think that there's a motion that needs to be made. It'll automatically forward. There's no motion. You'll get one more shot. So what we're just make just make the motion. So Susan can second. Yeah. Go ahead. I'm going to make a motion that we go with the target.

Alderman Jokers. All in favor? I opposed. That concludes parks. Thank you. All right. We're Let's go back up to finance. Uh who's on that committee that wants to do finance? I'll take it. All right. Uh, first thing tonight we have February 28, 2026 draft monthly financial report C492026 memo from Tammy Alup. Uh, does anybody have any questions on this? And this might not be the time to ask and maybe it's at the end. But you remember how the last meeting there was like a

under the general fund it was 8% and then under the other fund it was the storm it was 92%. Like why was there such? Normally it's like 48 and 52 or no Tammy. went back historically and that is what we see in January. It is that we see the lower percentage. It is something we see every year but then it will regulate out but she said no the numbers were correct. She has checked those. I apologize. I should have sent that to the board as a whole. Okay. So thank you. Yep. So on the uh park storm water on a it says in the current year field fees were paid in advance which did not occur did not occur in the previous year under storm water parks fund. A in the current year field

in the current year field fees were paid in advance which did not occur in the prior year. I don't I don't quite I think they mean in the prior year they didn't pay them in advance. They paid them later in the year is what that means but I am not sure. I'm sure it's right. I just I'm just trying to understand it. We don't have to labor it. I could look into that because as you know we don't we do a with a rolling when we when they're paid but they won't go into the I explain this we do a deferred what's deferred is that we don't count the funds though until it's actually the rental occurs we so yeah

you just ask her and get back with us. So like if they're paid in like late 2025, it still doesn't show till the 2026 because of that's when the rents occur because in case we have to do refunds on any of it. Okay. Okay. Um next we have a consideration of a supplemental cooperation agreement with St. Louis County, Missouri for the allocation of community block grant funds for the year 2024. Uh Nikki.

Yeah. And that is not a typo. It is for 2024. Um, we finally the application that we submitted for that year has finally been accepted by St. Louis County. Um, and but if you will remember, we are in the three-year term now to where it's going it's for, I believe, for 24, 25, and 26. Um, where they the allocations where we used to get 20,000 each year. What they do is the rolling where it's 60,000 is a lump. But no, that is not a typo. That is correct. Okay. Any questions on this? And now it says you just need a Is this a motion just to forward it or Yes, it'll be a motion for it because that will be by ordinance. Okay. Uh I'll make a motion to forward this to the April board meeting. Alderman Jokers. I'll second.

So we have a motion by Lang, a second by Jokers. Jokers. Uh further discussion. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Think that's health and safety. I know. I got nothing. Yeah. All right. Do we have executive Alderman Huels? Motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. Need a second. Alderman Lang. Second. Motion by Huels. Second my length.