Board of Aldermen - Regular Meeting

We turn the mic on. Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Fenton Board Committee meeting. This is September 3rd, 2026. We'll begin with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll call, please. Alderman Lang.

Here.

Alderman Breitschaff. Here. Alderman Wissbrock. Here. Alderman Rogers.

Here.

Alderman Heals. Here. Alderman Jokers. Here. Alderman Mazerang.

Here.

Alderman Harrell, excused absence, seven for the quorum.

Okay. Mayor's comments, been hot out there. That's all I can say. I guess that's why we didn't have the event this evening. The farmer's market. Okay. I didn't see where that was published or anything, but did I miss that? It was on Facebook. Okay. All right. Public comments. Do we have any public comments, Jane?

I have no public comments.

I don't see anybody in the audience that cares.

Can I just speak? Can we fix that sign? The banner is always.

Where are we talking about?

Farmer's market sign. I'm just letting you know, every time I drive past that sign.

How about if uncle Joe fixes it for permanent?

Or we come up with a different one. I'll take care of it. But it's always bent over that you can't even see what it is.

We've got to pay attention to those things.

Or just get a different kind that doesn't do that. Or take it down. Whatever it is.

I'll take care of it.

Okay.

Thank you. We're going to first move to the police municipal courts. Alderman Lang and his chair on that committee, Harold Rogers and Jokers.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. First up tonight, we have a consideration of requests from St. Paul for a road closure and police assistance for a walk-a-thon parade on October 30th. See 827 memo from Jane. Looks like it's 8.15 to 9.15 a.m. Friday, October 30th, requesting police assistance and road closures. There were approximately 370 participants and two vehicles in the parade. Started at St. Paul and Forest Knoll, head down New Smizer Mill, heading west, right on Woodway, continuing on Woodway Circle, back to New Smizer Mill Road, heading east to Forest Knoll Drive and back up to St. Paul. Are there any other additions to this, Jane?

This is an annual walk-a-thon that they have each year, and the police assist them going out and back on that. It's only an hour.

Yeah. That goes right by my house. I want to say, obviously, it's very well attended, and the kids love it. I'm very much in for it. A lot of neighbors come out and watch them, too, so it is a fun thing for them.

Any other questions? At this time, I'd like to make a motion to approve.

Need a second, Alderman Jokers? Second. We have a motion by Lange, second by Jokers. Do we have further comment? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

Next, we have a consideration of request for the city to purchase cell phones for the business resource officers and neighborhood policing officer. I know we discussed this in the past. Nikki, do you want to expand on this at all or?

I'll be happy to kind of kick it off if you have any questions for the captain to address. The police department is requesting that the city essentially provide the funding for three cell phones, two for the two business resource officer positions, and one for the neighborhood policing. officer position. If we were to do so, what that is is that they would procure the phones and then we would just reimburse them for the cost on our monthly bill. The cost is $50 per phone or $150 a month.

which I know we discussed this a little bit before and our worry was us having the phones with, you know, just being under our position.

Yes, our possession. Then it would be a city-owned phone, which would fall under our sunshine. So it's best that it's, it would be for police use, police records, that it's best that it's in their possession.

And when it falls under sunshine, explain a little bit what that creates for the city.

What that would create for the city is that if the city owns the cell phone, if the city provides the cell phone, that if any records requests would come in, that we would have to be able to search or use their phones for those records requests, whereas what they're using it for is police business. That should fall under their sunshine, their records requests for their police business.

Alderman Mazarin. I have a question for the Captain. Do most officers, do they have a phone issued by the St. Louis County Police? I mean, it seems like it's almost an essential tool in today's society that, or do most officers just rely on their personal cell phone if they during the day-to-day activities?

No, there are very few officers, especially Division of Patrol. So your commanders have one, captains, and then some of the specialized units that are on call usually 24 hours a day. So most of your patrolmen do not have a phone.

Okay. This seems like it's such an essential part of everyday life that it would be. And I understand the reasons why officers may not want to use their personal phone for police work because of sunshine and stuff like that. But it seems like almost it makes sense that all officers would have one nowadays.

Sorry, I can't speak. Why? Obviously, they're not out there with no way to communicate. What are they using now that's not working? Why do you need cell phones? You know what I mean?

Yeah. Currently, Officer Dilks does have a phone that is city-owned that you all pay for. And then the two... What this is for is the two business resource officers. So... The past business resource officer, I know Officer Carr, when he left and went to personnel, the department had him keep that because he was doing background investigations on applicants, police applicants. So that phone went with him. So Jared, Officer Abelov and Officer Myers, they do get a lot of calls with the police the professional connection that they have with a lot of the business owners. A lot of these owners, if a crime occurs, uh, over a weekend, they call officer, um, Abalov and Myers on their phone to report those crimes that they don't typically call the officers who are working and just have officers, Abalov and Myers respond to their location the next day that they're working to write those reports. And they're constantly sharing information Information from surveillance cameras, they're sending a lot of those by phone, and obviously those personal phones, if they are subpoenaed, then they are, if they get a subpoena for that phone, then they're out of their personal phone. Whereas if the department would subpoena the phone that I, the department phone that I have, then the department would end up giving me another phone while that one was sitting in evidence.

but we don't want to purchase these but then we are going to be paying you back for them like right like so so the way that it works if if we bought the phones and let them use them we are subject to sunshine we if somebody comes and requests information off okay that becomes pretty costly for the city and time consuming i think the real question here tonight that the reimbursing them

They buy them.

They're their phones. We reimburse them. That's the question. Do you think that they should buy the phones or the city of Fenton should buy the phones? That's the real issue tonight. Are those any different than their guns, bullets, handcuffs?

Are we paying the monthly payments for the service? Are we paying the monthly payments to pay off the phones? Because if we're paying off the phones, then we're buying the phone.

I don't know the answer to that. So it's just this.

Yeah, the phones are held by them. So it just goes into the reimbursement of the cost just goes into our monthly contract that we're paying for their overall service. It's an additional cost for them to have those phones.

So you're buying the phone and paying for the service. You're paying $1,800 a year.

We're not buying the phone. It's to pay for their service, which is $50 a month. Thank you.

It sounds like reimbursing them for the phones. No, no, no.

It's reimbursing them because they're having to use, because they fall under the same as the category as the city is that Our phones are typically free through the vendors. It's just that we have to pay our monthly service fee like an individual does to have a cell service. And it's $50 a month.

No different than like the vehicles. I mean, we're not buying the vehicles, but we're reimbursing you guys for using them in our area, the patrol cars.

Okay. I think I, so we're just, we're paying the service so that you could.

And again, what I see is it's helps these officers do their job and not have to get calls and texts on personal cell phones if they needed to. So an officer Dilks, if I'm correct, will be transferred over to this instead of the city of Fenton. So that's a benefit to us.

And also, it sounds like... And the phones would remain.

So if Officers Abelov or Myers would leave, then obviously those phones would stay with the Fenton Police Department. And yeah, they're positional phones. So they would stay with the NPO and the two business resource officers.

And I do like, I don't know, I like the idea that the community is so comfortable with these. officers that they're, you know, like, it's like real personal service, like a tap on the street. Does that make sense?

Especially for our business owners, that's the only place we really have issues, knock on wood, so it's good for them.

It kind of makes it a more personable.

Well, and there's more features that come with a cell phone than, say, a radio call or a dispatch or something. They can get pictures and have a whole interchange of things that would be recorded that they could write later that, you know, so I'm for it. I think it's actually a small price to pay to help the guys out there.

Any other questions? This time I'd like to make a motion to approve.

Alderman Rogers? I second. Motion by Lang, second by Rogers. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

Next, we have a consideration of amendments to the traffic code related to bicycles, e-bikes, motorized bicycles, motorized play vehicles, alternative motor vehicles, anything with wheels. So I believe we want to continue this again just to make sure that we get this correct because there's just so much that goes into it. I mean... Erin, is there anything you want to add to this? I know you want to be sure it's all correct as well.

Yeah, we're still working on kind of the distinctions between them and why we're making certain rules for some and not others.

Yeah, it's such a huge topic of discussion all over that is changing all the time. So we don't want to do something and then have to go back to the drawing board. So at this time, I'd make a motion to continue. Oh, sorry.

I did one. There was a couple. One, I think if we do, I do, I liked what I read. I do think we need to start looking at creating bike lanes in our roads then. We're forcing all these people onto the road, which I agree with what we're doing. I don't know how, but we might want to start looking at putting bike lanes on the road.

You mean striping them? Because they have the right on the road now.

I know. But you know what I mean? It really helps if you're a biker. And also for cars to be like, oh, that's a bike lane. The other thing is, like in here, it said that the board was doing this for safety, blah, blah, blah. But I would like it to say also for the record that, is it state or federal law, Aaron, that says that we have to treat all electric bikes like state? So I think we need to put, because of the state law saying that we have to recognize electric bikes as regular bicycles, that's kind of why we're here, because we couldn't separate the two. And then also because the advancement of electric bikes going from 20 miles per hour to 40 miles per hour, we had to do something. But I think that we need to put in that because of state law, it's not just kind of put in a pickle. That's it.

This time I'd like to make a motion to approve. Or sorry to continue. Sorry to continue. Continue Alderman Jokers.

I'll second.

Motion by Lange, second by Jokers. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

Finally, we have a consideration of a request for the city to purchase integrated biometric devices. We have a memo from Officer Dilks. But Nikki, do you have anything to add to this? A little bit of explanation?

Yeah, I can just add to this for anybody who is on the board that... conversation regarding live scan a few years ago regarding the large device that would need to come in as technology has evolved. They're now able to provide essentially the same technology on a tablet. It's a one-time cost of a little over $2,000 per unit. that are basically handheld devices that will provide the police with what they need to take in the fingerprinting and provide it to the central, then they're able to provide it to the courts. Because this is beneficial both to our courts and to our police, not just the police, for these devices to exist. It also allows them to catch fingerprinting on nights where the defendants may show up and haven't had their necessary fingerprinting done. And abided by what requirements were so they would be able to catch him on that and a lot of it has to do with at this point they are seeking two devices um both of course be used on court night but one may become mobile with the traffic officer due to the fact that many of those are the violations that they need the fingerprinting um before before release and and now they have to require courts have to send them a letter that states, you need to go have this done before your court date. And the likelihood of that happening usually is slim to none. But the captain would be happy. I do know that we are requesting to purchase these. However, the county is going to be getting a trial with them to make sure that they integrate So I think what we would do is we would go ahead and pass this because we have another hoop we would need to go through because we would essentially be donating these to the police department and they would have to be accepted as a donation by the county. So it's going to be a bit of a process. It's going to be 30 days on our end, about 30 days on their end. And in the meantime, they are going to be going through a trial with the Missouri State Highway Patrol just to make sure that these are meeting all of their needs in real life before we would go ahead and just make the purchase. But like I said, it's going to take us a while to pass the ordinance and then also to go to the county for them to approve the donation.

But overall, this makes life for our court a lot easier.

It is. It serves on both sides. It saves the time of them having to send the letters and our postage, the time spent with that, and then the police getting the documents they need or required to obtain for certain violations.

Okay.

I believe that includes suspended license.

A couple of questions. So if we do the donation, it'll be like the cell phone where it'll stay with the city of Fenton, even though we donate it.

And then we will be donating it to. Oh, the precinct.

Yeah. So maybe I should. Yeah. So we donated to St. Louis County, but it stays with the precinct.

I'm not an expert on how all the donation works. I know Eric Kisnerkiewicz had a meeting with us just recently, and he said that that would be the best way to do it. So, yes, but they would stay here. We can make that a condition.

And then what was the part I didn't get the part about the one would be mobile, one would not be?

Oh, what we were saying is that at some time, if the traffic officer, he would be able to actually use it on the road, it would be mobile, something that he could have in his car to utilize to capture the data.

And that way, just in case, so one would be in the courts in case the traffic officer didn't get the fingerprints for somebody that showed up and didn't have them. Otherwise, he gets it done and it's done ahead of time, no matter what.

sorry i was thinking was one was not mobile so it was like affixed to something the other was mobile no they're they're both mobile they're just about twice the size of us of uh of your iphone um it's just a mobile device that uh takes those prints and then sends those prints over to the highway patrol um and yes we're gonna do our highway safety unit is uh supposed to this is i don't think it's technology that's supposed to come out until like january but I don't know exactly when. I know a lot of emails have been passed around to see when the testing evaluation phase will begin. I haven't had a concrete answer regarding that, but we're going to test and evaluate the devices prior to any purchase to make sure they integrate with the different IT systems to make sure they download properly and that they are compatible.

Thank you. Any other questions?

So I guess first quick question, no subscription, right? Just a flat purchase, one-time purchase, and they have some reasonable useful life, maybe a couple years or something like that. Yeah. Okay. So, okay, well then.

12-month warranty.

Okay.

So, and then, oh, lost the other one. It was, so is this something that we expect is gonna be good, or should we wait until they confirm that it's good, or is that something that?

I would definitely wait until the testing evaluation phase is completed, that they are compatible units, that we don't have any flaws with compatibility with the internet systems. They've assured us that it should be a smooth process with that, but... Obviously, we're going to do a test and evaluation before the department, because I think the department is going to purchase some, too. Like I said, our highway safety unit is wanting some of those as well. And currently, there are fingerprintable offenses, and a couple of those are like driving while revoked, driving while suspended. Normally, we don't arrest someone for driving while suspended, but it is a fingerprintable offense where we have to obtain those fingerprints. So this, and just like Nikki said, that I know Michelle and the courts has to send those letters out repeatedly, and The compliance on someone coming to court with the fingerprints usually doesn't happen.

I'm in favor as long as it's going to work, though.

Yeah, we're not purchasing unless we know it works, but this is kind of to approve that if it's all good, we will. Yeah.

I'll get with the attorney, though. Should we wait until they tell us to go on this? county because at that point it might just be i mean i think before sending to the county but i think we can move forward with it and authorize you to move and as soon as they're comfortable we can send it to the county then for approval for donation i probably okay perfect thank you captain oh sorry oh no uh at this time i'd like to make a motion to approve

Alderman Jokers.

I'll second.

Motion by Lang, second by Jokers. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. That's all I have tonight, Mr. Mayor. We're going to move to personnel. Alderman Hules on that committee. Lang, Wisbrock, Jokers.

Thank you, sir. First item is the Third Quarter Achievement Awards. I have a memo from Jane Hungler. Each year on a quarterly basis, the City recognizes all employees who have achieved five-year milestones. Full-time employees will receive $10 per year of service this quarter. We are recognizing the following July, August, and September anniversary for 2026, Rob Brink, five years, and Andrea and Nikki Finkbeiner, 20 years. The achievement and gift certificate will be presented at the September 24th Board of Aldermen meeting. Next item is consideration of amendments to the job description for bookkeeper, accounting, administrative support, and administrative assistant at City Hall. We have a memo from Jane Hungler.

On these job descriptions, since we have the vacancy now in the bookkeeper admin support, we want to make that a part-time flex position. And we would like to make the administrative assistant a full-time position.

Anybody have any questions? We're just kind of flipping it around. Anybody have any questions? If not, and I see you're asking for a final motion so that we can get this advertised. Okay, I'd like to make a final motion to change it to the part-time flex position. Sorry, I'll make a motion to open it up to the full board.

Okay, second. Alderman Rogers, yes. I'm sorry, you're not on that committee. Second. Motion by Heal, second by Wisbrock to open up to the full board. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

Now I'd like to make a final motion to make this a part-time flex so we can start getting it advertised.

Okay. Alderman Rogers? I second. All right. Motion by Heal, second by Rogers. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

The last item I have is a request for the 2026 employee luncheon. I've got a memo from Aaron Gravel. Traditionally, the city of Fenton has an annual employee appreciation luncheon in December. Last year, the event was held on Friday, December 5th in the former library space. If approved by the board for this year, staff is suggesting the luncheon will be held on Friday, December 4th in the former library space. Upon approval, a catering will be determined by staff. This event is budgeted under line item, and something we do every year requires a motion. I'd make this motion.

Alderman Jokerst, I saw your hand up first, sir.

I'll second it.

Motion by Hill, second by Jokerst. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carried. That's all I have. Community Development and Affairs, Alderman Rogers, along with Bright Shaft, Harold, and Mazerang.

Thank you, Mayor. I have nothing for discussion tonight. Thank you.

Okay. We're going to move capital improvements. Alderman Mazerang, Bright Shaft, Harold, and Heals.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The first item up for discussion is a memo from... Who is this from? It's from Nikki. So it is basically the bid opening for the 2026 Park Path Improvement Project was held on August 27th. The city received three bids for the project with Spencer Contracting submitting the lowest and most responsive bid for $140,376,000. The E. Meyer Contracting was the second lowest bid at $148,780. The project will consist of removal, replacement, identified areas, asphalt repair within the Fenton City Park Greenway, Merrimack Greenway, Valiant Park, and a section of the Merrimack Greenway to be overlaid. See the attached project specifications. I guess I have a question about this. Some of the areas I know in the back of the park, people have complained about them holding mud and water and stuff. I guess that is addressing these issues and bringing the grade up on them and stuff. Okay, Susan.

I did have a question. This is obviously for these specific areas, but just something for the future, the path behind the Y that goes down to Westside Park, the Bermuda grass is really eating into that path and starting to eat it up. So we probably need to look at treating that.

And if anybody else, Nikki, would you ask whoever, I don't know if it's Dan, the contractor, in a lot of these areas, the reason that we're going to have to replace it is the roots are pushing the asphalt up. Are those roots removed? Are those going to damage the trees? You know what? But I think the roots should go away. And I didn't read anything in there that would indicate that. So would you make a footnote? We can follow up on that.

Any other questions? I see the bids are a bit more than we had budgeted, so it looks like we would have to amend the current budget. But I guess at this time, I would make a motion that we go with Spencer Contracting, the lowest bid.

Alderman Hughes?

I'll second.

Motion by Mazerang, second by Hughes. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

All right. Next item is the bid opening for the 2026 Joint Crack ceiling services will be held on September 3rd, and it was held. So here we have a new memo. The city held the bid opening for the 2026 joint crack ceiling program on September 3rd. Eight contractors received requested copies of the bid packet with three submitting bids. Wheaton Sealing Service submitted the lowest responsive bid of $10,074. The next lowest bid was from parking lot maintenance at $11,753. The locations to be sealed this year include Cassins Drive, Fenn Corp Drive, Ocelot Drive, Alvarado Drive, and San Martin Drive, the south side.

Any questions? I do want to mention, would you ask Dan about Riverside and Forest Knoll? I know that's been done, but there are areas that it has come up and we need to address that.

Sweetens, who did work last year, I don't know if I would go with Sweetens from what I've seen in my neighborhood. Yeah.

I have the same sentiments. We had discussions, I think, publicly about the work was bad and it wasn't complete and we said we weren't happy with them. And so to turn around and give them another contract, I think, is pretty silly on our part, even if it means paying a little more.

I would echo those two comments myself. There's other locations where Sweetens did it last year. It didn't seem to stick. They didn't seem to clean out the crack before the seal went in.

Terry and Jimmy, can you refer, your streets are all concrete or are they overlaid with asphalt? I'm trying to remember.

No, they're solid concrete.

Solid concrete. Okay. Just trying to get what the base is. Any other questions? So does it sound like we want to go try someone different with parking lot maintenance? I'll make a motion that we go with parking lot maintenance for the $11,753. Okay, we need Alderman Breitschaff. I would second that.

Motion by Mazrang, second by Breitschaff. Further discussion?

Yes, sir. Do we need to, so we're not going with the lowest bid on this. Do we need to do anything?

No, I mean, your discussion was enough. You are finding them the lowest, best, most responsive bidder, which you're allowed to do. You do not have to go with the lowest.

You know, I think that, yeah, the motion is there. If Dan feels uncomfortable or has a different attitude, then he can certainly talk to us before the meeting, and we can take that under advisement, but I think this is what the board's looking at. I don't know that I necessarily disagree because I think last year there were a lot of areas in the Riverside subdivision that I saw that had come up relatively quick, and it wasn't after the snow plowing.

And the price is negligible, the difference.

So all in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

And the final item I have tonight is consideration of the bid for backstop repairs at the Fenton Sports Complex. Staff requested quotes from two vendors for backstop repairs at the Fenton Sports Complex Elite, which was currently have an on-call contract, submitted a quote of $18,560. A quote was also requested from J&J Fence, which Staff has had good experience with quoted $15,205 with both quotes being over the $15,000 threshold. Staff is asking to weigh the formal bidding procedures and award the contract to J and J fence. If approved the, the capital plan under backstop repairs with the budget amount would need to be amended. Any questions?

Yeah. No, it was at 40,000. The bids came in at 15 and 16.

Oh, so it would not or no.

So it would not need to be amended. The budget $40,000.

And I probably am getting all of our sports updates confused, but I could have sworn that we just had these backstops done, or was that something else?

There were some at the sports complex that were re-fenced by Chesterfield Fence and Deck. Yeah. So these are additional ones, and they're probably in worse shape. And the one thing that we talked about today when we were meeting with Dan is we want to do a fix to where it doesn't happen again. We're going to add additional support because most of those are where they run into it. So we want to make sure that we don't have that problem So they're going to do a little bit more to reinforce that so we don't have to keep coming back. We've got to think a little proactively.

And a lot of this is for the Fenton Sports Complex where that fencing was there when we purchased it and have gone underwater during the 15 and 17 floods. But we do. We spend quite a bit every year in backstops because we have to repair, replace areas, but they're all in need.

The kids run into it. They hang the bats on it.

There's no support, you know, foot high, and naturally it's going to give.

It's the same at Lindenwood. We had a fence around the main stadium. Soccer balls hit it across everything, and they bend in. I mean, it's just...

We're going to make that not happen.

I mean, we probably have 15 backstops between the two parks or more. I mean, so we didn't get them all. And typically, backstops take a lot of abuse, even just from foul tips, everything, bats, and all that stuff. OK. Robin, did you have a question? Oh, OK. Any other questions? All right, at this time, I'd make a motion that we go with, who are we going with? J&J. J&J. Breitschaff? I would second.

Motion by Mazerang, second by Breitschaff. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

I'll have the night, Mr. Mayor.

Public Works, Forestry, Alderman Breitschaff, Wisbrock, Rogers, and Mazerang.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This evening we have two things to discuss. The first being consideration of a request to seek bids for the 2027 grass cutting services. And I have a memo from Dan. And with the current staffing level at Public Works, we hear that a lot, below what is needed to accomplish weekly activities provided by Public Works, including park and street maintenance, there are 16 parcels that we are seeking bids. Yeah, we're seeking bids. We're not looking at one specific contractor. Okay. To take care of these areas next cutting season in 2027. I have a question about this one, and it'll also roll over to the same question for the second item this evening. And that is, if we were to get our manpower up more, would we not need these contracts? And if these contracts are written as such that we say, yes, we're going to use you, or we're only going to use you in case we need you, or how does that work? Because what I'm envisioning is that we say, yeah, it's obvious we need help cutting these 16 areas, but between now and then, we get four or five more guys and we're able to do it ourselves. What do we do with this contract?

Can I throw in here now? I don't think with the number of people that we have, I honestly think we need to concentrate on our streets more than our grass and our parks. I really do. I think that what we need to look at, and we're kind of discussing a little bit internally until we figure something out with the board. So Steve Myers, Steve Stevens, you know, maybe it's time that he needs a few full-time people instead of part-time. The reason I say that is, you, Jane, told us today she had 149 resumes. Out of that, they They weeded down to about 12. And how many did you have that responded?

So since we started advertising for that position in January of this year, we overall have received 149 applications and we hired the first round of, of our applicants who are now, you know, into their season and we have no staff there. So we have reached out to 12 selected candidates out of the leftover pool that was there and have had no response.

We, go ahead.

So since I've been on the board, our public works department has been short. I mean, just, I do not see in the next year or two that all of a sudden people are going to be like, I want to work for Fenton. It'd be nice, but we got to be realistic about this and that the reality that all of a sudden we're going to get five or six people that are going to stay because we hire and then a couple of months later, somebody quits. I think that if we actually have a couple of months where we have too many public works or we got people mowing the lawn, then we can actually use our public works for other stuff that has not been done because we're so short staffed. So I don't have a problem with signing a contract for a year or two and actually having too many.

My question, I think, is legitimate. Oh, I'm not saying it's not. And we're committed, but then we hire guys, then we could do the work ourselves. How does that work?

So, Terry, that's where I'm trying to point out. So with this alternative Fenton City Park common ground area, because that's what our guys mainly take a lot of time in doing every week, that would open them up to do more of the street stuff. And I can't predict how many more people we're going to hire. It doesn't look like we're going to hire many. We have one that has been offered a job today. No, not yet. It hasn't, but it's coming that way. But I hear what you're saying. You're saying, you know, where are we going to put a stop at the Public Works if we hire this all done?

Not necessarily, but I just want to know... If I was a, if I was a contractor, grass cutting contractor, and you guys came to me and, and I want to bid and I geared up manpower wise. And then all of a sudden you told me, no, we got enough guys. We don't need you now. That wouldn't be right here. So I wouldn't know how the contractor was going to be worded. I'm not saying we don't need to cut the grass. I agree. We need to cut the grass.

But I'm just, but these contracts are limited, right? It's not, it's not, we're not saying we're going to have you mow the grass for the next 20 years. It's, Yeah, it's just one year. It's just for one year.

I think Dan has stated before in the past, too, if it's awful dry or what and we don't need the grass cut, he can tell them not to do it and we're not built for it, right? Yeah, so, I mean, it would really be no different if you say, well, we don't need you to cut it because we've got enough manpower. I mean, I don't see what the difference is if you told them not to cut it.

That doesn't happen often, no.

I believe that you're talking about as needed. So if it's super dry or whatever else, it's as needed. Because Dan calls them, tells them to cut it. If we got our own guys, it's not needed by them.

Right. But if anything, we'll actually have somebody mowing the grass and then our guys can paint something that has needed to be painted for the last 20 years.

Some of this is logistic too. I mean, these are scattered all over and it's a little tougher to run from one to the other to the other. as opposed to having a contractor with mobile. So any other?

So I do want to point out, we had a little discussion this afternoon, Robin, Nikki, and Dan and I, about trying to do much as he's suggesting in the next item, which is the snow removal, trying to find several smaller companies to do it and spread that out a little bit. So it's what we wanted to do the last go-around, but I don't think we advertised or pushed it that well. Instead of having just one big company, and that company just was recently bought out and the service hasn't been all that great.

Oh, so you're saying maybe the same way with the grass cutting? Yes. Okay. That's a good idea.

You want to add anything, Nick? No. No, I think we all agree with splitting it up to zones. It's starting to become a very large contract that could be difficult for, you know, not everybody is going to be able to fill those shoes. So to drive, hopefully, some more bids is that we're going to break it up into zones, and then if they can bid it all, great. If they can only bid... zone one, zone two, zone three, zone four, that we also understand that too. Or we may even just do it by parcel and look at who's the best on each parcel and they'll understand with the bid package that we have the choice to go a la carte.

And I think you're going to get better service that way because nobody's going to say, oh, I'm turning down that massive contract. They're going to take it whether they can do it or not. If it's smaller, it's going to be a lot easier to manage.

And understanding, though, we do have to draw the line, though, that we can't be expected to follow 14 different contractors. Right. It's a little does so. So the fear of the last time though, is going out that way, though, it might drive up your prices because they go, wow, if I'm having to go mobile, and I'm only getting these three small parcels, I'm not going to want the contract. So but we're gonna we're gonna try to find a way to just like the snow plowing zoning it possibly where it's more palatable, but smaller areas where it might be for contractors.

My daughters are costing me a lot. I can sign them up for a parcel or two. Yeah.

Okay, any other discussion? And I am comfortable making a motion to take bids for grass cutting for 2027.

Need a second? Mazerang, Rogers?

Sure, I'll say it.

We have a motion by Breitschaff, second by Mazerang. We have further discussion. All in favor? Aye. Motion carries.

Just because that's a bid, that will be a final this evening. It's allowing staff to go out to bid. Okay.

All right. So then the second item is to talk about snow plowing under the same premise as what we just discussed, grass cutting. So does anybody have any questions or discussion on that? And I make a motion, and we seek bids for the snow removal when it happens.

Alderman Rogers. I second. Motion by Breitschaff, second by Rogers. We have further discussion. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

That'll do it this evening.

All right. We have no information services, so we'll move to miscellaneous. First is consideration of quotes for repairs at 900 Gregory Lane. Who wants to lead?

Help. I'll be happy to just kind of kick it off. I just want you to, in front of you, though, are the additional quotes that we happened to receive from another company yesterday. They're pretty close to what Elite provided, except for the fact that with Elite, they would also be bricking in the window areas to at least make it somewhat decorative versus plywood to be a little more... around those windows. But again, it's to replace most of those doors up there that are wooden with metal, stronger metal doors.

Susan and Terry?

How long has this building been just sitting there?

I love this building. I would love to see it repurposed. Instead of us spending money to whitewash it and put new metal doors on it and put decorative plywood on it. Like either we do something with it, we repurpose it or we tear it down. It's not to sit there and keep doing these little repairs does not make sense. And I would love, I'd love to repurpose it. If there's something that we can do with it, great. But, or we need to look at tearing it down. Maybe put a splash pad. You know, I love splash pads. But anyway, I'm just throwing that out there.

Mary. Susan, you pretty much stole everything I was going to say.

Sorry.

I can't see spending a nickel on the place unless we have a reason or a purpose for that building in the future. And we keep, since I've been on the board, it's come up a few times and we kind of just blew it off. But every day that goes by, that thing deteriorates more. We have no conditioning there now. There's no electric there. So the inside just falling apart. I actually went up there today after receiving this email yesterday from Nikki on the quotes because I wanted to see firsthand what those doors look like and where they were and what the options were. And I can't get past the rest of the building. I looked at the front door. walk way to the front entrance, and it's like Merrimack Caverns. There's stalagmites hanging down from things that are leaking up there, roofs that are leaking, flashing that's leaking. That building needs, I would like to look at, one, what it would take to put that building back in service with an idea of what we're going to do with it, or two, what it would cost to tear it down, put it back to green space. I looked at it today. in the perspective of a couple of things. I'm going to step back for a second. I'm kind of embarrassed that I said yes when we decided to spend the money on that parking lot up there. Because I was against spending any money for that building or surrounding area until I heard that it would be a great parking lot for the new playground. And immediately I changed my mind and said yes without looking into it. Today I walked that area and I thought to myself, okay, if we fix this parking lot, what's it going to take to get up to the playground? Anybody with a stroller or a young child that's walking with hand is going to have to walk all the way down the hill to Gregory, away from the playground, back up Gregory all the way to the bathroom to the new playground. sidewalk, and then up to the playground. That's like an eighth of a mile.

But it is also right across from what will be the Stone Gate Park, where people can just walk up that street there.

That's further up. That's about halfway between.

No, it's right across from the church.

But that'll have a stone parking lot also. Yeah, a smaller one. I'm envisioning that too. But I think people in Stonegate are not going to, they're probably going to drive down and need a place to park. But anyway, I'm getting off track. I'm losing my train of thought. I wish I would have stuck to my guns and said no on that parking lot because I feel like we're throwing money there, we're throwing money away there too. I realized when I drove up it today that I went through potholes, it is terrible. But the fact that we're going to redo that and it's already in the works, so it's past the point of no return, right? But it's silly to throw any more money at that building unless we have a purpose for that building. And I'm all for using it something or something that that building works for. I don't think there's a lot of, different things that are, that building's really good for. It's pretty much one use and it's for jails, right? But somebody could come up with something. The fact that we would, it would have to be us though. The fact that we would maybe fix it up, put it on the market. Then we got somebody living between what we own here and what we own up there. And I don't think that's a good idea either. So if I'm getting off track, I apologize. Who's next?

Well, I was just going to say, it's too bad we don't have someone with vision like that, Bob Casley, with City Museum that could repurpose it, make something cool out of it.

So here's a thought that just came to me. We have all this stuff at Public Works, which is on the other side of the city. What if we... gutted this building out and created a couple salt bins, mulch bins, a place to park some trucks. But it might be an option to just gut it out. It sounds like it has all this concrete there, but maybe we could build a garage or something to store some public works. Just a thought. But I'd love to save the building if we could. I love that book.

So yeah, so my comment is, you know, I think tonight we're looking at securing the building because I've heard we've got people that get in and you know, that could cause a hazard or if they get hurt while they're inside the building because we didn't secure it, then they could come back at the city of Fenton, right? And come after us for something. So I'm for securing the building. I don't disagree. We need to get something on the calendar to have further discussion about what we could do with that. I do like maybe using it for storage, public works. We definitely have a lot of equipment that sits outside during the winter time that we, it's outside we don't have enough indoor storage we looked at one point in time increasing the building over at public works that's a pretty big ticket item when maybe this building up there could be used for some of that if we brick in some of it put a garage door in they could put lawnmowers or whatever else in there for the winter time right or whatever else we're going to do um so yes i think get something on the thing but i'm for securing the building tonight

I just like to say, I don't know if some of the stuff from, I called the mayor about a week and a half, two weeks ago, I was walking with my kids up to the new park and the doors were busted open the window. I know there was somebody in there. Um, obviously it didn't go in because it was my family, but I think that is what some of the stem from. It does need to be, you know, you don't know who's living in there or what's going on in there. And it's right next to a playground that we just built. So I do think we need to better secure that building right now.

Secure it with the caveat that it's time we do something.

I was just going to tag on to that, too. I was with Terry today, and we walked around the building twice, by the way, 100-degree weather. But I think the time has come that we get serious about Get Cochran in. Can the front of that building, one thing I thought, well, where the concrete, where the blocks are, the glass blocks, can we remove that? And structurally, will it stand? Make a pavilion out of that? Like you say, storage for moors or something? I don't know. But it's time. I think let's just get on it and start. See what it would cost to tear it down. See what it would cost. The bids aren't really that expensive to get. Get some ideas from Cochran, how structurally support, what we can do to cut out.

Just to tag on, I think the security is an issue, but however, since the future is uncertain, maybe we go to the minimal amount of, we don't spend any more money than we have to just lock it up.

So my idea, Nikki, I think three of the doors are on either side of the bay. And then the fourth one is the front door. Is that correct?

No. Well, the door is the one in the bay. So it doesn't include the doors that are just... Okay, those double doors. Yes. Okay.

I was thinking something on the lines of boarding, boarding the windows up and it's not Yeah, being get in the wood, the wood doesn't last very long ripped it off. We need ideas on what to do. Or we spend $13,000 and put brand new doors in a building that we...

I mean, I don't think we have a choice right now. I think we have to secure it. You don't know what is going on in there when it's being broken into. And again, that could lead to something worse for the city.

And please note with the difference in the bids is that the one that was received yesterday is just for the doors. The one with the lead is the doors and the... Well, the windows. It's filling in the windows, correct. Oh, okay.

So can I just make the point? to secure the building as best as you seem fit. That's not my specialty. But then also to move forward with let's come up with how much would it cost to tear it down, get Cochran to see what our options are with that building. How much would it be to fix it up and do something with it or turn it into does Dan need storage for some of his

So I think that's a multi-step, as I see it, right? So first is, is the building viable? Yes or no?

But I'm just saying, my motion is to A, secure it, and B, start looking at what we're going to do with it.

Okay. I need a second. Do we know which one we're going with? Which one?

We have two. I'm not so sure about bricking that glass in right now.

I can just have Elite do the doors, but I, we need to get, we need to secure the windows.

I just, I guess with, if you put plywood up, they don't, it doesn't take them very long to get through that. And where those windows are, I think.

Is this brick going to be removable? Are we tearing the brick out, tearing the glass out and bricking the glass in? And if we want to put the glass back, it can be removed. Knock the brick out. Okay. What are we thinking?

So Susan made a motion that we secure the building.

Yes.

But which contract? So do we go with this all?

We're deciding which contract.

Oh.

Do we want to go with elite property? Oh, they are.

Thank you. I got the properties.

It's 11-3 combined. 11-3-30.

Man, that's a lot of money. Just to get us a month or two to, I mean, I know we got to secure it, but.

Okay, so I didn't look at that one. Elite.

Go with elite. We like elite, not just that.

But we've used elite. We've appreciated their work.

And so there's my- And we can work with them to see if there's a different or more cost effective way and explain to them what the board's decision is. If you would like to make that a final motion this evening so we can get them started on that.

But I do agree for the record, I would like to see alternatives that will work for the windows if possible.

That was exactly what I said.

All right. So we need a second. Alderman Lang. Second. Motion by Joker, second by Lang. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye.

Opposed? Motion carries.

All right. Next is the dates for the budget hearing or public hearing for our budget. Nikki, who did the Jane? You want to run with this one? We've got one more.

Next is the general election.

Oh, I'm sorry. The bill to the September general election. be held April 6th, City of Fenton, candidate filing. Okay. I would make that motion. Okay, we need a second. Mazering? I'll second. Motion by Wisbrock, second by Mazering. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Now we'll move to the budget hearing dates. reference.

And it's just typically you would like to do it an hour in advance of either the one of the two committee meetings or the board meeting, which would be November 19. So the options are November 5, November 12, or November 19. However, staff suggests that you go with one of the earlier fifth or 12th, if there's a chance that you may want to continue it to have another session, as we have the last couple of years.

That's why I think, because I'm going to be out of town for the 19th one, and to do it before the full board meeting, I think it's better to do it before a committee meeting.

For the fifth.

I would make the motion for the fifth.

Okay, we need a second. Breitschaff? I would second. Okay, we have a motion by Wisbrock, second by Breitschaff. Further discussion? Jokers, do you have any questions?

No, I'll second.

No, we got that. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Finally, consideration request from NextGen Recreation to reduce certain insurance requirements under the city's contract. Yep.

Last month, you approved for staff to move forward with our standard public work, our small public works contract with NextGen to do the needed repairs to the playgrounds in Fenton City Park and Westside Park. They are willing to sign our contract. The only issue is they weren't able to meet the required limits on automobile insurance requirements. which would be very low risk on this type of contract. So they're asking that you waive those requirements.

City Attorney, you want to weigh in?

No, I mean, that's exactly it. It's because they are able to use an umbrella policy to get them up. They actually only have $2 million in general aggregate. Of course, we require like three, five, seven members. We require over $3.5 million, but they also have the umbrella excess liability of $2 million, which is good. The problem is it is very common that these companies only have $1 million in auto insurance.

Umbrella only gets you up to $3 million, so you're still a little over $5,000.

But this just covers the automobile, which you care more about. There's not much travel involved.

You don't sound too concerned?

Not about this.

Okay. All of them in heels.

I'll make that motion. And can we have that as a final plea?

And this is a final, I'll make it a final motion.

Second motion by heel.

Second by Wiz Brock. Further discussion. All in favor. Motion carries. Your turn.

Okay. I'd like to close the meeting for set pursuant to section 6 1 0.0 2 1 1 legal actions, causes of action or litigation and sex sections 6 1 0.0 2 1 2 lease purchase or sale of real estate.

We good? One and two? You said?

Yep.

OK. Need a second. Alderman Lang. Second. Motion by Heals. Second by Lang. Further discussion. Roll call, please.

Alderman Heals. Aye. Alderman Lang. Aye. Alderman Breitschaff.

Aye.

Alderman Wissbrock. Aye. Alderman Rogers. Aye. Alderman Jokers. Aye. Alderman Mazerang. Aye. Motion carries.