Board of Aldermen - Regular Meeting

All right. Good evening everyone. Let's call to order the March 5th, 2026 uh board of alderman committee meeting. We'll begin with the pledge of allegiance. Roll call, please. Jane. Alderman Lang, here. Alderman Bright Chab, here. Alderman Whisbrook, here. Alderman Harold, here. Alderman Rogers, here. Alderwoman Hills, here. Alderwoman Jokers, here. Alder Mazarang here. Eight for the quorum.

Thank you. Uh under the mayor's comments very quickly, uh Amy, Nikki, Robin, and myself attended the Missouri Stewardship Summit up at uh the Maryland Heights uh community center. Uh it was a half-day event, and I have to tell you, at least for me, it was very interesting, rewarding, and I think that we are really on the right track. uh and more and more cities are realizing the effects of bringing back nature, cutting their their lawns because of, you know, employee problems, not not employee problems, but lack of employees. So, I think we're on the right track and uh I think a lot of good things will come out of that. Um I think we'll end up being one of the uh cities that they highlight because of all the things that we have done but there's a lot of work to it and I think that after all the work that we're performing um you know it'll be easier for us to take care of it. We'll mow these areas once a year instead of you know all the time and ecologically be more uh friendly to to the environment. Um, and I think we get the best of of several worlds. I know Susan had talked once about uh somebody uh like a botist or somebody to come on board. Well, these people, that's what they do and they're here to offer. There's uh money available. There's grants available, tax monies and so forth and expert um people to come out and look at it what we have. So, I I'm so excited about it and again, you know, just the way things are going and you you see what's happening statewide that they're looking to take away taxes, you know, so what effect is that going to have on us? We have to think in a different way now. And I I think we're we're kind of on the start to that. So, I'm excited. There's uh we have all kinds of information and pamphlets um that we brought back from that. If you'd

like to take a look at it, they're available. So, um, we'll keep you posted and maybe some of the others there's other seminars coming up every maybe everybody else can can, you know, attend. This really is kind of interesting. Okay, public comments. I have no public comments. No public comments. Nobody in the audience, nobody on Zoom. So, we're going to move then to uh, police and municipal courts. Alderman Lang is chair. No items for discussion tonight, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, sir. We're going to move then to personnel. Alderman Hules is chair.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have three items this evening. The first one is a memo from Jane Hungler, our city clerk. 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 January, February, March anniversaries for 2026, and that will be Angie Krillac, who works in the public works as the administrative assistant. She's got her five years. Her achievement gift certificate will be presented at the March 26th board of alderman meeting.

Did you have Oh, next on the agenda is discussion regarding the number of maintenance worker positions. Um, this is this says that there's a motion required, but I don't have any intention of making a motion on this this evening. This was just to open up the discussion. We've had a lot of um work in the city as far as tree trimming and um you know the the stewardship place that we went to the invasive species and um so this is just a discussion. We do have an interview tomorrow for a maintenance worker one position which would put us up to eight and I just wanted to get the board's feeling on what go.

So yeah, I asked that this be put on there. You know, we've had almost an impossible uh time to to get people to come on board with us. You know, increased salaries, more vacation, that didn't seem to work. Um, you know, I think what we need to do now is take a step back and instead of trying to push to to get 12 more or six more, seven more employees uh up to that 12 number. I'm not s sure we really need 12 at this point. Um, you know, maybe maybe we need them in the summertime or something like six, seven. I'm not sure if we need it year round. And as Robin said, there's a lot of work by three different um vendors that are, you know, doing a lot of work that we otherwise would do. But I think that we need to, I think, start with the job description. I think we need I think that job description is scaring people off. We don't do concrete. We do don't do asphalt. We don't require people to to operate, you know, heavy pieces of equipment or construction equipment. So, I'm thinking that might be scaring people off. Um, so with that, I think that um, we need to re-evaluate that and I'd like to work with the chairman of personnel, with Dan, uh, even public works here and go through this and kind of see the ups and downs and what we really need, what we really need to do. And quite honestly, you know, the uh, Fenton Sports Complex is due to come online. We've got programs starting in another week. We still don't have people to to cut grass. Um, you know, drag fields,

our drag fields or anything like that. Um, I do have an individual who has an interest in working with the city. Um, he currently cuts for uh the Forest Park and he said he's got the equipment and the manpower that he'd like to at least take a look. I'd like for him to bring him in with and have Dan take him and just show him what we have. we don't have time if we're going to, you know, do our obligation to the sports complex. Um, but we we just got to get moving. So, this tonight, I I just want to put it out there that I think we need to look take a different route look and not look at just numbers. I don't I don't know if we need 12 people anymore. Uh, but it's open for discussion. So, um I wasn't really prepared for this discussion because it's kind of new. Um but and I guess I can I go to the third item in this one that we were going to discuss cuz that's where my comments were and they kind of go along with what you were just saying um that we we want to you know uh post job openings for so much per month per uh this and that and do we really necessary that we uh advertise for all these positions when some some of them may not even be necessary anymore. Um so so what is what is our where are we trying to get with um our public works employees? What's the number and how was that how did how did that come about and how long ago was it when we did more work because it seems like since I've been here we've been eliminating we've been taking stuff off their plate, right? We've been we've been doing different things and and uh contracting it out. So, some of their I would think that would go hand in hand with not needing as many people if we're contracting out and we're doing it successfully, right? I mean, we're not we're not going broke by doing it. Um,

we're we're we're able to pay uh our contractors. So, um I think it's a good discussion where maybe we need to start what what is the job description of what we're actually asking them and then go from there and see how many guys we actually need. Part of the reason why we also did some of the hiring it out was because of lack of people. I mean, I know that a lot of it is, but there was some of that due to the fact that we didn't have staff to do the work. Susan,

and that being said, and and I I think it's a good discussion, one to be had. I think I lean more towards if we don't fill the position, we hire out. But if we can fill the positions, then we can actually eliminate some of these contracts and have our own team that does the stuff the way So I think is there is there a downside to just having all these positions available to fill if we can fill them. But if we don't fill them, then we hire out. Like why get why get rid of them if we can fill them eventually?

Ryan. Oh, sorry. Go ahead. You go ahead. No, go ahead. Whoever I saw you first,

Ryan. So, you know, this past winter we did hire out. Uh, so we cut back on leaf pickup. We've cut back on uh yard waste uh in the winter time due to lack of staff. Um, we had to hire out this year uh snowplow removal uh for our subdivisions in a big chunk of our streets uh because we didn't have the personnel that was trained or personnel period. Um I don't know how you guys subdivisions were, but uh was mine cleaned? Eventually it was, but not to what we're used to. Uh when you have your own personnel that constantly plow the snow, I mean my subdivision was plowed twice in the last big snow. Um, was it eventually clean? The streets were clear eventually. Um, but not like it used to be. Uh, you know, we're we just added a a restroom at Fabic. We're about ready to add a restroom potentially at the park. We're about ready to add another restroom to Budweis. We're spending a ton of money on the parks and the restrooms trying to get them to look better. Um, you know, we need personnel to help pick up, clean up, keep the parks. We're we're moving in the right direction with the parks, getting them back into shape, um, and making them look a lot better and usable for all of our residents. And I don't think you can constantly hire out everybody to do all that work. We've got summer programs that are starting. They're really successful. Uh, you've got a lot of other programs that we're doing that take people to do those things. and to go and say that we don't need uh the 12 people that work in public works. I just don't think we're moving in the right direction.

Jim,

um I I I think it's good to have a discussion and brainstorm and just hear people's ideas of of what can work. I think there's pros and cons to both. I think the the cons of contracting out, you don't really have a lot of control. You you know, you have I'm going to pay you or I'm not going to pay you, but you don't really have control over who's working. Um, I think the benefit of hiring your own people, yes, there's a negative that you might not hire the right person and we we dealt with some, you know, employees leaving this past year, but if you get people that will stay and and care about the city, I think that's a benefit. If you do find 12 of those people, I think the city can look the best it can. So, I I understand both sides of it, and I under I get why there's times when contracting out works. Um, and and the conversation, I think, is important to be had and brainstorm and see if we really think it's a good idea. But I do feel that if you find the right people, it's only going to benefit the city if they're your employees.

Yeah. Uh, I agree with that. I think there's a a blend. I think there contractors serve a very good purpose sometimes that that uh times when you're down when you can't get people or whatever. But there is a benefit to having staff. But one thing that crossed my mind is if we're doing all these this clearing of a lot of this underbrush and this invasive species, are our needs going to change in the next couple of years based upon more to where we're pulling all the hunting circles out? We may have more to mow. you know, I don't I don't know if that's going to be We don't Well, you probably don't know. It'd be hard to really evaluate uh something like that. So, could it just be part of I think that ought to be rolled into the discussion is what our predicted needs are going to be and if they're going to increase or maybe decrease. But, anyway, great great discussion. Yeah, I think in answer to your question, what we've been dealing with with Missouri landscape, um, yeah, the idea is to to save our our forests that are being killed by the the undergrowth and the vines and so forth. But in doing that, you're exactly right. You create more work for yourself. We hope not because we're going to plant wild flowers that only need maintenance maybe one time a year, at least in your open settings underneath the canopies and so forth. So, so far back, not so much. it'll regenerate itself. Um, so yeah, we're really kind of hoping because of this that, you know, you'll you'll be able to go back the other way. Um, so yeah, and you know what, I mean, not to belabor this all night long. We just like to have an opportunity, you know, to relook at this thing and work on it with with Dan and Nikki and all and just revisit it. I'm not a And honestly, I don't think you're going to find 12 people. We if how long have we been advertising and trying to hire? Ain't going to find them. But I have to tell you, other other entities, other

companies have the same problem in this arena. What's the harm of leaving the positions? Like nobody No, I'm just curious like just just leave them there. But my goal isn't to to try to hurry up and fill 12 positions. I think there's other ways of doing it and and unfortunately it may be to bring people in. We're we're under the gun right now. His programs start next week. We need we need we need fields cut. We we should have been hiring all summer long, but you can't make people come in here and take a job. But I'm just curious if there is a downside or a harm. That's what that's why I I think we ought to talk it all out and

instead of creating a big fight, let's allow us to talk this all out. Like I say, with chairman of of uh public works, whoever else, Dan. Yeah, go ahead. Oh, sorry.

Yeah, I I don't see what what harm there is in leaving the 12 positions. I mean, why would you want to shoot yourself in the foot and say we're fully staffed and we're not advertised anymore? It's such a volatile position that people come and go. The more the better. I mean, people coming in and out. I mean, so if you say you're fully staffed at six or seven and then one or two leaves, then we're down. I mean, but if you're you're advertising for 12 and you have eight guys or nine and a couple leave, well, you're still you're still at that that sweet spot, so to say. So, I mean, why would you purposely want to handcuff yourself and not have those people available? I mean, I remember the days when Fenton was the talk of the town. I mean, our streets were the immaculate in a snowstorm. I, you know, I work in Crestwood and all I knew I had to do was make it across that Marramac bridge and the the service that they plowed the service road. I knew that the all I had to do and it would be they'd be crystal clear those streets. I mean, why can't we we uh, you know, get back to that that pride of of taking care of all the streets and having them immaculate and and stuff like that and and uh the parks. We used to mow all of our own grass. And you know, that's one of the easiest things would be to eliminate uh uh subbing out grass cutting because that's a thing. I mean, we we paid we're going to pay I don't know if we've got the bill yet, but we're going to pay an enormous amount for snow removal this winter. We need our own guys doing that stuff. We need people that take pride in this city and and uh want to do as as much to keep it pretty. When you're hiring out a subcontractor, I just don't think you get that. And I I would really hate to just tie our hands and just say, "Well, we're fully staffed and we're not looking for anyone else." Because it is a volatile position.

Yeah. Uh don't I hope you didn't take me wrong that I'm trying to short change Dan his team and and short change our residents and not give them the services they deserve and we've always provided. My point was that we need to look at what's required of our our group now and then and then see if it if that number to fulfill that obligation is 12 so be it then it's 12 but this is the time to really look at that and say maybe the magic numbers are 12 maybe it's 10 maybe it's 14 but this is a good time to discuss that so right anyway

one last thing though I because we're saying contractors And you know, uh, our own men or our own staff, not just men, our own staff, you know, really love the city. They're convicted. But I'm going to tell you, Bud Wild Bathroom when we had a contractor in there cleaning it was the cleanest I have ever seen it. They took pride in their job compared to what I have been seeing prior. So, I'm just letting you know the contractors did an excellent job at cleaning the bathroom. And again, if people aren't coming in here to go to work for us after we advertise, we're going to have to do something else. And that's all I'm trying to say. Um,

but the contractors, they know they won't get paid if they don't do a good job. We're Yeah. Okay. I don't want to belabor this. So, we're all under the consensus we're going to work on something. Okay. We have a request to speak by Marlon Mley. It's kind of come and gone, but since you come to all the meetings, you get a reprieve. got to put up with be Marlon Mley 509 Main Street. Now, I was just wondering how much how much of these positions that you're talking about require a CDL license. Could you, for instance, repackage them? All of them. All of them. Do they have to? Well, if they want to shovel snow, plow snow.

That's true. I was just trying to figure out a way. Some of the stores up on the bluffs have part-time seasonal positions that Marlin Marlin we have we have advertisements out for part-time seasonal position full-time positions. I guess I just don't like advertise and they will come is not it. Well, I suppose another suggestion is I count nine people here. If you all got your CDLs, we might be able to split it up. That's you as well. I I do it. I'm not letting you behind the wheel. I put in your application. Well, if if All right. If these get me past the vision test in April, maybe I'll apply for a CDO. We'll see. All right. Anyway, that's all. Robin, what else do you have?

Um, excuse me. The next item is discussion regarding paid services for online job postings. We have a memo from Jane. Jane, would you like to take this one, please?

Uh, we currently have been um posting on the Indeed job site. They've changed their free postings just recently. They you only now get three free postings per month. And then after those three free postings, you have to wait 30 days before you can repost that job again. So it'll run for 30 days, then you have to wait 30 days before you can post another job. And with the jobs that we currently have open, we have like seven of them and we can only advertise three for 30 days. That's the no pay. That's the no pay. So in review,

when when did that come into effect? This past month. It it took effect. So it says in your memo that staff at that time canceled the online paid services, right? We

last year. That was last year. The board gave us a permission to do a trial basis with Zip Recruiter and Indeed for posting online and further discussion um with Indeed with this new change. They now offer a $5 um per day posting um for a job if you sponsor the job instead of the 24 I believe it or whatever. I don't remember what it was offhand, but now the cheapest one is $5 per day for each job posting, which would be $150 a month for a job posting. Why don't Why aren't we doing that? Why don't we do that for a month? Why don't we do that for a month?

But I thought you said that you really weren't getting quality. That was Zip Recruiter, and that was very expensive. There's his 24 per job posting. $24 per job posting. we receive the most applications that we receive from so and with this currently I can name four positions we need to have advertised that is for the recreation supervisor that is for the lead um for athletic fields that we're talking about that we have no one in these positions right now it's also for the athletic field even though these are flex part-time positions seasonal positions we need them and then also maintenance workers so minimally we need to have four going

and just regular right athletic and so so just a question if we have say two or three maintenance worker one positions we just advertise for the one right we don't list three each individual position it's the open vacant positions so minimally we need to be advertising for four right now um and this is where we receive the bulk of our applications from any other source if anybody doesn't have Any other questions? This requires a motion. Make that motion. Uh, actually, I'm I need to open it up to the full board. Then I'm going to make a motion to open it up to the full board. Second. Brian. Second.

Motion by Hughes, second by uh Whisbrock. Further discussion? All in favor? Just so we're clear, it's four four different jobs at 150 a month. So, a total of 600 a month approximately at worst case. So we could do three per month at a free charge for 30 days and when that 30 days run out then we would have to do the sponsor and then we could switch back to a free for a while. So it kind of bounce back and forth every other month. Okay. We covered that but this is open to the full board. I'm just conf confirming. It's okay. Oh my bad. It's okay. It's all right. It's all good. You got it. We we'll save time. Okay. So all in favor?

Opposed? Motion carries. Okay. Now, I'll make that motion, final motion that we go with the Indeed um new program to advertise for job we need. Second. Okay, we have a motion by uh Hule, second by Lang. Further discussion. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. That's all I have this evening. Community development and affairs. Alderman Rogers. Thank you, Mayor. I have a memo from Nikki Frinkbinder um about our newsletter printing service. that

um the city's current agreement for newsletter printing service for the printing of the city's monthly news and views newsletter is set to expire on April 30th, 2026. City's current agreement is with specially mailing at a rate of 1330 per month with a cost of 445 per insert if if requested. On February 4th, the city had a bid opening for newsletter printing service for the next three one-year terms. The city received three eligible bids as indicated on the attached page. The overall uh lowest bidder on monthly rates was specially mailing. Um it's noted that the city has util utilized specially mailing for 5 years with no known issues based upon the bids received. Staff suggesting that the board consider uh go ahead and awarding the bid to specially mailing. Um the rates are here on the on the memo. Anybody have any questions or discussions?

No, they've been real good to us. Susan, I did have one. I'm just throwing this out there. I'm sure you guys will smack about down, but just what about like every other month or, you know, do we need monthly? What' you say? Do we need monthly versus every other month or quarterly or I mean, I do know we advertise some stuff and but I'm just throwing it out there. It sure be easier for me. Yeah. Do we have uh legal requirements to do a month? No.

No. Just I mean just do we want to look at what we put in it monthly to see if that's really something we need to have monthly or can we just do every other month? Well, I mean, but the thing with there's a lot of the stuff that's coming up in these meetings are like our meetings aren't quarterly or every other month and Riverchase program. would be so outdated then I mean nothing would really be current if we did it that often. I think people need to be informed on a more regular basis. But we also have the online stuff. How many actually look but it is online. It's the same newsletter. So if you're not still then they're still getting outdated information online,

right? Maybe we'll put it in a newsletter. Put in a newsletter. People think one once a month is adequate or do we need do you read the newsletter? Yeah. Yeah. If there's only one response, we have our answer. Do you think if you create a city of Fenton people would go to it get? No. No. We have tried everything to try to get this more online. No. People like their paper. Go ahead. Go ahead. So, do we have an email list that it goes out to? Yes. And how do you know the size of that? Roughly

it is 819 that we send out via email versus the My suggestion is if you're looking to cut cost, I guess you would look at cutting it, not send it to residents. Um I think your feedback would be people would be very upset if not receiving their monthly newsletter. That was going to be my comment. I read it and I think you're going to have more kickback than you did about the leaves because of the damn newsletter. So, I think there's just sort of that reminder people get it. It's like, "Oh, I got to sign up for soccer or something like that." You know, it's kind of that um I mean, I like saving money, but I think it's Go ahead.

So, we send it. So, ballpark. We send it to and I'm doing some rounding 1,500 homes. I think it's 1,800 1,800 homes and seven about 700 businesses. I'm trying to round and do all these. We send out 1,800 paper form and then we have a a list of 800 that also receive it via email. We've had people come in and ask to be taken off the email list. They want their paper back. Uh we have tried to push the paper the as far as when they apply for a business license or when they come in as a new resident, we ask them do they want it in an email form or in a paper form. and most select the paper. So if So one more question. So if we cut the businesses out, I'm just asking.

I can't tell you that off the top of my head. I mean, I can tell you that we have approximately 1500 homes in the city of Benton. That's how we service with trash and we're sending out about 1,800. Most of the businesses have gone to the digital form through their business license, but your residents prefer the paper form. Who was next down here? I think I was. Uh, so do we physically send them if they want paper form or do they have to come pick them up? No, they they go through the mail. We pay the postage every month. Okay. Okay. Well, in in my opinion, I think monthly would be better than bimonthly because it's fresher. You know, if I get something and 60 days later I might be thinking, what did I miss or

or I lost the paper or something. So, I think it's kind of nice and I would never want to exclude our businesses. That's our Dan. Our trash service. How many residential homes do we service? 1,500. So that's what you would assume is. And we're we bid this out at 1,800 because we do have some paper forms and that's also the additional that we provide to Riverchase that stay here at city hall that go over to community development for distribution. And we've cut it as slim as we can.

Oh, I I know you do. I I just again, this was just for discussion, not that I'm But I I will say that cutting out the businesses. I just recently had a a a business owner be like, "Oh, you know, I found out that I can, you know, my whole family, we can go to Riverchase because I have a business in the city of Fenton." But so I do think by giving it to the Ben the the businesses, businesses bring their families, they bring their stuff to our Fenton events because they see it. So So So one more comment. I'm not saying cut the businesses out, but if you cut the businesses out, $1,800, it's 2450 per year,

it's about a$136 per mail or per piece go, you know, that we per uh address we send it to. You cut those 300, just sell 300 businesses, right, that have still get it by paper, you're roughly 48 bucks a year. I don't know if it's worth it to even cut the businesses out. I mean, it's I I have to tell you recently, not recently, but the last while I can't tell you six months a year or whatever. But people do comment about the newsletter and what's in there and not just our residents and some some of the business people. Um the other thing too is is that your your activities for Riverchase and programs down at the park and everything are in there and people go to that as well.

Yeah. I just thought I' just I will say to your point I used to see Nikki and Jane. How many do we end up throwing away at the end of the month? A lot. Okay. So, you are looking at that because I I mean there used to be stacks.

Yeah. You'll notice the bid for specialty mailing now is less than it is that we currently pay because we cut back because we went over to the business license. Many of the businesses are selecting to get it in the digital form. So, we were able to cut. Again, the 1,800 that does include our overages that we need to provide to Riverchase that they put at their front desk for us that we at our front desk. Um, community development, not as not as many. Don't we still have overages every month, but some months we don't. We have less than we do others. It just depends on what our foot traffic is. So, I think we've cut it as slim as we can for right now. Terry, one last comment along kind of along what Susan was saying earlier, but um there are a lot of unforeseen benefits that we we probably don't realize that that newsletter for our businesses and bringing people and just like you said, somebody's got a business. Oh, wow. Now I can go to Riverchase. We just don't realize that, but it but it's happening. So, it's a good good thing. Um just a minor thing that the mayor put in his and we're going to actually do it again this next upcoming month is reminding people that we're getting ready to start pruning and stuff and asking them about their street trees and we did we got a response from people saying no I want the tree in front of my house gone. Um I mean so that's how we're able to tell people read it.

I will make a quick comment also in our business in Crestwood we get the Crestwood newsletter and uh it's it's not very good. Ours is very a very good newsletter very informative. Um, I would almost consider their their newsletter useless, but so I I think we do have a lot of very nice things that are are a my copy that's in my packet right here. So, I think there's a lot of good things that do come out in it. I write my own stuff, too. Nikki doesn't do it. What about chat GP chat GTP or whatever? Yeah, there you go. Okay. Do we need a motion or is this just going to uh We do.

Okay. Uh well, I guess I would like to make a motion that we go with um newsletter printing service to continue using them for our printing services at the quoted rates. Specialty specialty mailing, I'm sorry. Specially uh specially mailing services um the rate that they've quoted. Alderman Brit, I would second their motion. We have a motion by Roger, second by Brit. We have further discussion. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. That's it. That's all I got. Hey, we're uh capital improvements. Alman Mazering.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. First item up for discussion is the uh consideration of bids for the 2026 concrete replacement for the city parks project. I have a memo from Dan Howard. I'll kind of briefly go over it. Uh there was approximately $80,000 budgeted for this project's um bids came in from 67,000 to 82,000. The items were uh in Budwe Park, Marramac in restroom, Fenton City Park, main pavilion, and the Hitard Pavilion at Fenton City Park. Uh, the RV Wagner came in at $67,973. And um, I guess Dan, you got anything you want to add or kind of go over this? Uh, I see there's a patio going to be put in up by the uh at Budweis and stuff. And

yeah, the most extensive work is going to be at Budweis. Uh, putting a patio in, redoing the sidewalks around the pavilion up on top. Um, removing the brick sidewalk, putting a sidewalk all the way around. Just a huge improvement up there to finish off what we've already started up there at that pavilion. Okay. I had opportunity to see it last week and it's looking nice up there even despite the residents living in it. But um but uh so uh does anyone have any questions or anything? If we build it, they will come.

Yeah, Terry. So um I I I'm in favor of this by the way. We can talk about that when we make our motion. Um there are times when we repeat business with the same contractor that you could get yourself in trouble. You know, they they start get a little too comfortable and their bids go up. But in this case with RV Wagner, we've been as long as I've been here, we've been doing business with them. And I've never seen any of that. So, um the fact that they're the lowest bidder tells me that um they're on the up and up with us and you know um we have a good relationship. Yes. Yeah. I think they consistently come in low like lowest or one of the lowest biders in on a lot of these projects and I think we're generally happy with their their concrete work they do around the city. So

there's been a couple hiccups like with any other contractor but yeah overall very very satisfied with them. Anyone else? Quick car just a quick question. What's how do the distinguish between the unit prices between the different like why is the bud wheel concrete's 160 a yard and some of them are 124 a yard because they have to factor in the accessibility on getting the concrete up there the work involved the amount of concrete involved is a a big factor they have to use a pumper truck or no it depends I mean they have the the option to do that I don't tell them their means of they've used a pumper on almost everything these days

I just curious why some of is 124 a yard and some is 160 a yard and but I think it's a great idea. I think anyone else that is really going to be a gem. Um okay at this time I'd make a motion to uh that we go with RV Wagner for this uh project. Uh Alderman Brightch. I would second. We have a motion by Maserang, second by Bright Shaff. Further discussion? All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. All right. The next item is a consideration of a change order for the 2026 concrete replacement for the city parks project. And I have a member from Dan. You want to uh elaborate a little bit some more?

Yeah, this is a city is initiated change order. Um I had all intentions of including the eight new uh players bench pads in the bid. Um it was a complete loss of brain power I guess whenever I was putting the bid packet together that I didn't include it. Um, so with RV Wagner being the lowest bidder, I did reach out to them to give us a price and the price they gave us is within line with all their other unit pricings. Um, so that's so that was an additional 16,000 to do all the benches and stuff. Any questions on that? Anyone? At this time, I'd make a motion to go with the change order with RV Wagner. Alman Herrell, I'll second. We have a motion by Mr. Rang, second by Harold. Do we have further discussion? All in favor?

I motion carries. All right. The next item is consideration of quotes for city hall exterior lighting and we have a another memo from Dan and would you like I guess it's mostly the parking lot lights and some of the Ballard lights. Yeah, pretty much this is replacement of the parking lot lights and Ballard lights out in front. Um these prices are based on reuse reusing the existing concrete peers if they can. Okay. Um so I don't know if you guys have looked at them. Uh they've been repaired numerous times over the years, rewelded at the base. Uh they are rusted out again and I know there's been complaints about the uh the amount of lighting that's out there because it is pretty dim at night. So this would be a huge upgrade on lighting. Are these going with like LED or something? Yes. Okay.

And what's out there's LED also? It's just type of fixture that'll fit on those those poles is very limited. Uh Terry, so Dan, I had a question. um if they've excluded uh replacing the um the supports or the bases and that um did anybody before they bid they come on check on those bolt patterns or anything to see if if what they're uh specking out matches I did actually ask the contractor about that cuz I was concerned myself and he said that the plates were more than likely going to be larger than what is uh already there so they would just cut the bolts down and redrill holes epoxy new bolts. Okay. Okay.

Any other questions? All right. At this time, I would make a motion that we go with uh who's on this? Is this Bates? Bates or the uh city hall lighting? Alman Hills. You want the next one? Okay. I need a second. Alman Bright Shaft. I would second. All right. We have a motion by Mazerang, second by uh Bright Shaft. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. I know who's going to second the next one.

Okay. And the final item uh was the capital 2026 uh capital improvements budget for pre- removal, pruning, and invasive species. I have a Nikki from a memo from Nikki, city administrator. Uh I will start off by saying that last weekend, Alderman Wisrock and I got a chance to go around and look at the tree removal that's been going on. It's looking wonderful. It's it's a vast improvement with what we had removing these invasive species and and everything is really looking good. I know the money has been uh so to speak eaten up pretty quick, but uh it uh I I definitely we need discussion. I think we need to go further with this project. So Nikki, do you need to elaborate some more?

I'll be happy to answer any questions about the areas that we're looking at areas that give us your speech, Nikki. You've done a lot of work on this.

Um I think the stars, moon, everything aligned with our contractors and they were able to get in early this year and start working and they're making a lot of progress. We still have a lot to do. Um, again, starting to with the pruning, if you've had a chance, and we do post that online, it's updated every couple of weeks, that map that shows our tree removals, areas that are, you know, listed for additional um many of the trees that were removing in the park so that, you know, I don't know if anybody's been in Oldtown um to just look at the progress there along the creek. Um the major cleanup uh many of them are ash trees uh Bradford pears or unfortunately they've been choked out by honeysuckle. Um many of the trees that you'll see that are being removed currently up at Bud Wild is due to choke out from honeysuckle. Same with Fabic Nature Preserve. Um just this last week of course this was part of a grant. Um the forestry cutter was up around Presler Lake. I mean it is a huge difference when you go up there to see the progress. Again, the goal with these areas though is not just reducing the honeysuckle. It's just not one oneanddone project. It does take stewardship things that we have to continue to do to keep that at bay. Um but most we are looking at doing invas or looking at native plantings, native grasses, uh nommo zones within these parks. Uh west uh westside I think is the most transformative that you can see. um that when people see that um and again it it's a bigger project other than and that's why I'm asking both just for the tree trimming which is a very expensive project again but we're making up for a lot of lost time of pruning trees removing trees of course with the ashbor disease trees that are having to be removed um and and but then putting him to these nommo zones so that it'll be more attractive um because I I think today alone watching bud while again some of these huge trees that were be are being taken down only because they were choked out by honeysuckle

and and what we're just trying to do. Um, with that, I I know the mayor did mention that there's grant money out there. There's monies available for things like that. I will tell you every grant that they talked about at that conference, we've applied for and we've been granted. So, um, you know, going through it. So, we're just asking for additional funds. Um, I hate to come back this early in the year, but again, they are out there. They are working and I mean, there's days you drive and we've got contractors in every park.

The the contractors have been very very appreciative of the board because this keeps their guys working in the wintertime and it's hard for them to keep people if they don't have full-time work. I also can we put it in the I know I think we have but like I love that we're really you know attacking these invasive species because it's that Japanese hunting circles everywhere but it's also going to keep coming back if neighbors and residents correct

don't mitigate their own or Yes. And Amy has already been working on invasive species ordinances. Um, we've said for years, going back to a couple of years ago, speaking with the board about this, is that we wanted to show first that we were doing it before asking the residents to also because in some cases it may have been our honeysuckle that's encroached onto their property. Um, so Amy is going to be bringing that. That was a big topic conversation that we had at the at the summit that we went to the other day. And that's something that she actually had been waiting on bringing to the board until after we had gone to that summit because they were going to share um kind of some good and bad stories of some of their regulations that they've tried to enforce, what's worked, what hasn't um with invasive species. So, absolutely, we are working on that as a nuisance. and Susan, um, the board probably should know. I I guess nobody's really said anything, but code enforcement has been pretty active in getting some of the businesses and and residents to eliminate some of those noxious. If you've been up to road rangers recent road ranger recently some of those areas and we're working with mod asking them and of course next week we're actually going to be bringing a resolution that they were asked at the summit last week is for us to start asking MDOT to take care of their right of way

but also but something we need to figure out and how we can help our residents because there's elderly that can't get out there with their chainsaw or there's people that are on a fixed income and they can't afford to pay somebody to come in and eliminate this stuff. So, this summit that we went to, there's a long list of folks that that we've talked to, got their names, they're listed right here that can come, we'll put on seminars for our city. Those are kinds of the things we're looking for this summer. Yeah.

And it'll help the residents, it'll help us. It'll give a better overview of why we're doing because, you know, I've yet to hear I thought I'd have people say, "Why are you cutting all that vegetation out?" Well, the reason is I listen to the arborist and the botonist and whatever those guys are called and they go that used to be a hundred-y old oak tree that used to be a 70-y old oak tree, but all the vegetation in a very short period of time has killed out these trees, these mature oaks that you really want. So, and then there's calvary pair. I've learned so much. So, I think it's a good thing that we move forward, you know, if we if we and there's there's municipalities don't have the money to do this,

but I'm just we we also will need to brainstorm on how to help our residents that can't help themselves. This also Nikki, you want to speak to the and Dan speak to the MSD requirements and how this may help some of that?

Yes. Um, two of the areas that we're looking at and we're we're still working through it is that, you know, and when we talked about this, especially when we added the playground, is that MSD with their storm water regulations, what they're going to be asking for us from us for the new annex development is working with we've introduced our engineer to Monative um with Chuck and we're having conversations that we're applying through MSD to show that two of the areas, one we're doing in Budwe and the other one up at Fabic in those nature areas is may qualify for our water control that is required through MSD just by doing this.

And these experts are the ones that are telling us, well, you don't have to do that. You're doing this and this, you know, and they've and they're now working together. Many of our contractors we're finding now are working together because they know that their step one, the next contractors coming in for step two. They're not stepping on top of each other. They're all working in conjunction.

Love it. So maybe this is maybe a a question more for uh Aaron, you know, talking about making or I don't know if making or encouraging homeowners to remove invasive species like honeysuckle. Um you know, if you look back at the history, it was actually brought to America as a decorative ornamental shrub. And you know, one person's uh nuisance or invasive species is their prized yard. I mean, so where do we draw the I mean, there's a lot of oak trees that are in people's yards that really aren't native to this area. I mean, where do you I mean, where do you draw the line? I mean, it's like, how do you I I I see kind of a a gray area that

there's a list there's actually a list that's that is through Missouri and Amy will explain all of that when she comes forward. It's it's something that you guys will have to consider, but a lot of it, as we learned in that, it's also the art of code enforcement, too. you know, there's a difference between what you determine to be cultivated versus just Well, something that's overgrown, but I mean, if someone actually has a plant that is like, you know, um you know, I've told my mother that her her Bradford pears are on the list to be removed, she's not happy about it. She's like, "Well, ours have never broken and look great."

We're not and I don't I don't see our ordinance ever telling somebody they have to remove that. We've had that discussion and our our idea now is to take care of our own stuff and maybe other people will see how it turns out, right? We don't want to get we don't want to be unamerican and tell people start growth. It's growing into your neighbor's property. It's okay. So, yes, I'm saying like you're not going to someone's got a for some reason said they got a honeysuckle in front of their front window and it's trimmed real nice. I don't know why anyone would want one, but if someone does, I don't think we would have the code enforcement to enforce that even if we Right. Okay. I just want to make sure it's not the intent going to that extent. Okay, it's not the intent.

And the other comment I wanted to make, this is an excellent example. I know we talked on it briefly earlier about the contractors coming in. This really is something that I I think we used to do years ago was this tree trimming and stuff and it was probably something that we probably really shouldn't have ever been doing. That's really the cutting down trees and removing stuff is really something that should be left to the professionals that do it every day. And this is great because we are getting caught up on lost time like you're saying and uh getting this all taken care of. So I uh I think it's a great project. Um is this something that maybe I could ask for a after after Robin talks?

I was just going to say to your point about people planting things. We heard in that seminar that there was I can't remember what it's called. It's some sort of rose, but it was like everybody brought it in because it was this great rose. That's it. Everybody brought it in because it was this great hedge, but then they found that it was invasive and it grew out of control and it was hard to control and it grew way beyond its means. So just because something at one point was something desirable doesn't mean that now it's become invasive and become a problem and that's pretty pretty much what we're trying to mitigate here. He paid attention. Bruce, there's a lot.

Just quick, um, we've obviously had our contractors working very hard over the winter when they need the work, but are we going to have a slowdown as the season?

Uh, no. I I don't see that. Um, some of it is seasonal. Some, just so you know, the native items are seasonal. When they do the spraying, when they do the seeding, those are winter and fall are their big times when they're in doing that. Um, Fabic is complete as far as that. In some of these areas, they may come in and do a few things. Some are here, some are we've actually been given a chart on when they can do the seating actually is already sitting for Westside and for BUD because they need to be in as soon as they can get in out the rain. Um, this weather that we're getting right now, they need to be getting that seed down now. So, that's seasonal, but the pruning will be during the summer.

Um, you're going to start seeing the contractors move over to less removals and more pruning in our right of way. I totally trust that you've got people, professionals that are are looking at all this, but I do know that honeysuckles in particular, you can cut them off at the ground and if you don't if you don't mow them or or poison them, you know, you have to round up or something. We are many of what you've seen being taken down right now was actually treated

last was was treated late basically very late fall. you have to wait to treat your honeysuckle in certain you can treat honeysuckle anytime, but if you're if you're trying to I'm learning all of this. If if you're around tree species that you want to protect, you need to make sure that those species are dormant when you spray the honeysuckle or else you could be injuring the other species. So, for example, when we did this side of Huck Road, we were able to do it at the time of year we needed to because there wasn't anything that we were trying to avoid. When we did this side of Huck Road, we have mult multiple trees and other that we had to protect. So, that was actually sprayed and now the contractors are in taking it out. The big areas that they're clearing, what they're doing, Westside, as you know, was treated um last basically late fall winter. This area up here in Budwe because they're taking the forestry cutter through there. Um once they're done with all of this, the next thing you're going to see is a machine in there and then we'll be putting that down. enough. We have to go in and do some spraying afterwards. We're working with Chuck to get that done. But when they're coming in to do this, once we get through these major steps, when he's coming in, part of what Chuck will do is work with our staff.

Yeah. And explain what they're doing, the time of year they're doing it, the mixes that they're using, and why, so that some point we can take over our own stewardship of these areas once they're established. Great. So, do you need a motion opening up to the full board? I would like that because we've got some contractors that are still knocking down the door. Okay, I will make that motion. Okay, we need a second. Alman Whisbrock. Second. Motion by Man Rang, second by Whisbrock to open up to the full board. Any discussion? All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Yes, sir. Um, that's all you have, right, Scott? We opened it up to the full We have a full vote. Another vote.

Yeah. So, so I would make a a motion that we uh uh budget more money for tree removal in the city parks and throughout the city. Robin, you've been at this from day one. I'd like to. Would you like to second? I would. All right. So, we have a motion by Mazerang, second by Hules. Do we have further discussion? Alman Brightcha. Um mine is going to be a general um capital improvement. So, let's state what we're doing here. All right. So, so further discussion. Go ahead. Yes. Uh just so we're adding 500,000 to the uh three uh I believe it was 300 was it 300,000 for Okay.

for um yeah it was 300,000 for the tree removals and another 100,000 for the invasives because they're two separate line items. So a total of 400. So 400 we're adding. Yes. Okay. Just make sure. Yeah. Yes. Any other discussion? I will say Nikki doesn't have any fingernails left. She was nervous to bring this to the board. So, can we see your hands, Nikki? All right. Any other discussion? All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. You had some.

Sure. Um, so I'm going to speak as a resident, not as a member of the board. Um, I I I really appreciate staff and the board um forward thinking on these projects like the bathrooms. It's, you know, we're we're spending money and we're doing the right thing for for our residents. Um, and what made me think of this, maybe this is more of a financial thing than anything, but Sam Paige came out this week and said the county was going broke and every week in our financial report, right, or every month, Brian, we let the we let everybody know that we have we're doing well and we have x amount of dollars. And so I'm not saying that we should just blow what we have, but I think we need to continue using these funds, making our city better. Like Scott said, when he used to come from one side of the river to the other, it was like night and day and it was wonderful to be here. And I think we need to keep that up. Um, my fear is that with the county in the situation they are that they'll get creative somehow and I'm going to go after all of us that are successful and try to help bring them back. I mean, it may not be possible legally, but they've done crazier things. So, anyway, I just wanted to make a point that I think we need to keep moving forward with our our um projects and making things nice and refurbishing and and repairing.

Ryan, yeah. So, one comment just general. So, we're doing a lot of work to the parks with uh our bathrooms and and some of our pavilions, making them really look nice. Is it possible we could look at potentially some trash cans around some of those? Cuz we're making some of our pavilions and our restrooms look really nice and then we have a barrel that's got City of Fenton spray painted on it. I'm not talking about every single trash can.

I I don't think it hurts, but not the 1500 a hit ones, I don't think. No, I'm a little nicer. You're saying a little nicer than a plastic drum with paint. I don't see a reason we can't look into that. But I want to touch on what you said, Alderman Bright Shaft. Um it's not just St. Louis County. You know, the state of Missouri is looking to cut all kinds of taxes. Um the latest one, and I don't know if it passed, I don't know if it went through. You may have heard a little bit more. It did it go through

the the food sales tax. So now when I was up in Jeff City, I listened to the debate and what the state wants to do is take and uh eliminate the municipalities but create only the state will will lose that sales tax. That was the big discussion. That's a new bill that's coming around. But they're looking to eliminate a lot of these taxes and so forth. And I think we have to be ahead of this and look at it. Um there's a couple of things that we'll be bringing to the board that I don't know. I think might offset some of the taxes we may lose. Uh but we won't speak about that until we get a little further into it. Nikki knows what I'm talking about that I think may generate a little revenue for us. Um but you know, to your point, the city of Fenton has done very well and that's not on accident, that's on purpose. And I mean, for the since 2002 when we were $89.6 $6 million in debt. We did the right things and we continue to do the right things. And I'd like to look at the amount of money and I and I think and this isn't this isn't meant to be a dig at anyone, but we have to be very careful about we have to we have an obligation to put it out there correctly, advertise and let people know where our money is, how much money we have. And I know that we always mention at our board meetings that we have in our fund the total amount. I I don't think we probably ought to do that. And here's why. Because people take note of that. And in 1993, four and five and six, I went to Jeff City and testified when they said the city of Fenton had 11 million bucks in the bank. None of these other municipalities have it. That's when they took our sales tax away

from us. So, I think we're doing a good job, but I I think in our reporting I I would rather us not we we've we don't have to report what we have to the world and I don't I think our residents anybody can pull it up, but let's not advertise it. That's that's not a dig. That is just an observation that I see. Don't let everybody in the world know because So, I'm not I'm not taking it as a dig. I hear you loud and clear. But do we have to put it in the packet? I hear you. I hear you. Yeah. You Yeah. Do everything that we do. I just wouldn't advertise it to the world. It's also in the monthly newsletter. Yeah. So if people want to grab it and look at it,

I don't think the total fund balance is a newsletter. It's what the sales tax generated is. Sales tax. No. The sales tax generation is but not the total fund balance. Yeah. That's just that's just a suggestion out there. I thought it was, man. We fulfill our obligation by by, you know, being open about it. I'm just saying, you know, advertise it because there's so many people on board here. All right. Is that everything for capital improvements? Yep. That's all I have, Mr. Mayor. Uh, Alderman Bright, public works and forestry. I'm out of out of items for tonight. Alderman Herald, information services. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have no items for discussion.

All right. Miscellaneous consideration of quotes for digital photo conversions. Jane,

if you remember a couple years ago when we started with our laser fish, we had uh them give us a quote for our photo conversion. It was right around $19,000 at that time and the board at that time had um decided to postpone that part of the project. So, since we're kind of at a standstill with our our conversion, we went out and we talked to a couple other places to get more quotes for that conversion over, which is presented to you tonight. Um, the really low bid on Schillers is just a per price. They won't take them out of books. We have to sort through everything. We have to label everything. and it doesn't give the complete conversion over that we need on this. Um,

so that's why I was going to ask you. So that's why it's so cuz I was like why are we and we have to take them to the I mean there's a lot of stuff that you know and they never did come out on site and look at this. It was just a this is what we charge. So that grant's not available any No, it is not. And it doesn't cover photos anyway. Yeah. Um, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. For historical purpose, this this has been a request by the board members a few times is that we get our photos digitized.

Yeah. I I will say a couple years ago, maybe three years ago at this point, I I got a chance to look at just a little snippet of them and they are really interesting. They being a lifelong I haven't lived in the city proper my entire life, but in the Fenton area my entire life, it brings back a lot of memory. There's just so many photos of around the area and how much it's changed in those years and it's just really neat to look at them. I would hate to see them be lost at time. So, I think it's a good project worthwhile that could somehow and I would hope that somehow maybe they would be a link on the web page. Hey, here's some you not every one of them, but some of the neater ones. Here's some historical photos of Fenton that people could link and and click on and maybe look at a few of them or something.

Edit of a tiny digital picture underneath the historical society information site. So, what's your request then? So, I'd like we got a little over 38,000 photos that are up there that we are aware of. There may be more. Um, we would like to go with the photo pros. They're they seemed extremely knowledgeable. Um, and have done this for other municipalities. Um, and we would like to to go with photo pros. Nobody has any other discussion. I would make that motion. And I will say also that photo pros is the former creep camera. I think they know what they're doing. So, Alman Lang,

I'll second. We have a motion by Mazang, second by Lang. Further discussion. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Alman Hules. I would like to make a motion to close the meeting pursuant to section 610.0211, legal actions, causes of action, or litigation. Okay, we need a second. Alman Whisb second. Motion by Hill, second by Whisbrock. Further discussion. Roll call. Alderwoman Hills. Hi. Alderman Whisper. Hi. Alen Brechf. Hi. Alen Lang. Hi. Alderman Harrell. Hi. Alderman Rogers. Hi. Alderwoman Jokers. Hi. Alderman Mazarang. Hi. your events.