Board of Aldermen - Regular Meeting

order. If you would please join me in the pledge. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Hey, would you do a roll call, please? Mayor Kim here. Alderwoman Da here. Alderman Fehey. Alderman Donovan here. Alderman Huey here. Alderman Idman here. Alderman Prince here. Alderman Stiger here. Alderman Ross. Mayor, we have a qu for quum. Thank you very much. At this time, I will look for approval of tonight's agenda.

Motion to approve. Second. Okay. Have a motion and a second. All in favor? I.

Any opposed? Okay. Uh with with that we will move down to the city administrators report. Turn it over to Dave. Thank you sir. You have uh an update sitting in front of you. Just wanted to add to number one there. We did have bid openings today for Prop S phase 2. We had four asphalt biders and six concrete waterline bids. Uh both low bids came in under the cost estimate. I should have should have those contracts to you at the next meeting. Um we'll do a first reading and then a second reading in April and uh you know should be good to go by the end of April. Um wanted to point out uh number two that that SRRI who is our mobile app walking tour vendor will have a public meeting here next Thursday uh March 19th at 5:00. Uh and I'm going to move down to number seven. So Special Road District uh came to us. They have a John Deere 6600 tractor with a boom mower they're replacing. Um, our 5-year capital plan has that piece of equipment listed. Uh, the special road district. Uh, Cory and I went down and met with Aaron Douche. Uh, looked at the equipment. It's got a new transmission in it. Uh, it does have some, uh, other repairs and the boom has some weld spots, but it's in pretty good shape. Uh we met with special road district this past Tuesday and they're willing to uh so they give us $25,000 a year uh commit the 25 and 26 funds toward that piece of equipment. So I kind of want to get your feedback on that uh and so that I can let them know if you have any questions or concerns.

Bring that up on our new business then or do we want to discuss it now? Discuss it now. So they didn't 2025. That's a big tractor and with the I mean are we going to use a boom mower Cory? Yeah. I keep it all the creep base clean everything. I think an 18 ft of reach. So any sink holes like point B just for one with that fence going around you can get up around it. So that boomer can go up over the fence and hit that um all the creek crossings. Um we spend a lot of man hours with weers cleaning that. So, I mean, I think it'd be beneficial. So, and Cory's talked about our alliance has talked about cleaning more of the creek beds. Are we allowed to do that? Clean the creek beds.

Yeah. Mhm. Doesn't not cleaning them. Long as you don't get down into the actual water or move dirt. You know, the only thing I would ask is that I have one. Um, it can be a fairly dangerous piece of equipment to operate. Is if there's any training uh safety that we can I I'd strongly suggest and we limit that to just a couple of operators if we could.

Yeah. Talk to Aaron. I mean, just personally, he he'll do his training on us and it'll be myself and two other guys. That's kind of what we'll limit to. Not everybody does football here cuz if they can get pretty extended out there, you're going to have a lot of light weight on. ago. We haven't changed that payment from special roads. That 25,000 was the last number we've used for I don't know how many years. When's the last time? As far as I can remember. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. So, that's another thing. I don't know if that's I I I'm not a big fan of the special district concept. Not Not the board itself. Please, whoever's, you know, it's not the board. They run a very efficient operation. It's the concept of the special road district. And um I don't know when the last time we've um looked at that amount that we so we're getting a used tractor probably worth that amount but Yeah. Yeah. But when is the last time we revisited that uh amount that they are paying in? Yeah. We can take a look at that or talk about it with them at least. Uh that is all I have. Uh

Dave, I want to go back to number one. Um, you know, because of the issues that we had. I'm just So, what's our action then on this before we start go back on that? No, that's fine. Unless I hear otherwise. I mean, I I think Bob had mentioned beforehand that he wanted to go take a look at Yeah, Sam and I are going to try to take a look at it tomorrow. Maybe catch Corey or something and just, you know, take a look at it too. Another set of eyes maybe. But, so bring it back like an agenda item or something. I can I think so. You know, if they have it, Dave, we might request to all samples on it. If they have a maintenance record that has your oil samples,

that is very critical with engine wear and transmission. If the systems contaminated with the hydraulics, that could be a major Mhm. Okay. It's pretty simple thing to do, but and I think they take pretty good care. I know Ericain it. But all sample program that that that tells you the history of it. There's no denying that. That's like DNA, you know, we can do that. Okay.

Um, back to number one, because of the issues we've had in the past, um, can we do something a little more organized? Um, now I don't know who the low biders are and stuff, but you know, if we have similar asphalt, I think that went very smooth, but the concrete was an absolute fiascoal. uh quality of work, the way they were organized on the job, uh the whole blocking that intersection office 61. Uh I I don't want to get into anything like that again and stuff, but you know just a pre- bid to where we can uh do like we did on N Street uh where we had a timeline uh where they were going to work, what sections they were going to do, just more detailed that you know and I don't know maybe you have something in mind already but

Well, I can't remember if you were there cuz you said in some of those pre-beds, but I was there last And we talked about those things with that contractor. It just didn't come to fruition. Well, but then our engineer came in here before us and told us they had no control over those things. Well, none of it was in the contract, but we did discuss it in the pre-bid, right? I've asked for these contracts to have uh a 50% hurdle. We talked about having I call it a hurdle, but uh a 50% it's 120day contract. you know, if if the blow bidder thinks they can get 50% done by halfway through the contract or some date in there that we that we insert that into this contract,

right? But also, you know, more controls over, you know, the timing they have to be able to done by a certain date. You know, we're not going to give them, you know, 149 days to do 150day contract and stuff. Uh but you know I I I didn't like our engineer coming back and telling us I can't control tell those people to where to work is quote exactly what he said. Um that's not you know for that dollar contract that's not acceptable but um just want to you know be able to tell the people have a little more control a little more professional but not have anything go on. The quality of work out here is questionable, but it is what it is and can't do anything about it. But I just think we need better control over them. U more input since we're paying the bill.

Okay. Any other questions for Dave regarding the city administrator report? Yeah.

I'm sorry. I had a couple reminders. Uh, I wanted to remind the board and the public that cemetery mowing is going to begin soon. Uh, which means we'll be picking up around Cresanton Cemetery, probably in the next week in preparation for mowing. So, if there's anyone out there that needs to go pick anything up, uh, that is not on a headstone, uh, please do so. Dave, while you're on that, I had somebody ask me a couple different times, but I know outside the wall is crust lawn, the brick wall that's there, but what about that new section uh headed out, I guess, headed out in road and stuff. There seems to be some question over what's Creston and what's not. I

mean, anything on this side of the street is ours or the wall in that instance. Okay. And there's no wall at this section where that newest but there's a street there, right? There's that's Crest line. So it it is on this side of the street is Crest Line. Yes.

And then one other I wanted to let the board know. I'll be reaching out or it's that time of year where we're going to get the healthcare committee together. So you'll get some uh emails from me and then we'll probably get our subdivision committee back together for one more question uh not to do with tonight's topic uh here in the next few weeks. So I just want to let you know that that is all I have. Sorry. Okay, any other questions? Okay, thank you, David. We'll keep it right here and move along to our first staff report tonight, uh, community development. So, Robert starts Monday, so the next report will come from him. Um, I wanted to hit a few things on here. I already mentioned that SRRI will have their meeting on March 19th at 5:00 here. Uh when it comes to the mobile app walking tour down under comprehensive plan, we are going to meet again the comp plan annexation committee. We'll meet uh probably in a couple weeks. We haven't picked a date, but I've sent dates out to the committee u and we'll meet here in the next couple weeks. And all the way down to flood plane management. I just want to let you know the uh Noah spring flood outlook is below normal. I think there were a few people that were concerned. Obviously, we got quite a bit of rain the past couple weeks. Um, their outlook is still that flood chances for the spring are below normal. I know there's an increased chance of minor flooding there, but minor flooding for Noah is 27 ft. So, uh, we don't close the floodgates until 35 or 36 ft. That's all I have.

This doesn't exclude flash flooding. No. Correct. Correct. Any other questions regarding the community development report? Okay, thank you, Dave. And then next up tonight, we have our tourism director, Eric Smith.

Hello, everybody. Want to start by uh talking about everybody getting a chance to get out and vote uh on April 7th for a transient tax. Uh this is a tax that will not be paid by residents unless you're staying in one of our lodging uh businesses. Uh it could raise revenue collected from 33,000 a year to about 150,000 annually. Um for reference, Perry County has a 6% uh countywide tax. Uh St. Francis County has 5% and Jefferson County this year is going to consolidate all of their um looking to consolidate all of their um uh cities and and uh municipalities under a 5% countywide tax. Uh it's also uh interesting. It's a chance to bring home some of the tax dollars uh through state matching grants. So, you know, if our taxes leave this uh county and go to the state, uh it's put in the general fund and that general fund is divied out to the division of tourism who uh then gives out uh state matching grants. We uh receive those MMG and the MPD. Um but also places like St. Louis and Branson and Kansas City also receive these matching grants and this is a good way for us to bring a bigger portion of that home uh to this county. Um, and I think what this will do is just uh use this tax to make the city and county a more unified destination. Um, website visits this year are up 165% over last year. Um, and what's great about that is 2025 was up 120% over 2024. So, what I love to see about that is we're not plateauing right now. And I kind of thought we were going to see that after we launched the website. Oh, people got we've got some new interest and you know, we see less than 120% but we're actually seeing 40% 45% uh more visitation uh than we were last year. Um

so that's really great. Uh if you look down at the G4 uh year-to- date summary, um what you'll see uh one of the the uh sort of parcels of uh information that I use to put together uh these sort of uh RPIs um that I'm I'm presenting at the end of the year is engaged sessions. So you see we're actually up 169% over last year. and engaged sessions means people are moving around the website trying to find things and it's a good indicator of people people wanting to come visit and really uh making that that effort to come visit. So it's all looking uh uh very positive uh and I've got some reasons that could be possible. Uh there's a lot of just great momentum in town. You know, we have people investing in downtown uh along with um just building that tourism infrastructure that we haven't had in a long time. So, it's all working together. Any questions?

Erin, I'd like to just go back to your I I know you're a little bit uh restrained on just providing details on that transient tax uh ballot initiative that's coming up on April 7th. Um, and as a city employee, you can't say vote for it. I can. Um, and I would encourage anyone to come to me with questions. Um, I'm 100% for it. Uh, right now we generate about $30,000 in the city only. Um, a little over 30,000 and this could potentially be closer to 150,000 when you start getting um the county entities paying. So, what that would do for tourism in St. Genev County would be amazing um to be able to have that those additional funds to market the county as a whole. Right now, Aaron is limited to being able to just market to mostly city events, city uh businesses citywide. He does a little bit out of the county, but it's not quite fair. So, we don't really push really hard because the county doesn't pay in to those uh into the TTC funds that we have there with that with the bed tax. So, this will really change the game for us and get us in par with what Perry County is doing, what St. Francis County is doing, what Jefferson County is doing. um we we really need this to happen for us. Um and it'll it'll free up it'll make us more of a destination instead of just being able to look for day trips. It'll start turning it into what we can do for overnights and two nights and things like that. So that's a big thing. And then um lastly um I'm on the committee to kind of the grassroots committee to get this thing going. Um you know it's a tax that you don't really pay. um us as citizens, the people that live here in the county. Very seldom do we go to hotels and Airbnbs and motel and spend the night there. This is a tax that's a bed tax that you pay when you go to Nashville or St. Louis or any place else like that. And it's just on visitors or tourists here in town. So, they're coming to to the county. Uh right now, we only

collect in the city. This will now change it to a countywide. That's the difference why we're only collecting 30 now and it'll go to 120 to 150,000 in the future. Um and only on a rare instance will actually local residents pay that tax. So um it's for the tourists, it's for the visitors that are coming here. Um or by chance if you're staying at a hotel um in the county, you might have to pay that additional fee. But um this will really move the needle significantly for St. Genev and St. Genev County. So, I I really encourage you all to consider this uh and vote yes for it on on April 7th.

And I I will just say I've had a lot of conversations with Trish Hartzfeld, who's the tourism director in Perryville, and uh she can't speak enough to how much this has helped her department. So, just a footnote to that, Aaron, I did check in in St. Francis County and stuff their tax is called, it's not called a transient tax. uh it's called a little different, but it basically funds their whole tourism department in full where it's not a burden on the city taxpayers to pay that tax. It's it's a big deal. Yeah, absolutely. Any other questions for Aaron? Thank you guys so much. All right. Thank you, Aaron.

At this time, we will open up the floor to public comment. Uh just as a quick reminder, if you are going to speak a public comment, please make sure to state your name clearly so that we can um have it for the minutes and the record.

Bob Brownie, 498 Merchant. I'm here to respond on that 287G program. I just want to thank the chief and the board of all that worked on that and brought that in. Thank you. It's a good tool to bring to you. And I I know you guys been getting a lot of grief from Carl Kentky and his crew, but you got to keep one thing in mind. You can't reason with these people. They're woke Democrats. All Democrats are not like that. But you cannot deal with Carl and his bunch. And I apologize that he's been on you guys like he has. The chief, you done a great job. You brought a lot of things to St. Genevie that we never had before and I appreciate it and that's all I got to say. Thank you.

Hi, my name's Heidi Walker. Did you say you needed our address or something? No, just see your name for the Yeah, we just had a few speakers at the last we did have for the minute. So, we just want to make sure we got everybody correct. Um, just for clarity, thank you for letting me speak. Just for clarity, Carl Kinsky has nothing to do with us coming here and speaking. Nothing. And the group that we may represent has nothing to do with Carl Kinsky. Just saying. Well, uh, when you're talking about woke Democrats, I'll talk to whoever I want.

Ma'am, you're referring to me, I'm assuming. Ma'am, I'm sorry to interrupt you, but this is public comment that it is comment towards the board for the board to listen to. It's not

I want to clarify that Carl Kinsky has nothing to do with any of this. Just saying. Um I also want to just confirm or verify um regarding the two vehicles that were purchased using the 287G kickbacks. Um are they actual patrol cars as stated in the um interview? Mayor Kim had pointed out that they were actual patrol cars and not unmarked SUVs. So, I just kind of wanted to and I know you can't verify that or confirm that right now, but I did just want to point that out because we saw an unmarked SUV that looked brand new. And so, I wasn't sure if that was the one that was purchased, but as a taxpayer, I do have those questions. And I just wanted to um again point out that our law enforcement agency is here for law enforcement, not immigration enforcement. So I'm again I'm just I hate to beat a dead horse here, but I try to live in accordance with my beliefs. and people that have not committed a crime being held for months and months and months at a time is morally it it's just not in line with what the morals that we should be representing as a community and um that's what's happening. uh people overstaying their visas is not a crime. It's a civil issue and if they do cross the border without um the correct papers, that's a misdemeanor. But yet we have all these people being held over here in the county, I know that's not you guys, for months and months without being able to speak to their family and without being able to access legal representation. I just don't know how constitutionally I don't know how you guys are comfortable

with that. And so I'm back here to just point that out again. And I do appreciate you taking the time to listen to me once again. But thank you.

Good evening. Thank you to everybody here tonight and to those who weren't tuned in from my last meeting. My name's Asa and to the woke Democrats comment, I'm an independent. Your last your last name, please.

Oh, I'm sorry. Asa Lemons. It was beautiful getting to rewatch some of our fellow citizens speak out for what they believe is right over the past two meetings. Seeing the support on Facebook has been beautiful, and I appreciate the kind words, even though I couldn't reply to every single one. That short video of me alone has garnered 39,000 views and it gives me hope that others share my passion for our rights as Americans. This general coming together of St. Genevie brings me hope and aspiration in the ideals of democracy and I hope it invigorates others in the same way. I also wanted to mention that I listened to the comments afterwards in the past board meeting and I hear you about the five-minute recommendation. I do intend to stick just a tad bit closer to that time just around. Hey, just wanted to mention it. But on a more serious note, I and many of my fellow citizens are deeply disappointed to hear that the city is yet to resend the 287g contract. I am here again respectfully pleading that the board of aldermen vote to rescend the 287G contract we currently hold in collaboration with ICE. At the last meeting, I touched on the jarring lack of transparency and communication for nearly two entire months regarding the sign this contract, the in my opinion blatant unconstitutionality and illegality of the 287g contract through administrative warrants, the heinous alleged human rights violation ICE perpetuates on a day-to-day basis across America, and why we believe that the mayor's statements, while well-intentioned and mildly reaffirming to hear, do not directly answer our concerns. One person in particular took offense. Alderman Bob Donovan of War II was quoted on February 26th regarding my comments on ISIS's alleged crimes. When he mentioned the Declaration of Independence and Wiping, that just about push me over the edge. End quote. You know, you're right, Mr.

Donovan. My description of the Constitution was grotesque. You know what's also grotesque? Literally exactly the things I described prior. ICE walking over our constitution like a doormat and their alleged crimes being well doumented and substantiated, easily navigable with a simple Google search. You say it just gets worse and worse as we go on. I say that's because it is worse. How you seemingly feel about my mean words. I feel about the general inaction across America towards human rights violations. I choose my words with intention and conviction, and I try my best to ground my statements both in facts and morality. How you feel about my distasteful words, I hope that you also feel about our alleged erosions of our rights as taxpaying constituents of our community of St. Genevieve, Missouri. speaking to the board as a whole. Now, some of you might find this antagonism unfair because as many of you us know here, the county, in my opinion, is doing a lot more of the heavy lifting with ICE relations. The city, however, is still engaging in an explicit contractual partnership with ICE and 287G contracts, in my opinion, through the use of administrative warrants, blatantly violate the citizens of St. Genevieve counties or city's fourth amendment rights. If you want my personal opinion on the matter, I find the actions of the county much more deplorable. But we're here at the city and unlike the commissioner's meetings, in my opinion, these meetings are live streamed, open and transparent, have rigorously documented minutes, plenty of seating, a welcoming environment, a separate public comments period, and aren't scheduled at 8:15 in the morning on a weekday. this all in all meaning that we get the ability to exercise our first amendment rights to voice our discontent voraciously for the whole town of St.

agenda C and we thank you for that and that does include the commissioners as well. We know you're watching Randy. While I'm sure you all know I have plenty more to say and I will continue to exercise my First Amendment rights in the next Board of Alderman meeting in order to keep this speech succinct. I again respectfully request that the board of alderman vote to rescend this 287g contract and hope that the next board of alderman meeting can be in more positive tone as a result. Thank you. Any additional public comment at this time? Okay, thank you very much. Uh at this time we'll move along to tonight's consent agenda.

Um yes sir. Normally we keep the resolutions that appoint people separate. Uh we take that out and put that at the Sure. You make a motion to I make a motion to remove that from the consent agenda and agenda resolution 2026 27 and put that at the top of the Okay. Second. Okay. So, the motion and the second is to uh approve the consent agenda with the removal of resolution 2026-27. Second. She's already all in favor.

Any opposed? Okay, let's talk about resolution 2026-27. This is a resolution reappointing Joan Trow to the St. Genevie Board of Adjustment. Mayor, are you going to move that in new business or are you going to put that? We're we're talking we're going to talk about it right now. Just pulled it out. I do have a problem with it. I just move to approve jump trail for the board agenda. Okay. I have a motion and a second for resolution 2026-27. All in favor? Any opposed? Okay. Thank you all. Uh move along to some old business tonight. We have

Yes, sir. I move to approve the consent agenda as well. The way the way he worded he was that it was to approve the consent agenda removing that item. That's the way that that it was described. Did we just approve the resolution 2627 as well? Yes. Separately. Okay. We we were efficient. Thank you, man. Thank you. We surprised you with our efficiency.

All right. Um Okay. So, we are moving along to old business. Uh first item up tonight, we have a second reading of bill number 4708. This is an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with YPR agency to develop an email marketing newsletter for the city of St. Genevieve Tourism Department. Motion to approve. Second. Okay, I have a motion and a second. Pam, would you do a roll call, please? Alderman Stiger, yes. Alderman France, yes. Alderman, yes. Alderman Haley, yes. Alderman Donovan, yes.

Alderwoman Dobs, yes. Six, yes. Zero nose, two absent. Bill number 4708 now becomes ordinance 4629. Thank you very much. And then next up tonight, we have a second reading of bill number 4709. This is an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with Brian Hawkins for a film exhibitor's license for the film I did this chess dude. Hillary motion. You gave me a third reading on that. You had a week to figure it out. Shaz Shass Gallery. Motion to approve. Second. Okay. Motion in a second. Pam, would you do a roll call, please? Alderwoman Dos. Yes.

Alderman Donovan. Alderman Huey. Yes. Alderman. Yes. Alderman Prince. Alderman Stiger. Yes. Six. Yes. Zero nos, two absent. Bill number 4709 now becomes ordinance 4630. Thank you very much. uh move along to some new business tonight. Uh first up, we have a first reading of bill number 4710. This is an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into an intergovernmental cooperation agreement between the city of St. Genevieve and the St. Genevie County 911 tax emergency services board for the board to provide 911 dispatching services. Move to approve. Second.

Okay. Motion and a second. All in favor? I I Any opposed? Okay. Thank you very much. Next up tonight, we'll have a first reading of bill number 4711. This is an ordinance of the city of St. Genevieve authorizing the mayor to enter into a first amendment to the development agreement with McBride Land Growth LLC. Motion to approve. Second.

Okay, I have a motion and a second. All in favor? Any opposed? Okay. Thank you very much. Then last up in new business tonight, we have a first reading of bill number 4712. This is an ordinance approving a budget amendment to the city of St. Genevie for the fiscal year 2026 budget relating to the various revenue and expenditure increases. Motion to approve. Second. Ready.

Okay. I have a motion and a second. All in favor? Any opposed? Okay. Thank you very much. That would conclude our schedule of business tonight. Anything else to bring forth the board at this time? I want to reiterate a comment that I made earlier and stuff. I don't think anywhere in a public comment uh by anyone that referring to uh the Declaration of Independence and what they might do with it is appropriate. Uh and I'll stand by my comment through whatever.

I've got one mayor. I just want again uh encourage all the uh city and county residents on April 7th to vote yes for the ballot initiatives. It's called question one. So there won't be much on the city ballot. There won't be much on most county ballots except for maybe uh down in St. Mary's or way out west for like a St. Francis County board, like a Farmington board, school board. Um you won't have very little to vote on except for question one. And that'll be countywide and I really encourage uh I'm sorry, city hall. Yeah, city hall will be on there. Of course, that'll be the only thing on there because we have no contested municipal uh races. So, um I I encourage everyone to vote yes for uh question one.

Any see where you're standing here? Any other business to discuss at this time or to bring forth before the board? Okay. If not, then we will go ahead and adjurnn. Thank you all very much.