City of Mtn View Met in Regular Session

The Mountain View City Council met in regular session August 10. Among old business discussed by the council, a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with the Mountain View Youth Center for Community Services was unanimously approved. Also receiving unanimous approval was a motion moving CDs from Simmons Bank to the Mountain View branch of West Plains Bank. The CDs would be used to secure a line of credit for renovations of the city pool. 
The council also discussed new equipment purchases for city departments. The purchase of a new police car was approved by the council in the city budget. All members of the council again approved the plan of accepting a $35,000 quote for purchasing a new patrol car. Payments on the car would be made quarterly. A five-year $157,000 loan to purchase a new trash truck also received a second approval. The purchase of the trash truck was previously included in the budget. 
Mayor Donnie Pruett discussed the electric bill from February. The city’s bill topped one million dollars and was more than six times the cost of the February 2020 bill of $156,000. Mayor Pruett and the council discussed how the city’s current electric rate of $8.38 per kilowatt is one of the lowest rates in the area. There is no current push to pass this added cost on to residents of Mountain View, but the council agreed that if the situation occurs again, something will have to be done. The city is currently paying the bill in monthly installments through a no-interest loan. 
Financial officer, Linda Higgins, spoke about the community development block grant for the Oak Street project. Higgins stated that the guidelines of the grant require a new bank account to be opened. Alderwoman Judi Colter stated that she did not want to have the account opened at Simmons, since Simmons does not require two signers on an account. The council agreed that if Simmons could not set up the account to require two signers, then the new account would be set up at West Plains Bank. 
In new business, the council heard a resolution that would add storm water mitigation and community development block grant revenue and expense. Mayor Pruett also discussed removing Mary Woodruff, who is retiring later this year, from the city’s checking accounts and adding Kelli Blake, who is training for Woodruff’s position. All members of the council were in favor. 
Another resolution heard by the council would amend the verbiage in a previous decision to appoint a director and alternate director to the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission. Instead of listing the current mayor and electric supervisor by name, the verbiage would be changed to list only the titles, allowing an easier transition, should the holder of either position should change. 
Charry McCann, secretary of the Mountain View Alumni Association, spoke to the council about the benefit that a city museum could bring to the city. The council agreed that a city museum would be a nice addition. McCann stated that the Alumni Association is planning a booth at Pioneer Days to get input and possible pledges from the community. 
Alderwoman Ellie Carson discussed the need for an increase in wages for city police officers. Carson stated that an increase in wages would help to keep officers in the community. The council agreed that an increase in wages for officers is something that is needed, and after discussing possible areas of the city budget that could free up money to do so, the council agreed to revisit the issue in December. 
Mayor Pruett wrapped up the meeting with an update on the installation of new water meters in the city. Pruett stated that the project is progressing, and that readings would be more accurate and would, hopefully, bring in more revenue for the city. 
 
Correction and Clarification
A sentence in an article titled, “City of Mtn View Met in Regular Session,” published in the August 18 edition read, “Mayor Pruett and the council discussed...the city’s current electric rate of $8.38 per kilowatt...,” but more accurately should have read, “Mayor Pruett and the council discussed...the city’s current electric rate of $0.0838 per kilowatt...” The municipal electricity sold by the City of Mountain View costs 8.38 cents, not dollars.

 

Content Paywall Trunction: 
Free

Howell County News

110 W. Main St.,
Willow Springs, MO 65793
417-252-2123

Comment Here