Internal clean-up continues at Mtn. View City Hall

As the current board of aldermen are getting comfortable in their roles, business is moving forward and an internal clean-up is underway.

 

In an interview with Howell County News, Mayor Charry McCann explained that City Hall has been busy cleaning up documentation. She stressed there is no money missing or anything nefarious going on and insists it's just a simple process of making sure everything is up to code and compliant as it should be.

 

During the Tuesday, Sept. 10 meeting, the mayor stated that the new court clerk found tremendous problems with filing, balancing, etc. in her office. The city clerk is working diligently organizing and updating personnel files, sorting files by month dating back to 2022. Mayor McCann stated that a financial report should be available at the October meeting.

 

Before the regular meeting began, a closed session was held in which the board of aldermen voted to terminate the Golf Course Superintendent Tyler Lewis. Mayor McCann stated that they gave Lewis a 30-day notice and will utilize the employees who are currently working at the golf course. During this time, the board of aldermen is seeking to re-organize the golf course advisory committee. "The golf course is an asset to the city and we will work to make it as good as we can," McCann said.

 

Sept. 10 meeting old business:

- Terra Consulting (CitySwitch) representative Steve Carlson explained to council that they will pay approximately $16,158 to the city to get power to the cell tower site. City Attorney Deedra Nicholson will work on the contract for this project.

- The Wastewater project is waiting on more information from Horner Shifrin engineers.

New Business:

- Minutes from August 13 and August 26 minutes were approved with a correction to the August 26 minutes to reflect the Tax Levy Rate set at 00.0000.

- Bills were approved to be paid

- Assistant Police Chief Stetson Schwien presented information regarding a 2017 Ford Explorer for sale at a surplus auction. The vehicle comes completely outfitted with 100,000 miles and would replace the patrol car that was totaled bringing the fleet total to eight vehicles. Insurance is paying for $6,729.25 and State Surplus is holding the car with a purchase price of $5,000. The motion to purchase the vehicle was approved.

- Operations Manager Eddie Owens explained to council that charges for new services for electric and water hook-ups has not changed since 2006. The current charge for 100 amp and 200 amp electric service is $300 and the current charge for new water installation is $500. A motion was approved to change the 100 amp electric service to $500; 200 amp electric service to $750 with the requirement for upgrade costs incurred by the city to be paid for by customer; and new water service to $1,125.

- Motion was approved for a bid by Solomon Electric for $34,600 for a transformer.

- Motion was approved for the cemetery certificate of deposit at Simmons Bank for $530.55 to be moved to another account at 4.5% interest; 2 CDs at West Plains Bank in the amounts of $26,768.39 and $26,950.37 to be rolled over at 4.25% for 12 months.

- Motion was approved to retroactively pay Lincoln Financial Group for six employees.