City pool progress and utility penalties passed

Work on the city pool in Mountain View is progressing quickly, the Board of Aldermen heard last week. Mayor John Krasuski requested to amend the agenda to include the pool update, according to the meeting’s draft minutes. Because of the progress, the mayor suggested two CDs should be cashed in to pay for the work. Alderman Murray Anderson made the motion, and it passed unanimously.

Later, after a closed session to discuss hiring a pool manager, the aldermen voted unanimously to hire Kayla Zimmerman for this summer’s season. 

Moving on to old business, ordinance 1732 was presented for second reading and ultimately passed unanimously. This ordinance changes late fees for utility bills to 10% of the total balance. Delinquent notices will no longer be mailed out. According to the meeting minutes, these changes will take places on all bills due in April. 

Fire Chief Jason Taber approached the aldermen about donating some old gear to Birch Tree Fire Department. City Attorney Deedra Nicholson will research guidelines governing such a donation, and no action was taken. Chief Taber also presented the aldermen with three bids for the purchase of helmet lights and right angle lights.  The board unanimously chose to purchase seventeen helmet lights for $1,529.83 from Fire Store and seventeen right angle lights from Firemaster for $1,104.15.  

Andrea McNew, as the treasurer of Mountain View Community Betterment, addressed the aldermen on the subject of endowed CDs. McNew reported that a bank account her organization owns has been collecting interest from endowed CDs previously transferred to the city of Mountain View. More than $2,500 in interest had been deposited into the wrong account since the CDs were turned over to the city in 2012, McNew said. Alderman Anderson made a motion to accept the interest from MVCB and to place this money in the account earmarked for community center upkeep. All future interest is to be earmarked for the same purpose. The motion passed unanimously. 

In other actions:

-The aldermen passed an ordinance changing the city’s fiscal year to match the calendar year, as suggested by the city’s independent auditors. 

-An ordinance governing municipal golf course fees passed unanimously. 

-All the aldermen voted nay on an ordinance setting municipal pool fees, pending gathering more information on nearby pool locations. 

-The city’s auditors also requested clarifications to an ordinance about the city’s purchasing policy, and this amended ordinance passed unanimously empowering the mayor to unilaterally approve purchases between $1,000 and $5,000 without the action of the aldermen. 

In other discussion:

-Alderwoman Laura Wagner requested an amendment to the agenda to include an update from the Chamber of Commerce. Andrea McNew was present and gave an update that a new director has been hired and described upcoming Chamber events. 

-Citizen Terry Gunter addressed the board about potholes in the streets and the cleanliness of the town. 

-The citywide Spring Clean Up days are scheduled for April 17 through 21. 

-Discussion took place regarding naming the soccer field after Tovia Auala, who Alderwoman Wagner reported has recently passed away and was a huge contributor to soccer coming to Mountain View. 

-Ty Lewis, golf supervisor, asked if he could take sponsorships for golf tournaments and use them to make improvements to the course. The board took no action.