City Agrees To Close State Street April 8 For Eclipse Festival

After postponing its first meeting of 2024, the Doniphan City Council met Jan. 23 for a rescheduled session, and a full agenda which included several guests.

The council heard a request by Erin Longo to close State Street from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., on April 8.

Longo, who is heading a planning committee which is coordinating events and activities for the Eclipse on the Current team, said they want to plan a stargazer’s festival that day.

She presented an agreement which had been signed by all of businesses on State Street, as well as Eclipse on the Current team members. Longo explained, that day parking for the event will be directed to the area behind her business, the 1808 Public House.

Tentatively planned at this time, in addition to a festival around Heritage Park, are a live mural, Yoga in the Park, aerial Yoga, and live music.

As more events are planned, and needs are realized Longo said she will update the city council.

Julie Stone inquired whether the city could have a no-tax day for purchases made from vendors (who will already be required to purchase a permit) on the day of the eclipse.

Attorney Christopher Miller stated there is no way for the city to abate taxes for a random day during the year, rather, it has to be in conjunction with a state program.

Raamin Burrell, Community Development Specialist with the Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission, presented a copy of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy which she plans to submit to the Economic Development District Board no later than March 14.

The plan, which is updated every five years, will be used to form a framework for awarding future grants.

Burrell stressed the importance of sharing the information with as many as possible, and hopefully garnering input from the community.

The public can view the CEDS plan by contacting the city of Doniphan, the Ripley County Commission, or the Ripley County Chamber of Commerce, prior to it being made available on the Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission website.

Leann Eaton revisited the issue of whether the city would provide port-a-potties for the Farmer’s Market. She presented quotes for an ADA unit at $140 a month, or a regular unit at $110 a month.

The city allows use of its lot which borders the one used by the Farmer’s Market, free of charge, and on a first-come, first-serve basis.

As the city is not charging fees for use of the lot, the council feels the Farmer’s Market vendors should continue to provide their own port-a-potties.

The only requirements the council has, is that person(s) wanting to set up a booth on the lot contact city hall to let them know, and that vendors are responsible for any and all clean-up of that space.

However, it was also noted that food trucks which set up in town must apply for a peddler’s license, which is available for three months, six months or one year.

The city reserves the right to deny use of the lot during its annual city-wide clean-up and yard sale events.

Moving on to regular business, the council heard a report from Treasurer Chasity Mathis.

Mathis stated that the city budget audit had gone well, with no items flagged.

“The next budget we have audited will be a single audit,” said Mathis.

She presented a budget resolution with an amended budget from 2023.

“We came out to $582,878.21 to the good for the year. General revenue [total] went over, but we knew that was going to happen due to increases using surplus, to the tune of $155,000 for GR to balance the budget,” said Mathis.

Transportation, water and sewer departments had sufficient money to balance their budget. “The only other department that was a little bit over budget was motel. We had to use about $500 to offset that budget,” she said.

Mathis also presented a sales tax report which showed that all categories were up for January, particularly use tax, which was up around $13,000.

“We are still up about $49,000 for the year,” concluded Mathis.

City Attorney Christopher Miller did a first and second reading of an ordinance authorizing the director of public works to act as the city’s representative to accept grants and execute grant agreements that aid in the development of Missouri transportation issues, in accordance with the federal highway administration’s surface transportation program. The council approved the ordinance by roll call vote.

Attorney Miller also said that “Doniphan is now within the statutory arena that if there is an election scheduled and we don’t have a contested race, we can forgo having candidates on the ballot and avoid the expense of an election.”

The population figure has been increased for that statute, which is why Doniphan now can adopt such an ordinance.

The council authorized Miller to prepare an ordinance, which won’t apply this year, but would be in affect next year.

There would be no opportunity for a write in candidate, in such a case.

During open discussions the council discussed the upcoming minimum wage increase of 30 cents. The council approved initiating the increase on the first payroll for February, to avoid getting behind in giving such increases in the future.

Mathis stated this would equate to an increase of about $5,300 for hourly wages for the police department, transportation, water, sewer and general.

Part-time would start out at $13.50; water/sewer, transportation and dispatch would start out at $14.50 and police officers starting out would be $15.50 for full time.

In one year, police department personnel would go to $18.50 and after three-years would be at $19.50.

Transportation, dispatch and water/sewer at one year would be $17.50 and at three years would be $18.50.

Part-timers at one year would be paid $16.50 and at three years, $17.50.

Proportionate increases for salaried personnel will have to be decided at the annual workshop in June, said Marti Porter, city clerk.

City Police Chief Mark Rodgers stated that although the department will appreciate the 30 cent increase, he recently lost an officer who opted to take another job for $5 more per hour.

Rodgers proposed, “I have a good candidate who has approached me and stated that he can’t afford the expense of going to police academy, but would be willing to sign a contract with us if the city would pay for it.

“I think we have come to the point that we are going to have to try to do this,” said Rodgers.

He said he would first do background checks on candidates before considering them, and if the candidate dropped out or left the department, he would be billed for the costs of sending him to school.

Rodgers said it’s too late to do send anyone to school in 2024, but a new course starts in January of next year.

The council approved having Attorney Miller draft an education contract for potential candidates.

Rodgers also stated he has been in touch with MIRMA, and the department is getting another camera for one of the patrol vehicles.

Porter presented a debt dismissal hospital relief insurance supplement which would cost $2 per employee per month, per year. That figures to $576 annually, she said.

“It would cover not only the employee, but also family members who are not on the employee health plan. It does not guarantee that everyone would qualify. It’s based off income and household size.”

She said participation in the program is “all or none.”

The city opted to go with the program and take the cost out of its HRA fund.

City Utilities Director Jarrett Ficke informed the council, “One of the lift station motors has quit, the second motor is on its way out and they can’t get our back-up motor going.”

Ficke stated he had made arrangements for a rental and it was on its way from St. Louis. He said the cost for the rental will be $5,000 a month, limited to three months.

“They can drop it in and keep us going until we can have the other motors evaluated,” said Ficke.

He said the city will need to get a replacement motor, at a probable cost of $60,000 to $80,000.

Ficke also reported that during the snow storm the city had five trucks out blading the streets.

The next meeting of the council is set to take place at 6 p.m., Feb. 6.