The latest Platte City Board of Aldermen meeting lasted three times as long in February than January, but everything presented in front of the board in the 32-minute meeting was given the green light on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
A handful of resolutions were passed in the meeting. The first was an agreement with Insituform Technologies LLC for sewer line rehabilitation in the amount of $106,533. The Belton company will replace 3,990 linear feet of 6- and 8-inch sewer lines.
The city identified the need to replace or repair the final 40,000 linear feet of original sewer lines in 2015. An eight-year plan was started in 2016 to replace 5,000 linear feet per year with an expected range of $100,000 to $125,000.
After this 3,900 linear feet is fixed, the project will be 35 percent complete after rehabilitation of 10,000 linear feet in fiscal year 2016-17.
An application submitted by Dolores McDonnell, agent of the Dwight McDonnell Trust, for the Downtown Revitalization Program was approved for $17,651.92. This was brought to the council as the matching grant portion was above the limit that the city administrator could approve of $15,000.
The applicant submitted a qualifying project — roof work — with a total estimated cost of $35,123.25 for the property at 309 and 313 Main Street.
Also approved was a three-year contract with J&M Displays from Dittmer, Mo., for a firework display in the amount of $13,000 per year.
About a third of the meeting was devoted to lawyer John R. Roe, who spoke against the board approving the consent agenda which included approving the east side development conceptual master plan and design standards for the water tower park development, a 300-acre parcel located near Interstate 29 and Highway 92.
The planning area includes 40 acres of city-owned land and 260 acres of privately owned land, which brought Roe to the council to discuss the matter.
He advised his concern was the location of the entrance on the master plan and how far it was from the Interstate 29 ramp. He mentioned a traffic study done that suggested the entrance should be 640 feet further down then planned.
The intersection is approximately 1,100 feet east of the I-29/Highway 92. Documents showed an alternative was 1,700 feet east of the intersection, but that required an additional seven acres of right of way and increase the cost by $2 million.
“The recommendation on the study shows the first intersection should be halfway between the ramp and the Windmill Creek entrance of 1,750 east of the ramp,” Roe said. “There is no mention in the staff reports and it is important you know the traffic study. You got a concept plan before you where the first intersection on the left side, north of 92, is 1,000 feet from the ramp, and a traffic studythat says 1,750 feet and a guideline (from MoDOT access management guidelines) as a minimum of 1,320 feet.
“We ask you hold this for 30 or 60 days. Meet with all of the people involved and talk about that and that hasn’t happen. In lieu of that we request you deny it.”
The council voted unanimously to pass the consent agenda, meaning the plea from Roe and his client didn’t garner enough attention
In other news:
- The final plat for Windmill Creek Phase I was approved that features 34 single-family parcels.
- An ordinance was approved for additional recycling option for Platte City businesses and fees for such service. Currently the recycling provides residential curbside collection to all single-family customers, but limited options for businesses who has a contract with the city. For those in a third-party contractor for solid waste collection, this will allow businesses to use the curbside recycling service for $12.70 per month for each 95 gallon recycling cart one time a week
- Jennifer M. Snider of Witt, Hicklin and Snider was appointed as the city attorney, replacing Keith Hicklin, who has held the position since 1992. It is two-year contract and provides addition two-year terms until the city appoints a successor.
- Appointed Jennifer M. Fain – also from Witt, Hicklin and Snider – as the municipal prosecutor. Between the two legal services the past three years, the city’s average expenditure was $27,5000, according to documents.
- Doug Patterson and Property Law Firm of Leawood, Kan., was appointed as special counsel for legal services related to economic development activities and appointed Jennifer Baird, a partner at Lauber Municipal Law in Blue Springs as special counsel for legal services related to land use and comprehensive planning activities. The city average expenditure on special counsel over the past three years is $3,050 per year. The hourly rates range between $175 to $275 per hour.
- Approved destroying documents in accordance with chapter 109 of the revised statues of Missouri. The city will contract with a private sector company to destroy the secured documents with records dating from 2012 and various licenses older than 2015. The estimated cost for the five 95-gallon carts is $325.
- The Parks and Recreation Board approved donating $750 to the Platte City Friends of the Arts.