By Woodrow Polston
During the March meeting of the Vandalia Board of Alderman, City Administrator Darren Berry explained that he had been contacted by a citizen who was requesting permission from the city to install and maintain blessing boxes at the city parks. Christina Chastain, a resident of Vandalia, stated that she would do this with the help of her family and that the city would not be required to provide any assistance.
Blessing Boxes are typically stocked with nonperishable food items, hygiene products, school supplies and anything that might be considered a blessing to someone who is need. Anyone in the community can donate to or retrieve items from the blessing boxes.
Berry checked with the Municipal Inter-governmental Risk Management Association to see if they had any concerns with these being placed on city property. They had no concerns but did recommend that the city have the party that places the boxes, sign a Hold Harmless Agreement and an additional agreement that gives the city permission to remove the Blessing Boxes if they are not maintained in good condition.
If the installation of blessing boxes in the parks is approved, the city will execute both documents for signature before granting permission for them to be placed in the parks. After some discussion it was decided to table the motion. The council would like for Berry to come back with more guidelines at the next meeting.
Other items discussed during the meeting included an ordinance adding the definitions of “minor traffic violation” and “municipal ordinance violation” to section 300.020; repealing and replacing certain provisions of section 100.2, and adding sections 100.240, 100.250, and 100.260; and repealing and replacing certain sections of chapter 215 of the city code of the city of Vandalia, Missouri.
Weiser moved to hear the bill the first time. Shaw seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. Rost read the bill the first time. Weiser moved that the first reading of the bill be approved. The motion was seconded by Turner and the motion was approved unanimously. Hopke moved that the second reading of the bill be heard. The motion was seconded by Weiser, which carried unanimously.
Rost read the bill the second time. Hopke moved that the second reading of the bill be approved. The motion was second by Shaw, and the motion was approved unanimously. No. 22-1222 was passed and approved. Having no further business to discuss, at 5:51 p.m., Hopke made a motion to adjourn from regular session and enter into executive session.