Vandalia Administrative Assistant Terry Waters informed the City Council that each year at the MIRMA annual conference, cities that have scored 100% on their evaluation for the loss control program, are recognized by the association and are presented with a Certificate of Achievement.
This is the third year in a row that the City of Vandalia has scored 100%.
The MIRMA loss prevention evaluation program consists of eight sections—Management Direction; Safety Committee Development; Fleet Safety; Liability Control; National Standards Compliance; Human Resources; Training; and Recommendation Compliance.
This consistent excellence is a testament to the city’s commitment and dedication to safety and risk management.
Waters presented this information during the Aug. 13 Vandalia City Council meeting.
Agenda Item #V – Public Hearing
Mayor Ralph Kuda Jr. opened the public hearing for setting the 2024 Tax Levy. Kuda asked for any input, and after receiving none, he closed the public meeting.
An ordinance setting the 2024 Tax Levy at 1.09225 per $100 was voted in unanimously.
City Clerk Brandie Gay explained that the State of Missouri, following a State mandated formula, has calculated the allowable tax rate for the City levy at $1.09225 per $100 assessed value, of which $0.9225 is for the General Fund and $0.1700 for the Park Fund. The tax rate will continue to vary, along with the assessed valuations based on state formulas. As required by State Statute, the Notice of Public Hearing was published in the Vandalia Leader on Aug. 8, 2024, and was also posted at City Hall, Vandalia Post Office and the Housing Authority.
After some discussion, Alderman Wenzel moved to hear the bill the first time. Alderman Lowrance seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Mrs. Rost read the bill for the first time. Alderman Weiser moved that the first reading of the bill be approved. The motion was seconded by Alderman Shaw and the votes were recorded as follows: “Aye”: Aldermen Wenzel, Weiser, Lowrance, Turner, Holt and Shaw. “Nay”: None. Alderman Holt moved that the second reading of the bill be heard. The motion was seconded by Alderman Shaw which passed unanimously. Mrs. Rost read the bill the second time. Alderman Lowrance moved that the second reading of the bill be approved. The motion was second by Alderman Weiser, and the votes were recorded as follows: “Aye”: Aldermen Shaw, Turner, Holt, Lowrance, Wenzel, and Weiser. “Nay”: None.
The council voted to approve Kuda’s appointments of Larry Stotler and Kenny Haddock to the Planning and Zoning Commission, and Jim Elzea, Terri Junger, and Kevin Motley to the Zoning Board of Adjustments.
City Administrator Darren Berry explained that the Planning and Zoning Commission has two positions that needed to be filled. Stotler’s term had expired, and Haddock agreed to replace the position that has been vacated by Nick Johnston. Both positions are for a four-year term.
The Zoning Board of Adjustments had three positions that needed to be filled.
Elzea and Jungers’ terms expired, and they wanted to be reappointed. Motley agreed to fill the open position. Each of these positions are for a five-year term.
The Aldermen approved the Policy of Replacement of AMI Water Meters. Berry explained to the board that the city was awarded a grant through CDBG for $463,853 to replace all the residential water meters in the city with AMI water meters—Advanced Metering Infrastructure.
Each meter costs several hundred dollars to install, he said. It can be costly to the city if we need replace one of the AMI meters because it was damaged. This policy will cover the cost of damaged or destroyed AMI Water Meters when it is caused by a customer’s negligence, misuse, or accidental damage.
The approval of this policy will allow the city to recoup some of the cost of damaged or destroyed components of the AMI meters, he added.
Policy for Replacement of Advanced Metering Infrastructure
AMI Water Meters
• While the Advanced Metering Infrastructure water meters are owned, installed, and maintained by the City of Vandalia, it is the customer’s responsibility to protect the AMI water meter from negligence, misuse, or accidental damage such as mowing over the meter pit and damaging the Mushroom Top.
• The customer will be required to pay for the replacement cost of any component of the water meter, including any labor and materials needed for the installation.
• If a customer damages or destroys any part of the AMI water meter that is on their property, but metering another customer’s water usage, the property owner or the tenant of the property on which the meter is located, the customer who damages or destroys the meter will be financially responsible for replacement or repair of the meter.
• Customers should notify City Hall as soon as they notice any damage to the meter.
• After City Hall has been notified, we will send a technician to inspect the damage and determine the cause of the damage before proceeding with the replacement.
• If mowing, or any other reason the meter pit lid is removed, resulting in any apparatus of the water meter to be damaged or destroyed, an invoice will be sent to the property owner or tenant (whoever is responsible for the utility bill).
• If the invoice is not paid within 30 days, the cost to replace the damaged equipment will be added to the customer’s utility bill.
• After the charges have been added to the customer’s utility bill, and if they still refuse to pay for the damaged equipment, they will be subjected to disconnection.
The AMI meters consist of three components. The current cost of each component is: the Radio, $174.33; the Mushroom Top, $31.14; Connecting Cable, $20.
If it is a dual Radio (two ports), the cost for replacement is $231.46.
The City would cover the cost of one Mushroom Top that is accidentally damaged or destroyed. Any additional Mushroom Tops that are damaged or destroyed by the customer will be at their cost for replacement.
All costs are subject to change as the market dictates.
After some discussion, Alderman Shaw made a motion to approve the policy for replacement on the AMI Water Meters. Alderman Turner seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
The Aldermen approved and authorized the mayor to sign the Milsoft Utility Solutions, one-year contract extension.
Berry said, “We are in the process of switching our billing software to Edmunds Gov Tech. We will need to continue with Milsoft Utility Solutions until Edmunds has been completely implemented and tested. It is an extensive process when switching software companies and it is not uncommon for a city to run both software companies together until they are able to go live with the new product. This process takes anywhere from eight- to 12-months to complete. Even after we go live with Edmunds, we will need to run both Edmunds and Milsoft together for a couple of months, so we can compare data from both companies and verify that everything is accurate.”
The cost for the one-year contract with Milsoft Utility Solutions is $10,464. The old contract cost was $9,500. After some discussion, Alderman Weiser made a motion to approve and authorize the mayor to sign the Milsoft Utility Solutions one-year contract extension. Alderman Lowrance seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
The City Council issued a resolution honoring three lifeguards of the Vandalia Family Aquatic Center. See related story on Page 1.
Citizens voices
Denis Ward, resident of Vandalia, requested that the creek ditch on the west side of this location be cleaned out because the weeds are overgrown and there are trees growing. He stated the city used to clean this ditch out every year but has not done anything for over six years. He is afraid someone will fall in there and get hurt.
* Kelly Smith, Denise Chamberlin and Mr. O’Day, residents of Vandalia, are concerned about people living in the new Beacon of Hope church. The concerned residents state that people are in there at all hours of the day and night and are disturbing the neighbors.
Administrator’s Report
• Daynes Waste Disposal changed their recycling days. Starting Wednesday Sept. 11, recycling will be the second Wednesday of each month.
• The city has received a grant through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services in the amount of $25,000 to upgrade the fluoride system at the water plant. Some of the items that the water plant is looking to purchase with this grant are pumps, scales, bulk tanks, day tanks, testing equipment, testing supplies, PPE, and fluoride analyzers.
• Now that the Demolition grant has been awarded to Noble Excavating, they are planning to start demolition of the 19 properties at the end of the month or at the beginning of September.
• The water and sewer rates are adjusted annually on the August billing of each year in an amount equal to the annual Consumer Price Index.
However, the amount of the adjustment shall not exceed 4%. This year’s CPI increase is 3.4%, resulting in a customer who uses 5,000 gallons of water, their water/sewer bill will increase by a total of $1.16 per month.
• Tuesday, Aug. 20 there will be a Scheduled Power Outage, starting at 1 p.m. and lasting four to five hours. The city understands this will be an inconvenience but unfortunately the outage needs to occur to make much needed improvements to the city’s electrical system.
• North Oak and Elm Street are currently being prepared for overlaying.