Board of Aldermen Meeting Minutes

LOWRY CITY BOARD OF ALDERMEN

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Tuesday, April 15 2025 6:00 pm

Draft Minutes

Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance:

On Tuesday, April 15, 2025 Mayor Patricia Landes called the regular session of the Lowry City Board of Aldermen meeting to order at 6 p.m. in the council room at city hall. Board members attending included West Ward Aldermen Sean Langston and Shirley Edmunds and East Ward Aldermen Charles Cone and Jackie Cutler. City employees attending the meeting included Water and Wastewater Superintendent Josh Muller, City Maintenance Worker Kenneth Walker and City Clerk John Farrell. A few people from the community also attended. Notice of the meeting was given pursuant to RSMo. 610.020.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Landes.

Amend Agenda:

Farrell explained electing a mayor pro-tem needed to be added to the agenda following newly elected officials taking the oath of office. On a motion from Langston and a second from Edmunds the motion to add the matter to the agenda carried unanimously.

Approval of Minutes:

The board reviewed the regular session minutes from March 18, 2025. Langston moved and Edmunds seconded to approve the minutes. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Bills:

A list of bills was presented for approval. Farrell noted City Collector/Treasurer Stephanie Porter made the report more detailed than in the past. After review, Langston moved and Edmunds seconded the motion to approve the bills presented. The motion passed unanimously.

Financial Reports:

Financial reports for the month ending March 31, 2025 were presented and reviewed. Cutler moved and Cone seconded to accept the financial reports. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Old or Unfinished business:

There was no old business to address.

New Business:

1. Oath of Office for newly elected officials:

It was noted the city did not have to have an election due to each board member running unopposed. The Oath of Office was read by Mayor Patricia Landes, East Ward Alderman Charles Cone and West Ward Alderman Sean Langston.

1. Elect Mayor Pro-Tem:

On a motion from Edmunds and a second from Cutler the board unanimously agreed to Langston serving as mayor-pro-tem.

1. Health insurance renewal:

Farrell presented information in reference to the city’s health insurance coverage for employees. A 35.65-percent increase from last year’s coverage rate was reported. The information noted currently the health plan coverage is $908.89 per month per employee. The city pays 80-percent leaving employees to pay an estimated $182 monthly for coverage. With the increase the city’s portion will be $1,231 per month per employee. Premiums for employees on the plan will increase to $246.20. Farrell noted currently two of the four full time city employees utilize the benefit and another is expected to be added in June during open enrollment. He requested permission to sign the renewal. On a motion from Cone and a second from Langston the board unanimously agreed to allow Farrell to sign the renewal.

1. City officials training seminar:

Farrell presented information in reference to a training seminar for city officials. The event is hosted by Lauber Municipal Law.in Clinton on Friday, May 9. The cost is $35 per person. City office staff requested approval to close city hall for the day to attend. On a motion from Langston and a second by Edmunds the board unanimously agreed to close city hall May 9 to allow city office staff to attend.

1. Community storm shelter:

Farrell stated he had suggestion from a resident to look into FEMA grants to construct a storm shelter. He said after contacting FEMA information was received on a Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant. He said the very next day he received an email in reference to funding for the grants being cut. Farrell asked if he should continue to look into anything further regarding grants for a project. It was mutually agreed to wait until a future date to possibly pursue the matter.

1. Tree on 2nd and Blaine:

Muller reported there is a tree on city property that needs removed due to branches falling on nearby house. He noted the possible liability if the tree branches cause damage. On a motion from Cone and a second from Langston the board unanimously agreed to gather bids for the job.

1. Tree trimmings placed in ditches for city pickup:

Cutler spoke of recent issues regarding some citizens trimming trees on their property and placing the debris and wood out for the city to pick up. She explained recently contracting a company to trim trees and the debris and wood was removed by the contractor. It was noted city crews only assist with removal of debris from trees following storms and high winds. Muller said citizens can contact the public works department on a case-by-case basis for dumping tree trimmings near the city’s lagoon.

Lowry City Community Betterment (LCCB) update:

No representatives attended but Landes noted the Spring Craft Fair is May 10. Members of the board mentioned several events planned including a car show and a tractor show. Langston mentioned a successful city-wide clean up held on Saturday, April 12. Cutler noted thanks to the LCCB for organizing and holding the event for the city.  

Citizen input:

There was no citizen’s input.

Department reports:

Police Department:

Police Chief Charles Hodges was unable to attend but prepared a report for the board. The report noted 17 traffic tickets issued for various traffic violation made by officers from March 19-April 15

Hodges reported officers are checking properties that are past the ten days allowed for clean-up and issuing tickets if needed. It was noted the outfitter of the new patrol car is waiting on equipment to complete the vehicle.

Farrell requested approval to purchase tokens from KTT Car Wash, Osceola, to wash patrol vehicles. The board mutually agreed noting the expense was under $500 allowing the clerk to approve the purchase without board approval.         

Fire Department:

Fire Chief Justin Norris requested car wash tokens also be issued to the fire department to clean the fire trucks. It was mutually agreed. Norris will contact Farrell for tokens when needed. Norris reviewed past repairs made to the fire department’s fleet. He reported issues with brakes and ball joints on another truck in the fleet. Norris said he will have additional information at next month’s meeting on the repairs needed. The chief said he is looking into grants for new fire trucks that pay 100-percent and are not matching. He also mentioned possibilities of obtaining a used truck from nearby fire departments that are scheduled to receive new equipment.

Creating a tax-based fire district for the Lowry City area was mentioned by the chief. At last month’s meeting Norris requested initial approval to look into the matter to possibly get it on an upcoming ballot and the board mutually agreed. During this month’s meeting, Norris reported he is waiting on a call back from St Clair County Clerk Holley Fletcher regarding the matter. He stated a district may already be in place and if that is the case, the process will be less complicated. It was noted a vote of the people would be required to put a tax-based district in place.

Norris mentioned an upcoming car show hosted by the Lowry City Fire Department Woman’s Auxiliary to be held during the annual Craft Fair on May 10. He reported construction on the meeting room at the fire department is 75-percent complete.

The mayor asked Norris how the storm sirens are activated. He explained they are activated manually or from a telephone code that he calls in. He noted during a recent storm they did not sound due to the storm being located in southern St. Clair County when a warning was issued. He noted when the storm shifted, he sounded the sirens. Norris also said a training on the matter was held and the process to sounding the siren was reviewed

Public Works:

Muller reported Walker has been trying to keep up with picking up brush piles. He said a new rotating assembly for pump one at the lift station was installed on Monday, April 14. Muller noted he is looking into getting parts to rebuild the old assembly’s so the city will have a backup. Muller said both pumps at the lift stations are working and reported weekly E. coli samples of the lagoons are being taken. Later in his report, he reported meeting with a company about completely reconstructing the city’s lift stations. Muller said this would be something to discuss in the future.

Muller reported the city’s three weed-eaters are in need of replacement. He presented pricing from Do-It-Best, Osceola. On a motion from Langston and a second from Cone the board unanimously agreed to purchase a Stil FS94R, FS111R and a FS131R for a total of $1240.77.

He noted hydrant flushing will begin the middle of April. Muller reported he recently replaced light bulbs on the interior of the water tower. He presented pricing from MIDCO Diving and Marine Services regarding inspection of the wet side of the water tower. On a motion from Langston and a second from Edmunds the board unanimously agreed to spend up to $4,400 for cleaning and inspection of the city’s water tower that includes full written report utilizing EPA or state guidelines. Muller said he will also gather pricing from their sister company to clean and resurface the interior of the dry side of the tower.

Muller mentioned ongoing searches for loans or grants for a water meter upgrade. He noted issues with the current equipment used for meter reading. Muller said he is waiting on pricing from companies in reference to water meter and software upgrades.

Mayor’s notes:

Mayor Landes had nothing to add.

Adjourn to closed session:

Langston moved and Cutler seconded to adjourn to closed session pursuant to RSMo

610.021.(3) Hiring, firing, promoting or discipline of a specific employee. The motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.

Adjournment of regular open session:

Cuter moved and Edmunds seconded to adjourn the regular meeting. The vote was unanimous and the meeting adjourned.

LOWRY CITY BOARD OF ALDERMEN

Closed Session

Tuesday April 15, 2025  

Draft Minutes

Call to order

On Tuesday, April 15, the Lowy City Board of Aldermen held a closed session meeting following the regular meeting. The closed session was held pursuant to 610.021.(3) Hiring, firing, promoting or discipline of a specific employee. Notice of the meeting was given by posting the notice on the bulletin board located at city hall and it was sent by email to the St. Clair County Courier.

Mayor Patricia Landes called the meeting to order. Those in attendance were West Ward Aldermen Sean Langston and Shirley Edmunds and East Ward Aldermen Charles Cone and Jackie Cutler. City Clerk John Farrell and Public Works Supervisor Josh Muller were also in attendance.

Applicants for summer help:

The board reviewed applicants for a part-time summer help position. On a motion from Langston and a second from Edmunds the board voted to hire Jakob Hammer to fill the position. The vote passed 2-1-1. Langston and Edmunds voted in favor. Cone was opposed and Cutler abstained from the vote citing questions with the city’s insurance coverage.

Adjourn:

Langston moved and Cutler seconded to adjourn the closed session and enter open session. Motion carried unanimously with a roll call vote.