Salem aldermen Monday night agreed to a one-year extension of the city's redevelopment agreement with Crossroads Redevelopment Corporation for improving a blighted area, the former Tower Inn and the Crossroad Shopping Center property.
Property owner Sherman Odom requested the agreement extension to allow time to complete the Tower Inn portion of the structure and on-site improvements, parking lot and signage.
The original agreement, which includes tax abatements, expired Sunday.
Odom and his wife, Marsha, attended the meeting. Sherman Odom said the one-year extension delays tax abatements on the Tower Inn portion of the improvements for another year. Tax abatements on the Subway building and the Holiday Inn Express began in 2004.
Odom's request was recommended for approval by City Administrator Clayton Lucas. Lucas said the original 10-year agreement allows for extension if approved by aldermen.
Aldermen unanimously approved Odom's extension request and complimented him on the recent progress that has been made to finish the project.
City Attorney William Camm Seay said the agreement extension must be in writing, and he said he would meet with the Odoms to finalize the necessary documents.
The new agreement will expire Dec. 4, 2012.
In other action:
Aldermen unanimously approved a proposed policy change recommended by Lucas that revises the city current yard waste pick-up policy.
The new policy will limit collection of residential yard waste to bagged leaves or lawn trimmings and bagged brush on the first and third Mondays of each month. A fee of $40 will be charged for any bagged yard waste that exceeds one dump truck load. Residents must complete a work order at the City Utility Office before clean-up of this size can be completed.
The new policy goes into effect Jan. 1.
Lucas said special collections would be allowed after storms.
Lucas recommended the policy change at the last meeting because the current policy was costing the city about $75,000 a year and keeps city crews from completing other projects.
Residents are encouraged to utilize the city's free yard waste dump site located in the Masters Industrial Park for all other authorized yard waste, brush and limbs that cannot be bagged.
Aldermen also approved:
• A $3,000 budget adjustment in the Cemetery Fund to allow an increase in Special Services Fund to cover demolition costs for the house that was removed from property the city purchased to expand the Cedar Grove Cemetery;
• Separate ordinances requiring all motor vehicles operating within the city limits to have proof of financial responsibility and a requirement for pawn shop/brokers to report used property to the police department;
• Separate Resolutions appointing a representative and alternate representative to act on behalf of the city at the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission (MJMEUC) and of the Mid-Missouri Municipal Power Energy Pool (MMMPEP) Committee and designating that the mayor be appointed director and the city administrator be alternate director to the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission.
Reports:
• Brown reported that the city's sales tax revenue was $69,322.71 in October, up by $6,404 in from last year and $17,927.20 year-to-date. Capital Improvement Sales Tax revenue was $34,661.45 in October.
• The mayor said city officials would be voting Tuesday on a proposal from the MMMPEP to provide the city's future wholesale electric power during a meeting in St. Robert.
• Brown said a couple of people have expressed interest in the old Middle School property. He said if the property is sold it would have to be advertised. Brown recommended that aldermen make a decision of the future of the property closer to fiscal year budget time.
• The mayor reminded aldermen of the MoDOT public meeting Wednesday at the High School regarding local bridge projects, and he said a TAC meeting at Meramec Regional Planning Commission will be held Thursday. He said he plans to make recommendations regarding signals at Franklin and Hwy. 19 and a left turn signal at Hwy. 32 and MacArthur Avenue.
• Brown said there were 1,204 visits to the Salem TCRC in November and 1,537 visits at the Salem Fitness Center.
Lucas reported:
• New lights will be added in the back and on the north side of the TCRC to improve visibility.
• City police vehicle striping and city logo are being applied to city vehicles. He said an inventory is being done of all city vehicles.
Public Works Director and City Engineer Bill Huffman reported that city department crews are working on maintenance projects, and he is working on nuisance violations and efforts to demolish old buildings. He said he is also working on the city mapping project.
• Huffman also reported that hundreds of Salem homes are in violation of city ordinance requiring house address numbers. Violation of the ordinance has a penalty of up to $50 a day fine for each occurrence, according to Seay.
• Nash asked about city policy on people, other than city employees, riding in city vehicles.
Lucas said the city's insurance company representative said they are covered, but Lucas said it is not a practice that is encouraged.
• Nash recommended that Lucas check with the Dent County sheriff about additional Salem police officers being deputized to allow them, if needed, to assist with emergency situations outside the city limits.
• Alderman Haydn Powell and Philip Giocomelli each asked about separate property locations regarding nuisance violations at 804 North Inman St., a house on Hwy. 19 and a house at Ninth and Jackson. Huffman and Seay each said these are on the list of violation properties that are currently being processed according to ordinance.
