Council Hears Committee Reports; Upcoming Chamber Events

Holden City Council members heard updates from committee chairmen at their regular monthly meeting, held May 11.

Councilman Ray Briscoe gave an update on economic development, with Chamber of Commerce news. He informed council members that the Chamber will be hosting Cruise Nights downtown on 2nd St. the first Friday of each month. The first one will be held June 4.

In other Chamber news, Briscoe said they will be sponsoring a downtown beautification project, called Adopt a Pot. Individuals and local merchants may adopt a flower pot on 2nd St., which means they will plant flowers at their own expense and tend to it all season.

For more information on the beautification project, contact Chamber president, Jennifer Smithson at F&C Bank.

Briscoe also updated council on the Board of Public Works (BPW). He told council members that the MoDOT roadway and sidewalk project is now complete. He added that final numbers are not available at this time.

In street department news, Council Member Julie Fields told council that she wished to thank the crews for their hard work on the Eagle Crest Subdivision.

She went on to say that Street Superintendent Ron Heinemann said the department needed a one-ton truck and he will be bringing price ranges to the next department meeting.

Heinemann will also be purchasing a flatbed for the department’s white truck. She added they have purchased eight barricades to use during the Chamber’s Cruise Nights and other events. The ones they had were stolen.

Fields continued her report by adding the street committee would be buying a new planer when the new budget starts, and she asked Heinemann about the sweeper.

Heinemann said he would be getting a new one and possibly keep the one they have for a backup.
Fields also said they would be looking for a new trailer and the cost would be split between the storm water committee and street committee.

Fields went on to report that raises for nearly all the crew had been discussed and submitted for the next budget. Council Member Robin Watkins added that all the raises discussed were well within the budget.

In other committee reports, Council Member Elizabeth Weeks updated council on the Park Board. She said the Park Board is wanting to move forward with improvements and are working on their next steps for the master plan.

The Park Board is researching paving the parking lot, walking trail and splash pad, according to Weeks.

In funding news, she added the Park Board is interested in renewing the sales tax that is currently divided between the Park Board and the storm water committee.

It will be placed on the November 2022 ballot. The Park Board would like the public to know that it will not be a tax increase.
In other business, Mayor Doyle Weeks told council he will be presenting a list of homes that need to be demolished. The City would then have to hold public hearings on the issue.

The Mayor brought names of people who applied for liquor consumption permits and they included the following: Dwayne and Samantha Jones for a wedding reception May 22 at City Hall; Tammy Tock for a wedding reception June 9 at City Hall; William Jarvis for a wedding on June 12 from 4-9 p.m. at the City Lake; and Shelby Ackley for a wedding reception on Oct. 1-2 at City Hall. After a vote, council approved all the permit requests.

In closing, Mayor Weeks mentioned that the fire department received an all-terrain vehicle for free and it had been in the works since 2017. The value ended up being $161,208.45.

There being no further business, council voted to adjourn the May meeting, to reconvene in June.