Nevada city council updates employment policy

Nevada Daily Mail

Following a lengthy discussion the Nevada City Council voted 4-1, with Lance Christi voting no, to pass on first reading a bill that will prohibit the city from hiring anyone who is closely related to a current city employee, and if two current city employees marry, one of them will have to resign within 30 days. Any employees of the city on or before Aug. 5 will be grandfathered in.

City Attorney William McCaffree told the council that the definition in the bill is copied directly from federal statutes regarding nepotism.

"We are really limiting ourselves by not hiring people who are closely related," council member Lance Christie said.

McCaffree said that the federal government and each state have anti-nepotism laws to avoid problems with closely related people working together.

The bill defines closely related to include: father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepsister, half brother, or half sister.

In other business the council:

* Voted 5-0, to appoint Annie Daughtery to a three-year term on the library board.

* Voted 5-0, to appoint Shirley Rainey to a three-year term on the library board.

* Voted 5-0, to appoint Janet Wray to a three-year term on the library board.

* Voted 5-0, to pass on first reading a final plat and development agreement for Atlantic Estates.

* Voted 5-0, to pass on first reading a special ordinance accepting easements from the Nevada R-5 School District and Betty A. Pratt District and for the Spring Street Sidewalk project that will eventually extend from the high school to Atlantic Street.

Voted 5-0, to pass on first reading a special ordinance accepting a right-of-way from the Nevada R-5 School District for the north sewer interceptor replacement project.

* Voted 5-0, to pass on first reading a special ordinance approving a change order to the city's contract with McInroy Contractors LLC that will increase the cost of the sewer replacement line at Cottey College from $267,791.28 to $274,142.54, a change of $6,423.26. The cost of this project is paid for by a mutual agreement between the city and Cottey College.

* Voted 5-0, to waive the city's prohibition of discharging firearms and dogs running loose to allow the National Wild Turkey Federation Youth Event to be held in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Conservation at Marmaduke Park on Sept. 20.

* Voted 5-0, to give final approval to a general ordinance reducing the size of the parks and recreation board from nine members to seven members to make it easier to have quorum at each meeting.

* Voted 5-0, to adopt Resolution No. 1402 renewing the licenses to sell beer up to 5 percent alcohol by weight for: Vipas Thai Palace, 127 E. Cherry; Ol Subway, 903 E. Subway; Nevada Country Club, 200 Country Club Drive; 3JS LLC DBA Iguana Azul, 113 W. Cherry; Los Sauces LLC, 117 S. Centennial; Fraternal Order of Eagles, 3313 E. Austin; Fraternal Order of Bears, 705 N. Osage; American Legion, 402 E. Cherry; Buzz's BBQ LLC, 2500 E. Austin and Nevada Elks Lodge, 510 Centennial.

* Voted 5-0, to adopt Resolution No. 1403 renewing licenses to sell intoxicating liquor with more than 5 percent alcohol by weight in the original package to: Wal-Mart, 2250 Lincoln Ave.; Cash 'N Dash No. 3, 1502 W. Austin; Cash 'N Dash No. 2, 1518 E. Austin; Tim's Convenience Store No. 1, 320 N. Osage; Tim's Convenience Store No. 2, 1112 E. Austin; Woods Supermarket, 1407 W. Austin; Casey's Marketing Company No. 3328, 500 E. Austin and Casey's Marketing Company No. 3343, 401 N. Osage.

* Voted 5-0, to adopt Resolution No. 1404 renewing the liquor by the drink for beer with more than 3.2 percent and less than 5 percent alcohol by weight by the drink or light wines not in excess of 14 percent alcohol by weight for Pizza Hut, 1100 E. Austin; Capri Bowl Family Fun Center, 1701 N. Osage and Frank E. Peters Municipal Golf Course, 17320 East Quail Road.

* Voted 5-0, to adopt Resolution No. 1405 renewing the city license for beer in excess of 3.2 percent, but not more than 5 percent alcohol by weight in the original package for: Fastrip No. 15, 402 W. Austin; Fastrip No. 36, 811 N. Ash; Pilot Travel Centers LLC, 2424 E. Austin; Dollar General No. 8332, 1705 N. Osage and Dollar General No. 2815, 1411 West Austin.

* Voted 5-0, to adopt Resolution No. 1406 renewing the city liquor license to manufacture wine or brandy not in excess of 18 percent alcohol for wine or not in excess of 34 percent for brandy for Delaney Vineyard & Winery, 1200 S. Main.