Council gives nod to 2012 budget

The Nevada City Council OK'd the city's 2012 budget Tuesday night, including a 2-percent cost of living raise for all employees, and on two split votes reappointed three members of the Nevada Regional Medical Center Board of Directors.

With Mayor Brian Leonard expressing relief that the $15,992,403 budget was done well before the Dec. 31 deadline, City Manager J.D. Kehrman said the process had been smoothed by work sessions and a great deal of groundwork.

"It's nice having it approved at the first of December rather than on the 28th or 29th," Leonard said after closing a public hearing during which no one spoke.

Projected expenditures are $4,485,899 for personnel, $5,274,770 for supplies and services, $283,606 for capital outlay, $3,403,461 for capital projects, $1,172,743 for debt service and $1,371,924 for inter-fund transfers.

A routine matter in most years, the NRMC slots drew fire from Council member Jayne Novak, who expressed dismay that the hospital board voted last summer to change its by-laws and lengthen its term limits from two three-year terms to three terms without consulting the council.

"Is there anything that would keep them from continuing to do this?" Novak asked.

Leonard agreed, saying "it should have been a courtesy" for the city-owned hospital to keep the council in its confidence. The mayor then said the council will review all the city boards early next year.

City Clerk Annette Crews said the council's primary oversight of the hospital board is its reappointment authority.

Kehrman apologized to the council members for not apprising them of the issue, explaining that he didn't do so because the hospital was acting within its authority as an independent entity. City Attorney Bill McCaffree agreed that the hospital directors did not need the council's permission to change their by-laws.

The council then unanimously approved NRMC board vice chairman Steve Russ's second three-year term but split 3-1, with Novak voting "no," on the reappointments of Dr. William Turner and board chairman Glenn Rogers to their third terms. Sherry Steward, Seth Barrett and Leonard cast "yes" votes. Councilman James McKenzie was absent.

In other business, the council:

* OK'd a $1,502,044 memorandum of agreement with Alliance Water Resources of Columbia for water and wastewater services.

* Congratulated police Sgt. Richard Burdick and Officer David Henley for being two of the four officers in the state who will receive Missouri Police Chiefs Association Medals of Honor Thursday night in Jefferson City for their heroism in rescuing a child from a burning apartment last July 23.

* Congratulated Daily Mail police reporter Rusty Murry for winning the MPCA's Mary Phelan Media Award, to be presented at the same banquet.

* Approved paying Jerry Burch & Associates of Jefferson City $24,000 to lobby for the city for the next two years.

* Passed an ordinance to apply to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for $207,000 for the taxi coupons public transportation program.

* Citing increased demand for Internet usage, terminated an intergovernmental agreement to share Internet access and voice over Internet protocol services with Vernon County.

* Renewed a 12-month lease with Union Pacific Railroad for $2,000 for property on which a city building is used to store equipment and materials on Center Street.

* Contracted with Allgeier, Martin & Associates of Joplin, which has performed miscellaneous engineering services for the city since 2005.

* Renewed its agreement with Western Missouri 9-1-1 Dispatch Center for a maximum fee of $350,000.

* Passed special ordinances releasing neighborhood improvement district assessments against Lots 8 and 15 of Plat 1 of Ashland Estates, developed by Stutesman Realty, pending the completion of sidewalks.

* Approved Dr. Rick Kellenberger's plan to demolish a 30-by-40-foot hangar east of the city's T-Hangar at Nevada Municipal Airport and build a 42-by-50-foot hangar in its place.

* Authorized a $5,018 payment to Ozark Crane of Joplin for unloading and setting culverts on South Spring Street.

* Paid $9,700 to Fitness Resource Group for equipping the employees' fitness center.

* Approved spending a maximum of $20,000 to replace an Elm Street sewer main.