Sheldon aldermen -- no good solution to a problem
gfranklin.nevadadailymail@gmail.com
Mayor pro tem Robert Moran told the Sheldon board of alderman during its Nov. 10, meeting the city had received a complaint that the residents at a house on Market Street had no utility service to the house and were dumping human waste in the back yard.
"Here we have what may be the most egregious example of the government that doesn't do what the citizens think," Moran said. "We have [law enforcement] that says 'we can't do anything.' We have a health department that says, 'we can't do anything.' We have an ordinance, but we don't have a city marshal or police that can enforce this and even if we still had a contract with Vernon County Sheriff's Office, it's a health issue, they will not touch that."
Moran said he spoke with Lt. John Randall, Vernon County Sheriff's Office, and that law enforcement could not help with the situation.
Moran said he had spoken with the city's legal council, Christopher Hoberock, who advised the city to contact the Vernon County Health Department.
According to Moran, the Vernon County Health Department was unable to assist because the address was inside the city limits of Sheldon and recommended calling Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Alderman Gene Leininger asked, "What does it take for the city to condemn a property?"
"To condemn a building, its going to take a building inspector, and some legal action, and that is if the structure is uninhabitable and dangerous," Moran said.
According to city ordinance, the first step in dealing with the situation is to send the property owner a certified letter and schedule a hearing on the matter, Moran told the board.
"Here we are with a situation we really don't have a good way of dealing with," Moran said.
In other business, the fourth year grant application has been submitted to fund the city's recycling program.
The grant helps pay the wages of the employee performing the work, transportation costs and handling of material, and for various supplies such as gloves and curbside recycling bins.
The board discussed giving households that participate in curbside recycling, a credit on their trash bills.
Leininger said, "I can see the benefit of the incentive but I don't see if it will work."
Moran said, "The recycling credit could help offset the water rate increase."
The board voted unanimously to approve submission of the fourth year recycling grant application.
In his report to the board, maintenance supervisor Joe Brzuchowski said he has completed mapping the sludge in the wastewater treatment lagoon and has installed a new motor in one of the aerators but has yet to complete the wiring on that aerator.
Moran asked the board for their consent to purchase clay to repair a leak in the wastewater treatment lagoon berm. There were no objections.
* The Christmas parade will be Dec. 10, and will be followed by refreshments at the community building at the city park. Santa Claus will be in attendance.
* A broken plate glass window in an abandoned building on Main Street had been boarded up.
* Becky Morgan reports the credit card machine for city hall will probably not be in service until after the holidays.
* Fire Chief Bill Jeffries said the fire department has submitted a cost-sharing grant for four backpack style leaf blowers to be used for natural cover fires.
* The fire department taught fire prevention to approximately 120 students at Sheldon R-8 school during Fire Prevention Week.