Nevada City Council holds special meeting on tax levy and Long-Term Care Board issues

A crowd gathered in the council chamber's for Tuesday evening's Nevada City Council special session meeting. Many in attendance were supporters of the "Save Barone Alzheimers Care Center" movement.

Photo by Sarah Haney | Daily Mail Editor

The Nevada City Council met in special session Tuesday evening to hear an emergency ordinance for the tax levy. The ordinance is considered "emergency" status because it is due Sept. 1, and the next regular city council meeting isn't until Sept. 6.

Starting off the special session, the council had a second reading of Bill No. 2022-066. This ordinance will approve the application for Federal Financial Assistance under Section 5311 of Chapter 53, Title 49 of the United States Code. This financial assistance will partially fund the city's public transportation program through the Missouri Department of Transportation for the period of July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. The grant has increased over last year (2021: Local Match — $32,585; and Total Grant — $97,820) with 2022 having a Local Match of $38,099 and Total Grant of $106,099. With a motion, a second, and a unanimous roll call vote, the council approved the ordinance.

Next, the council held a public hearing concerning the levying of general and special taxes for the fiscal year. The council considered Bill No. 2022-068 in conjunction with this hearing. For general purposes $0.7360 on the $100 valuation and for support of the Nevada Public Library, $0.1990 on the $100 valuation. With a motion, a second, and a unanimous roll call vote, the council placed the ordinance on first reading. Then, with another motion, second, and unanimous roll call vote, the council approved the ordinance on second reading.

The third item for consideration under new business, was Bill No. 2022-067. This special ordinance would repeal ordinance No. 8521 which appropriated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund expenditures for purposes that fulfill the intent of ARPA for public health. These funds were requested to upgrade clinical software and buy new equipment for the city's Long-Term Care.

The LTC Interim CEO Gene Vestal had presented a list of items at the time that included the following: Point Click Care software upgrade; four Invacare Reliant Plus 450 electric patient lifts; two Lumex LF 2020 Sit-to-Stand electric lifts; six GE Healthcare Carescape V100 vital signs monitors; four Reliant digital scales; 15 direct supply over bed tables; eight direct supply Basyx by HON task chairs; six Platinum10L Oxygen Concentrator bundles; two Midline positioning chairs by BRODA from Direct Supply with overlay accessories; and four Centric positioning chairs by BRODA from Direct Supply with overlay accessories.

Vestal had requested $100,000 in ARPA funds for these equipment and software purchases.

At the Aug. 16 Nevada City Council meeting, Mayor George Knox asked that the motion to withdraw these funds be added to the Aug. 23 special session meeting until "we can get a competent leader and show us that they have actually talked to the people that they needed to talk to."

This bill to repeal ordinance No. 8521 states that "in lieu of ongoing processes, the City Council deems it necessary for citizens of Nevada, Mo., to further investigate the financial stability of Moore-Few Convalescent Home" and "The City Manager and City Treasurer are hereby directed and authorized to postpone the transfer of ARPA funds to the Moore-Few Convalescent Home." With a motion, a second, and unanimous approval, the council voted to table this item until the next meeting to allow both care facilities to provide a list of items that would be purchased with the funds.

Also during the Aug. 16 city council meeting, Mayor Knox had also stated that he'd like to "make the motion at the appropriate time to call for the immediate dismissal of Mr. Vestal." The council did not address this during the public portion of the special session city council meeting. However, they did adjourn to an executive session (requested by the Mayor) for reasons of "hiring, firing, disciplining, or promoting an employee."

It is noted that any item discussed during executive session has to be related to an item on the agenda.

Also of important note, the Long-Term Care Board of Directors will hold an open meeting at 5 p.m., today, in the Nevada Regional Medical Center Mezzanine room. Included on the posted agenda is the "discussion of permanent Long-Term Care CEO."