City Council Meeting Minutes

Date: Wednesday, the 10th day of July, 2024
Location: Houston Lake City Hall, 5417 NW Adrian, Houston Lake, MO 64151

The regular meeting of the City Council Meeting of Houston Lake, MO, was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem Ashley Fuglestad at 6:35 PM.

On roll call, the following members were present: Alderman Sarah Loring, Alderman Teena Walker-Robin, May Pro Tem / Alderman Ashley Fuglestad (Acting Mayor),and Alderman Keith Carey

Loring moved to approve the agenda, Carey 2nd. A voice vote resulted in unanimous approval.

The City Council, then the Public, discussed the proposed budget. Walker-Robin moved to approve the 2024-2025 budget, Loring 2nd. Role call vote: Carey – aye; Fuglestad – aye; Walker-Robin – aye; Loring – aye. The 2024-2025 Budget is adopted.

Loring moved to approve the 06/12/24 Budget Meeting minutes; the 06/12/24 City Council Meeting minutes; and the 06/26/24 Budget Meeting minutes. Carey 2nd. A voice vote resulted in unanimous approval of all three meeting minutes.

Fire Department Report – Assistant Chief Keith Payne – since last month’s report, only one call was reported on June 26th, during which they communicated with the Kansas City Fire Department and 911 as well for this incident. Payne inquired if Spectrum and AT&T had been contacted about their utility lines needing to be raised so the new, larger pumper truck can come through the neighborhood without causing an interruption in service.

Sheriff’s Report – Captain Woodrow Painter reported seven total calls. Sheriff Dept. officers worked a little over 23 hours in June.

Mary Head reported that the next VGHA meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 15, at 6:30 PM at City Hall. The water reading is currently good so swimming is safe.

Sharron DeLaFuente expressed appreciation for those neighbors who helped during the recent accident at Houston Lake, especially Sarah Loring and Jess Beshears. She appreciates all those neighbors who are vigilant while walking the lake and report what they see. Sarah Loring thanked Sharron for being kind and helpful to Eric Stephens.
Jess Beshears suggested flotation devices and ladders should be considered to be installed on each public dock and will bring this suggestion to the VGHA’s next meeting.
Pam Riley mentioned a dead tree in a neighbors yard that keeps falling. The City of Houston Lake is researching how to address code violations since Houston Lake does not have a Codes Enforcement Officer currently.

Building – 5327 NW Edgewood Cir – It was determined no permit was needed for the work described to be accomplished at this property.

Walker-Robin moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report dated 06/30/24 as submitted. Carey 2nd. A voice vote resulted in unanimous approval.

It was explained that the bookkeeper was asked to prepare a 06/30/24 Pay Bills Resolution that would encompass all expenditures to be included in the 2023-2024 year. Loring moved to approve the 06/30/24 Pay Bills Resolution as submitted. Walker-Robin 2nd. A voice vote resulted in unanimous approval. Loring moved to approve the 07/10/24 Pay Bills Resolution as submitted. Walker-Robin 2nd. A voice vote resulted in unanimous approval.

Update regarding utilities raising the utility lines: Loring indicated AT&T and Spectrum need to be contacted about their utility lines and she will contact both.
Working meeting – Wednesday, July 24 at 6:30 PM at City Hall: Walker-Robin explained this meeting will be used to review the Project Tracker and that the meeting is open to the public.

Prepare for Public Hearing Meeting needed to discuss Property Tax Rates: All information needed from the state auditor’s office and the county clerk has not yet been received. A public hearing will be held in August to share this information, once received, and then report to the state auditor by September 1.
Contract Codes Enforcement opportunity from IBTS: Walker-Robin indicated she is investigating IBTS, a small nonprofit that provides contracted codes enforcement services to small cities like ours, as well as contracted building inspection services. Because of the training needed for codes enforcement and building inspections, a professional is needed to provide these services. Regarding codes violations, Walker-Robin suggested a first step in this process could be our city sending a letter to code violators asking them to stop their activities.
Operational use of Fire Suppression Funds: Walker-Robin reports Fire Suppression Funds can be used to trim trees. Walker-Robin learned that utility companies can be approached to trim areas around their utility lines. She will contact Evergy. Fuglestad mentioned a resident that wants to clear trees on his property and offered to clear some of ours if we will let him use the road way to take the trees out. She will continue by having a ‘walk-through’ with him so he can show her what he intends to do.

Walker-Robin asked council to notice how organized their documentation was for the meeting and thanked the new City Clerk.
Loring ran off a woman driving a 4-wheeler driving on the spillway. She reported a pile of brush on the corner of Wagon Trail and Edgewater, that is on city property, and she believes she can talk to that resident who may have placed this pile there. Two more neighbors reported concerns regarding the house on NW Venetian that violated the construction code. She expressed disappointment that she was out of town for the Jackalone memorial presentation, that, from the pictures, looked like it was a wonderful event. She is thankful for neighbors who are watching over the neighborhood.
Carey reported getting new door knobs for City Hall doors so the old locks on the old door knobs would not get locked accidentally. He offered the city’s presentation at the Jackalone memorial and was thanked for this presentation by the other aldermen and the city clerk. He mentioned finding evidence of possible drug use behind City Hall and cameras were suggested.
Fuglestad mentioned the need for folks to help with city planned events and/or to serve on the City Council.

The next meeting of the Council will be a working meeting to review projects on July 24 at 6:30 PM at City Hall. The next City Council meeting will be August 14 at 6:30 PM at City Hall. Loring moved to adjourn the meeting. Carey 2nd. A voice vote resulted in unanimous approval.

Meeting adjourned at 7:37 PM.

Approved 08/14/24