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PITTSBURG —
Researching a potential annexation of a set of properties on W South Street in Arma is the No. 1 city council goal this year, but met with mixed reaction at a council meeting Monday evening.
The goal is to enter into discussion with the residents on W South Street who purchase water from the city to consider whether annexation would be beneficial.
Arma resident Mary Lou Peace requested the council consider a list of questions related to the idea and expressed concern that the residents of the city would end up bearing a large financial burden when the city instead could direct energy into positioning itself as an attractive community for retirees, young families and businesses.
“I strongly believe that the city council and current mayor would show great leadership by investing our current resources to promote business growth inside the city, while finding ways to encourage development of the existing empty lots, as we know annexing land will require the city to wait years before it might truly benefit the city on its financial investment,” Peace said.
Mayor Buddy Bualle said any decision made needs to be in the best interest for the city and the people in the area.
The council was advised by city attorney Rick Smith that involuntary annexation is becoming more difficult.
“This discussion, if it continues, will be a slow discussion because the process is slow,” Bualle said.
Council member Rock Anderson advised having an engineer evaluate the situation in order to have a better understanding of whether it is a good idea.
Council member Johnnie Logiudici said it is a waste of city time to pursue if the city receives no real revenue benefit.
Council member Richard Kerley agreed with Anderson and said data would help illustrate points.
Council member Dick Cleland said he would prefer to find out if residents were interested at all before spending money on an engineer.
Council member Ray Vail said he believes the annexation is necessary and the best way to show it would be through research.
Council members debated whether to begin with research or resident contacts for a while before Bualle volunteered to give each potentially affected resident a phone call to gauge yes-or-no interest before investing in research.
The council also considered six “dangerous structure” properties and ruled on timeframes for each set of concerns to be addressed.
The council agreed to have the clutter at the Webb property at 302 E. Washington handled by the prosecutor through the city court.
Researching a potential annexation of a set of properties on W South Street in Arma is the No. 1 city council goal this year, but met with mixed reaction at a council meeting Monday evening.
The goal is to enter into discussion with the residents on W South Street who purchase water from the city to consider whether annexation would be beneficial.
Arma resident Mary Lou Peace requested the council consider a list of questions related to the idea and expressed concern that the residents of the city would end up bearing a large financial burden when the city instead could direct energy into positioning itself as an attractive community for retirees, young families and businesses.
“I strongly believe that the city council and current mayor would show great leadership by investing our current resources to promote business growth inside the city, while finding ways to encourage development of the existing empty lots, as we know annexing land will require the city to wait years before it might truly benefit the city on its financial investment,” Peace said.
Mayor Buddy Bualle said any decision made needs to be in the best interest for the city and the people in the area.
The council was advised by city attorney Rick Smith that involuntary annexation is becoming more difficult.
“This discussion, if it continues, will be a slow discussion because the process is slow,” Bualle said.
Council member Rock Anderson advised having an engineer evaluate the situation in order to have a better understanding of whether it is a good idea.
Council member Johnnie Logiudici said it is a waste of city time to pursue if the city receives no real revenue benefit.
Council member Richard Kerley agreed with Anderson and said data would help illustrate points.
Council member Dick Cleland said he would prefer to find out if residents were interested at all before spending money on an engineer.
Council member Ray Vail said he believes the annexation is necessary and the best way to show it would be through research.
Council members debated whether to begin with research or resident contacts for a while before Bualle volunteered to give each potentially affected resident a phone call to gauge yes-or-no interest before investing in research.
The council also considered six “dangerous structure” properties and ruled on timeframes for each set of concerns to be addressed.
The council agreed to have the clutter at the Webb property at 302 E. Washington handled by the prosecutor through the city court.
The Warlop property at 102 W. View faced a setback due to weather, and the council agreed to give the owners until the first meeting of May to remedy the concern.
A timeline was presented for the Zornes property at 501 E. Main and the council gave the owners until the first meeting of June to take care of the requirements.
Concerns about varmints at the Leslie property at 412 N. First were addressed and the council took no action.
Some work has been completed on the House property at 305 E. Prairie, and the council members set dual deadlines that the first part of the work would be completed by the first meeting in June and the project will be done in its entirety by the first meeting of September.
The council noted a small amount of progress on the Hallacy property at 305 E. Main and said significant improvements will be due by the first meeting of July.
The council also received bids for the city’s insurance and workman’s compensation insurance from Brad Hartman of Billiard Hammer Hartman Insurance in Fort Scott and Chris Bohrer of Wood Dulohery Insurance in Pittsburg.
After discussion about Bohrer’s bid style, which provoked some controversy, the council said Hartman’s proven service was worth a lot and awarded him the bid.
The council discussed at length a request by Vincent Lomax to extend his utility payment and also outlined to Lomax how the city’s billing system works.
Lomax said he is disabled and uses a life-sustaining medical device, and that having his power shut off would cause him problems.
The council eventually agreed that Lomax could pay his past-due bill plus interest no later than April 1 without having his electricity turned off, but cautioned him that by that point he will have a new bill waiting to be paid.
Police Chief Al Combs said he received a complete written confession from the suspect who vandalized and robbed the carwash coin machine, he expects the new truck to arrive soon, the storm sirens didn’t work when tested and that is being remedied quickly and that the department will temporarily store Smithsonian exhibit items upon their arrival.
Council members also approved donating 52 one-day swim passes to the Junior-Senior Prom, purchasing two sets of fire gear for $4,470 and other purchase requests.
