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City
hires financial advisor; elected officials to
get raises
Parkville's
leaders vote to increase salaries next term
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by Bill
O'Malley
Landmark reporter
Parkville’s Board of Aldermen Tuesday
night unanimously approved an ordinance with Oppenheimer
& Co, Inc. to contract the management firm to serve
as the city’s financial advisor for its lease purchase
of the new city hall to be located in Parkville Commons.
The agreement proposes to save the City
of Parkville an estimated $679,000 in interest over the
course of the 20-year agreement.
City Administrator Joe Turner recommended
passage of the contract ordinance as he touted the wide-ranging
benefits that the city would receive from the agreement.
Oppenheimer will serve as an independent
advisor to the city to protect its interests and assist
with the issuance of tax exempt certificates, which includes
securing the optimal interest rate on the certificates
of participation and negotiating lower fees.
Former Platte County Commissioner Michael
Short attended as Oppenheimer’s representative. He
is a vice president with the company. Alderman Dave Rittman
thanked Short for his assistance as the city embarks on
the huge undertaking.
“Thank you for your efforts on [what
is] really the beginning of something very special,”
Rittman said.
The city unanimously passed its 2006 general
fund budget and salary ordinance. The salary ordinance
included a four percent increase over last year’s
level. The increase was allocated based on performance
and position, consistent with the city's compensation
plan that was adopted earlier this year.
A separate ordinance was approved to increase
the compensation received by elected officials. The mayor
and municipal judge will each receive $13,200 per year,
which reflects an increase of $100 per month over the
2004 level. Aldermen will also individually receive an
additional $100 per month to raise individual salaries
to $400 per month.
No salary increase for any elected official
will become effective until after the current term, pursuant
to Missouri law.
In other business, the board accepted
the resignation of former mayor Bill Quitmeier from the
Planning and Zoning Commission. Mayor Kathy Dusenbery
and Rittman both expressed regret in accepting Quitmeier's
resignation after his many years of public service to
the city.
It appears that Quitmeier tendered his
resignation rather than face the prospect of removal under
the city’s newly adopted attendance requirement.
City sources confirmed that he has missed three commission
meetings without prior notice since the city adopted its
attendance policy this summer as part of its review of
its ethics ordinances. Three unexcused absences require
a determination by the board of aldermen.
Gary Stumbo, who left the commission in
July, was reappointed to fill the remainder of Quitmeier's
term. His reappointment was not approved at the time as
the board was forced to reassess the equitable apportionment
of the commission’s members throughout the city’s
four wards.
“There was kind of an awkwardness
when [Gary] fell off,” Mayor Kathryn Dusenbery said.
“I really would like to reappoint him.”
Pam Edwards also resigned this week from
the Community Land and Recreation Committee.
Public Works Director Jeff Rupp indicated
that she resigned after her husband accepted a transfer
to Oregon.
“It’s going to be a hard void
to fill cause she really did a lot of work for us,”
Ruff said.
“Hats off to her,” he added.
After some "who’s who"
confusion over the McCall brothers, the board unanimously
approved Dusenbery’s nomination of Jim McCall to
fill the unexpired term.
Joe Richey joined the scouting ritual
at Parkville City Hall, as he addressed the board for
credit towards his Citizenship in the Community Merit
Badge. The First Class Scout is a member of Troop 314.
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