Platte
City wants street
sweeping
grant
by Shana
Haines
Landmark reporter
A resolution supporting a street sweeping program for
Platte City stirred some questions Tuesday during a board
of aldermen meeting.
Alderman Ron Porter questioned the need for a street
sweeping program, based on the money it would take to
run the program.
Records indicate the total cost of the program would
be $215,000. A grant application is being sent in by Platte
City to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for
a $129,000 grant, leaving an $86,000 price tag the city
would be obligated to pay.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Porter questioned the
necessity of the program that would sweep streets and
allow for catch basin cleaning.
Platte City Mayor Dave Brooks informed the aldermen the
item on Tuesday’s agenda was simply to allow City
Administrator Keith Moody to complete proper paperwork
to submit for the grant, that no decision was going to
be made concerning the program.
Brooks added that in the event Platte City is awarded
the grant, the final decision for the street sweep program
would go to Platte City voters.
"We need to stay ahead of the game. We have got
to think down the road. We need to let the voters make
the decision. The only way we will grow is to keep the
new streets clean," Brooks said. "Tonight we
are asking for you to let us try to get the grant money."
Porter was the only alderman to vote against submitting
the grant application.
If the city receives the grant, voters would decide on
the program during the April election.
In other matters a slight snag was met, but later agreed
upon by aldermen concerning an ordinance on the city code
regarding amendments to the personnel policy dealing with
appointments.
The proposed ordinance change would have allowed the
mayor to appoint the city’s police chief.
The old ordinance allows for aldermen to have a vote
in who is named police chief.
"Why do we need to change this? There could be enough
pressure on a police chief to get him out of there and
get the man in there that the mayor wanted. I am not saying
you would do that Dave, but who is to say it can’t
happen down the road?" Porter said. "We could
sit here fat, dumb and happy and not have anything to
say about it."
According to state statutes, the mayor of a city can
appoint a police chief.
Upon discussion from aldermen, the amendment’s wording
was changed to read: "The mayor with consent and
approval of majority of the members of the board of alderman
shall appoint the Director of Public Safety, who shall
also be known as the Chief of Police. Other police officers
will be appointed and removed pursuant of the city’s
personnel policy."
During the mayor's report, Brooks announced he would
like to erect a plaque on Main Street in remembrance of
the former courthouse. Brooks said the bronze plaque would
be mounted on a pole and be placed in front of The Landmark
building at 252 Main Street, site of the original courthouse
that was burned during the Civil War.
Board members agreed Brooks should continue with the
project.
Brooks also stated the city needed to market themselves
better. Brooks added he would like to have a non- salaried
individual that has no voting power to be appointed as
a special program director.
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