At its regular meeting Tuesday the Auxvasse Board of Aldermen heard from Shaun Nolan, who has been working on growing a natural wildlife reserve on his property for the past two years.
Nolan has planted about 500 native Missouri trees and more than 60 pounds worth of native Missouri grass and wildflower seed, but a neighbor has began to rock the boat on his five year project. The neighbor approached Nolan about selling his land to expand the project, but Nolan wasn't interested in purchasing the property. That's when the neighbor began to disagree about the terms of the project.
According to a city ordinance, properties within city limits cannot have grass measuring over 10 inches, which would require Nolan to manicure his lawn and destroy the natural wildlife habitat he's working to build.
"All it is is a giant garden," Nolan told the board.
Nolan is also using the property to home beehives, which also is banned within city limits, but he hopes the board will allow him to keep the beehive as they previously approved the ownership of a bee colony by another who turned it into a business, City Clerk Missy Hooks said.
The board agreed to give Nolan the opportunity to take up his case with the Planning and Zoning Commission before they made a move to enforce the ordinances.
During public comment Sarah Baumgartner approached the board with a suggestion to throw a color run on October 10 - the same day as Art in the Park. The run/walk would be for special education and disability awareness, Baumgartner said. Although she has a route in mind, she still has yet to determine the best locations for color and water stations. The board wanted to move forward with the plan once Baumgartner finalizes additional aspects of the run including color stations and looking at various businesses for assistance with donations.
The board also discussed the status of a new chicken ordinance at their regular meeting. Board member Terry Walker suggested the board write up an official ordinance and stick it on the ballot for April, but it might not be that simple. The board will have to check with Missouri statute to determine whether or not as a Class 4 City the community will be able to vote the ordinance into effect - It might be up to the board to vote on the final content and requirements set forth by the ordinance.
The water improvement project, which was expected to be completed by the end of June, was put on line last Wednesday, City Supervisor Mike Bertschinger said. Minor adjustments still need to be made before the project is complete, which has frustrated the board. Members briefly discussed at the regular meeting hiring another company to complete the project using the contingency money set aside for Hutchins Telecom LLC, which is the original crew working on the project. Hutchins would be given whatever contingency money would be left over after the job is complete.
Also discussed at the meeting was the city's relationship with the railroad, which has been defunct on its taxes for the past three years. After two years the property would be up for auction, but it has yet to be on the table, Bertschinger said. The board wants to see the railroad remove the extra ties and weeds growing in the property as well as the crossing so the city can pave over that section of the road. Walker, who is tired of the extra boxcars parked on the property wants an ordinance to be enacted preventing the railroad from parking additional cars within city limits. Mayor Kevin Phares was in agreement, but the board didn't move forward with the discussion.