The Holts Summit Board of Aldermen advanced a slew of ordinances related to outdoor projects at its regular meeting Monday night.
Furthermore, the board reappointed a member of the city's Planning and Zoning Commission - resulting in the commission remaining full for the first time in several years.
North Summit Drive sidewalks project
The board authorized a grant agreement between the city and The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) for a sidewalk project in the city.
The sidewalk project will improve the shoulder of the road, add sidewalks and correct storm drainage issues on a stretch of North Summit Drive. The project will cover the path of North Summit between Simon Boulevard and Venus Drive - near Casey's General Store.
City Administrator Brian Crane said that by looking at the grass area along that stretch, it's obvious that path gets a lot of foot traffic. The sidewalk project will connect already existing city sidewalks that connect more than 400 homes and help connect those residents to North Elementary School and city park areas.
MoDOT announced last month that it awarded the City of Holts Summit grant money through its Transportation Alternative Program (TAP). For the grant, the federal government will pay for 80 percent of the project, not to exceed $319,092. The city will pay the remaining 20 percent.
The board also approved a resolution which selected Bartlett and West transportation engineers to start drafting a contract to submit to MoDOT for approval. Crane said the contract draft should be ready for the board next month.
After MoDOT approves the contract, it will be sent up the chain for federal approval, since it is federal grant money. After receiving federal approval, Crane said Bartlett and West can start preliminary designs.
Crane added that he is hoping construction can begin next spring.
Hibernia Station Park and Greenway Park safety project
The board authorized a grant agreement with Mid-Missouri Solid Waste Management District for a fall zone safety project at Hibernia Station Park and Greenway Park.
The city uses recycled tire shreds as mulch in the parks' playgrounds. The mulch provides padding on the ground to cushion the fall of children playing in the park. Crane said tire-shred mulch is a better product for playgrounds over other types of mulch available.
"We use the tire shreds as the fall-zone mulch ," Crane previously told the Fulton Sun. "They (the tire shreds) are better for if a little kid falls and hits their head, it softens the blow if they land on tire shreds."
The city currently uses tire-shred mulch but must add mulch every few years to keep the playgrounds safe. The city applied for the grant in the fall to fund the purchase of additional mulch. Crane said the city has received this same grant previously.
Planning and Zoning Commission remains full
The Board of Aldermen approved a resolution, which reappointed Roger Alberts to serve on the Planning and Zoning Commission for a four-year term. Alberts' term was set to expire soon. His reappointment keeps the commission full.
At its January meeting, the board appointed Ramona Huckstep to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a four-year term. With her appointment, the commission became full for the first time in several years. Crane said he hasn't seen the commission full in his more than five years with the city.
Having a partial Planning and Zoning Commission has slowed down some work in the past, Crane said. With a partial commission, if a couple members were out sick, the commission would have to cancel its meeting for a lack of a quorum.
Crane added that planning and zoning is important for the community and for planning growth.
"We're really excited we have some good people interested in helping the city," Crane said of the full commission.