For its first meeting in May, Fulton city officials will have a lot to talk about tonight.
The meeting will begin with a 6:30 p.m. workshop during which City Engineer Kyle Bruemmer will discuss a grant application for downtown street and sidewalk improvements. The regular meeting will begin at 7 p.m.
New business will include discussions about the old city warehouse on Westminster Avenue, a building in disrepair; a digital speed sign that will show drivers how fast they are traveling; and whether or not to obtain a new chassis for a solid waste truck.
Also scheduled is a second reading of a proposed ordinance addressing unsafe buildings, miscellaneous nuisances, and storm water runoff and management.
A 21-page ordinance, Bill 1500, was drafted by a local law firm and has been months in the making. It includes definitions of dangerous buildings addressing interior and exterior walls; foundations; floor or roof loads; damages by fire or causes; dilapidation to the point they are unfit for human habitation; lack of running water, electricity, sanitation and heat; safe egress in case of emergency evacuation; being a blight on neighborhoods and more. The ordinance also addresses standards for repair; definition of the position of building inspector and building commissioner, and those positions' powers and duties; how to declare a property a nuisance; enforcement and more.
On Monday morning, city officials had a hearing about a two-story duplex on East Sixth Street that has frequently been visited by public safety officials and city inspectors.
"We found the house was a nuisance," City Administrator Bill Johnson said. "Now it's up to us to decide (what to do)."
Some options are to give the property owner more time to clean up and work on the structure, or a decision could be made to condemn the property. Johnson said city officials are moving carefully on this decision.
Four resolutions will also be introduced.
One will allow the mayor to sign documents with Sound Mind Real Estate for a heating and cooling project at the Scout Cabin, 705 E. Eighth St., not to exceed $13,420. At Veterans Park, this structure is available for public rental.
Another resolution would grant the mayor permission to apply for and sign documents for the 2018 AARP Community Challenge Grant. This opportunity would provide for three ADA-compliant fishing docks in three locations: Veterans Park Lake, Truman Lake (near the John C. Harris Community Center off Fourth Street) and Morningside Lake. The cost would be $28,113 each. The city would provide $10,000 in cash, $4,614 in employee hours (up to 300 hours) and $5,000 for minor sidewalk repairs to the current ADA-compliant sidewalks at these locations. The grant request is for $74,340. The project's completion deadline is Nov. 5.
A third resolution would allow the mayor sign documents for a Firefighters Support Foundation Grant for the purchase of two rescue saws for Fulton Fire Department officials. These saws are $2,000 each.
The final resolution would authorize the mayor to execute a $360,000 contract with SFS Architecture Inc., of Kansas City. This architect will provide design services associated with the Community Recreation Center Project, which includes a community center and baseball/softball sports complex.
The meeting is open to the public and will be in the council chambers at city hall. The city also live streams meetings at: fultonmo.org/departments-1/admin/fact/factlive/. To view an archive of City Council meetings, visit the city's YouTube page: youtube.com/user/CityofFulton.