The Fulton City Council met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, where they discussed the official city budget for 2023.
The council previously met to discuss this topic on Nov. 14. This bill will be have its third and final reading at the next city council meeting.
The final vote on the second reading of the bill was six "yes" votes, and one "no" vote.
The council also did a second and third reading of a bill to establish gas rates and an effective date. This was discussed at the last meeting as well. The council approved the bill unanimously.
In other business, the Fulton City Council:
• presented a retirement proclamation to Kathy Holschlag, who served as chief financial officer for Fulton after almost 18 years of service. Holschlag began working for Fulton on Dec. 17, 2004.
• approved the consent agenda, which consisted off meeting minutes from Sept. 27, Oct. 25 and Nov. 8. A letter of support for the Missouri Girls Town Foundation and Missouri Women's Business Center was also approved. The Oct. 2022 director of administration report was discussed by the council at the request of deputy mayor Mike West, who had some questions of clarification on the report. The report was ultimately approved.
• accepted the October financial statement. The city chief financial officer presented the report and highlighted points of interest. The statement was accepted unanimously.
• heard from a representative about the second annual Callawy Christmas Lighted Cruise and to request permission for the event. It will take place on Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. Vehicles will line up at the Memorial Park parking lot. They will then proceed north on Nichols St., east on Ninth St. and then south on Court St. The parade will then go to the VFW. The parade route has been shortened from last year's route. Any vehicle can participate in the parade. The request was approved the council unanimously.
• heard from Patrick Bonnot for the presentation of Missouri Intergovernmental Risk Management Association (MIRMA) grant awards. Fulton is one of the founding members of the group, which began in 1981. Four different grants were presented to the city. $6,784.22 is the total amount received from MIRMA. A check for $1,929.22 was also given by Bonnot on behalf of MIRMA.
• discussed a resolution for the city to enter into an agreement with the Callaway Chamber of Commerce for 2023. Representatives from the chamber were present at the meeting to answer questions and elaborate on points. The final vote for the resolution was six "yes" votes, one "no" vote.
• discussed a second reading of a bill which would incorporate territory into the city limits of Fulton. This was request by Gary Jungermann, Callaway County presiding commissioner. The bill was tabled indefinitely, which rendered it dead, because the legal description of the property changed after a survery of the land. The request will return at a later date with the correct legal description. The council unanimously agreed to table the bill indefinitely.
• discussed a second and third reading of a bill for the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission to work on the right-of-way at the intersection of Route C and Tennyson Rd. in Fulton. The bill was approved unanimously by the council.
• announced Mike Halderman will retire from the building and grounds department. He worked there for eight years.
The next Fulton City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 6:30 p.m. This will be the final meeting for 2022.