The Holts Summit Board of Aldermen revisited possibilities for recycling services among other new business during its Tuesday meeting.
After a presentation from Callaway County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tamara Tateosian on Callaway Chamber of Commerce and Fulton Area Development Foundation activities, Republic Services Account Manager Lillian Kinard answered questions for the board and visitors on what recycling services would be possible and how recycling works in Callaway County.
At the board's May 11 meeting, City Administrator Hanna Thomas said the board would need to decide on whether to include recycling in its next contract with Republic Services, which offers waste and recycling services. Kinard asked the board what kinds of options it would want for the city - the current service where residents have a choice on trash service, one with curbside recycling bundled with it, or make trash services mandatory and including recycling in the cost.
Alderman Chris Redel said one question with making services mandatory would be the incentive for residents, which was a question he asked while in an area that required this charge. Kinard said there wouldn't be a huge price difference for customers, but it would increase costs for additional services to keep an administrative person for the city who would handle recycling issues. There would also be additional trucks to pick up recycling.
"As a customer, I didn't see the incentive - so that's what we would need to figure out," Redel said.
Alderwoman Susan Sundemeyer asked Kinard and Thomas to come up with a price to add recycling versus continuing with the current service. They are also factoring in the current Holts Summit population to determine the amount.
In new business, the board created an ordinance to place a lien on two properties with unpaid sewer bills. It also passed an ordinance so violations of the municipal code can be heard and determined by an associate circuit judge in Callaway County Circuit Court.
After approving purchase decisions for the Holts Summit Police Department, USDA funds, and biocide chemical for the Sewer Department, HSPD Sgt. Frank Richards spoke to the board about selling surplus items in order to purchase new firearms and tactical equipment for the department.
Richards said the goal in updating equipment would be to have equipment ready for unexpected events, like what police have encountered nationwide over the past year. The board was in favor of having updated equipment as long as it stays within budget.
The board spent a large remainder of the meeting on the possibility of getting the police department accredited. Richards said having a plan for how the process could go - along with costs - could be beneficial in case it became a requirement in the future.
"Accreditation is kind of becoming the gold standard internationally," he said, adding Boone County Sheriff's Office, University Police Department and Missouri Highway Patrol are all accredited.
Richards and Lt. Brandon Ruediger said the department is "at the standard or exceeding standard" for qualifying for grants that could help "start the journey" in getting accreditation, which the board looked favorably toward and recommended determining how much that would cost.