Kahoka City Board Passes 2008-09 Wage Ordinance

 By Mike Scott

The Kahoka Board of Aldermen tackled a full agenda at their Monday night, April 14 meeting.
Two public hearings were held to open the meeting. The first concerned the annexation of four properties east of Kahoka: the Betty and Lowell Jackson property, the CCR-1 Bus Garage, the Cedar Country Real Estate Development (the old motel) and the Brenda Slocum property (except farmland).
“We’re going to annex these four properties into the city,” Kahoka Mayor Herb Butler said. “All are voluntarily bringing their property into the city.”
There were no public comments, and action will be taken at a future meeting.
The second hearing concerned the demolition grant, and whether it could be a conflict of interest to allow city employee Jim Sherwood’s building to be torn down.
“In reviewing the guidelines, I do not think there is a conflict,” said City Attorney Rick Roberts. Sherwood has no authority to decide how grant funds are disbursed, or what buildings are to be included.
“We just wanted to make sure everything was out in the open, so everyone knows nothing underhanded is going on,” Sherwood said.
Following the hearings, the board took up its regular agenda.
The April 8 election results were certified, and Larry Young and Curtis Mack were sworn in as aldermen by Clerk Linda Plenge.
The board passed a resolution setting the franchise fee for electrical service at 2.5 percent, and the fee for cable and telecommunications at three percent. Those fees are to be placed into general revenue. Further a half-percent fee on electrical power shall be used to fund an account for fire department capital purchases.
The board also approved Bill 378, the city’s salary and wage ordinance for officers and employees. To see the ordinance in its entirety, please visit our website at www.nemonews.net.
Police Chief Bill Conger reported that the city’s animal control officer Bill Young had been bitten over the weekend.
“There were three dogs that we had been after for over a year. When he tried to pick them up, an individual got angry, and the police had to be called,” Conger said.
Conger alleges that the animal control officer would not have been bitten if the individual hadn’t interfered.
“We will be seeking charges, and I will be seeking jail time,” Conger said.
Young was treated at Keokuk Area Hospital. The dog was destroyed.
In other business, the board:
–Discussed applying for another TRIM grant to manage trees in the city.
–Approved sending 2-3 firefighters to university training in June, at a cost to the city not to exceed $600.
–Discussed looking for an equipment truck for the fire department.
–Approved hiring Stephanie Summers as pool manager.
–Awarded a bid to seal the walking trail to Miller Asphalt of Hannibal at a cost of up to $2850.
–Hired Ethan Horton, Tyler Simpson, Nathan McDannald and Kolt Kiger as summer help.
–Discussed Kahoka Cable Internet. Currently, there are about 40 subscribers.