Debt Collection Procedures Discussed at Kahoka Council Meeting

Debt Collection Procedures Discussed at Kahoka Council Meeting

By Mike Scott

With Kahoka Mayor Wayne Blum on vacation and Alderman Jerry Webber hospitalized, the Kahoka Board of Aldermen was limited in its business during their Monday, July 11 meeting.
Alderman Curtis Mack made and immediate motion to appoint Alderman Jeff Wood as chairman, and the meeting was called to order.
City Attorney April Wilson questioned the council about its debt collection procedure, regarding the sale of a property with an outstanding bill.
“In the past, whoever bought that property would have to pay the bill to have utilities reconnected,” said Alderman Larry Young.
“But if a bank forecloses, and pays the bill, then that same person could get a new account set up the next day,” said Mack. “That’s not right.”
The board instructed Wilson to continue to review policies from other communities and help develop a policy to address this concern.
The board also discussed a proposed agreement with Clark County to have the Collector’s Office collect city taxes. The proposed agreement would give the county up to five percent of the revenue collected.
“This would cost us more money, but we’re banking on them collecting more taxes because they have more teeth,” said Wood.
The board took no action on the proposal.
In other business, the board:
–Approved the purchase of a pressure control valve for the water pumping system at Wayland. ?The cost is $2625.35.
–Discussed the purchase of new lights at O-Mak-O-Hak Park, which would provide 65 percent more lighting for half of the electrical usage. Mack presented one estimate at $5224.60. The board agreed to seek other bids, and to inquire if the Huston Trust would pay for any of the expense.
–Approved a building permit for Ken & Robbin Hoffman.
-Fire Chief Lary Fountain reported that the fire department received a notice of violation from the Missouri DNR, for its participation in burning the debris of a demolished house. “The only thing we did was put water on the trees to keep them from burning,” said Fountain.
Attorney Wilson will file a response.
–Fountain also reported that the Kahoka Fire Department and the Clark County Fire Department each received a grant of boxes of batteries from Duracell.
–Mary Jones requested that the city clear ditches near her home to handle runoff water from the Kahoka Cemetery.
–Alderman Young requested that information on the city’s cable TV system, including Hometown Journal’s Channel 47, be kept up to date.
-Alderman Wood made the council aware that a house by the 600,000 gallon water tower has requested cable service. No action taken.
–Wood also requested that planned water outages be better publicized in advance.
–Jim Sherwood reported on the status of several water department engineering projects, including the variable drive pump at Wayland and the Fox River waterline crossing.
–Sherwood also reported a change in the way the city deals with the Midwest Independent System Operators (MISO) regarding its electrical system.
–Sherwood also reported the city had received over $5400 from FEMA for snow removal reimbursement.