Maryville City Council discusses trail system

The Maryville City Council approved events’ use of streets, made committee appointments and discussed the city’s trail system at its regular meeting August 27.

The largest portion of the meeting was devoted to discussion of the city’s trail system. City Manager Greg McDanel brought the discussion to the council in hopes of securing upcoming grants from MoDOT. The discussion centered around safety, connection and marketing improvements to the trails. The council explored removing the US 71 trail from the city’s advertised list of trails. It also considered doing away with the trail near the Crestview residences out of safety concerns; however, McDanel would poll area residents on their opinion of the trail’s potential removal.

McDanel led the council through a number of potential changes to the trail system to consider sending to MoDOT for grant consideration. He suggested the city submit plans to connect a trail ending on West Torrance Street to the one on South Munn Avenue. The board took McDanel’s recommendation and plans were made to continue discussion on the subject as the deadline for the grant submission draws nearer.

The council heard multiple requests for street closures for events. It approved a request made by Meyer Auto Center to host its annual car show and close the 200 block of North Market Street between 8 am and 3 pm, Saturday, September 1. The council also approved the Northwest Missouri State University Homecoming Parade for 5 am to noon, Saturday, October 13 which will result in the closure of Fourth Street from Icon Road to Main Street.

Another request heard by the board was for an event hosted by Big Bird’s Bait and Bow for an open house featuring a Louisiana-themed potluck. The original request was for the event to be hosted at the store and would result in closing a portion of the 200 block of North Main Street from the alley north of A&G Restaurant to Third Street from 4 to 10 pm, Friday, September 14. There was a large amount of discussion regarding what it would mean to close that portion of Main Street on a Friday. It was also noted that weekend is Northwest’s parents weekend and there was a concern about the impact on business during that weekend. It was decided McDanel and city staff would work with Big Bird Ciak to move to a location which would require the closing of Third and Buchanan streets. The council conditionally approved the event pending the approval of the business owner to move the event to the alternate location.

A levy on taxable real and personal property was set at $1.14.4 per $100 assessed valuation. Discussion centered around the math used to reach the tax rate.

The council also executed a letter of understanding with John Baker to continue serving as municipal judge. The position must be renewed or filled by someone else every two years.

The council acknowledged a petition to annex property located at 1315 West Sixteenth Street owned by Peter D. and Teresa L. Walter.

It executed a letter of acknowledgment for PeopleService, Inc. for operation and maintenance of the city’s water and sewer systems.

Also a contract was executed with Edge Contractors LLC for improvements to the street maintenance facility at 113 North Newton. The city’s budget for improvements was up to $46,000 and Edge provided a bid of $38,040.

During McDanel’s city manager report, he informed the council Assistant City Manager Ryan Heiland will receive an award from the Northwest Alumni Association for public service in reference to his work at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park.