Skidmore council explores next steps in clearing alley

At the October 10 Skidmore City Council meeting, the aldermen discussed the next steps to take in clearing the alley by city hall.

Mayor Tracy Shewey said she would double-check with the city attorney on whether or not an additional notice needed to be sent to resident Rick Stanton to remove the blockage. She stated Stanton was told in court that he was in violation. Questions were also brought up on whether the city could continue to remove objects, if Stanton again blocked the alley, and whether or not the city had to pay for the removal.

City Clerk Meagan Morrow was instructed to contact Kizer Collision, Maryville, and Steven Bradbury, Forrest City, about the removal and 30-day storage of items.

Ordinance #Animal 2019 was read two times and passed by the council. It changes city dog license fees to $10 per animal and sets other conditions for the keeping of animals within the city limits.

Ordinance #2019SR was approved by the council. It changes the minimum rate charge for sewer to $24 per month, which includes the first 1,500 gallons. Each additional 1,000 gallons will be charged 50¢. It takes effect immediately.

A meeting was held on October 2 to approve the hiring of Holmes Construction, Carthage, to apply chip and seal to at least four city blocks with the priorities being North Ash, North Linden, 400 block of East Oak, 100 block of South Pine and maybe North Pine.

The company was applying the chip and seal to the Skidmore Community Betterment walking trail at the city park. The work had been completed, with mixed reviews. The company put down the chip and seal without repairing potholes.

Residents Cheryl Huston and Robert Manning addressed the council on concerns.

Huston has undertaken cleanup at the depot museum. She said it is in need of serious repairs inside. There is a hole in the floor and a suspected hole in the ceiling. Raccoons have been knocking down ceiling tiles and making a mess. The windows need reglazing and the outside door may need to be replaced. Jim Blessington is willing to give a free estimate of the cost for repairs.

If the cost is over $3,000, the city will need to advertise for bids.

Manning touched on concerns about the city streets and urged the council to repair what needs to be repaired. He touched on signs prohibiting jake braking in town and feels the city should enforce the prohibition on jake or engine braking.

He discussed a skidloader damaging Highway 113 in town and the encroachment of junk onto the state’s right-of-way by the depot museum and was told to call MoDOT.

“We’re all tired of what’s going on in town,” Manning said. “If we’re not enforcing, people will continue” to break ordinances.

Discussion was held on getting a camera surveillance system for city hall. Morrow was instructed to contact Midwest Data and Andy Woods about buying a system and having it installed. The council put a cap on the project of $750. Morrow is also to price systems which could be installed by volunteers.

Midland Surveying told Morrow the surveyors would be out to survey the depot museum property within the next two weeks. If the surveyors feel threatened, they will leave and go back to Midland. Discussion was held on whether or not the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Department should be present for the survey. The council decided to take that step should it become necessary.

Alderman Sandy Wright requested all addresses on nuisance properties be put into the minutes of the meeting in which they are reported. She reported three properties were out of compliance, 302 West Elm, 311 West Oak and 101 South Chestnut. Morrow will check on a derelict vehicle in the 300 block of West Cherry.

Two of the three nuisance letters sent in September were returned to the city by the Post Office. The addresses were 208 North Maple and 410 East Elm. Morrow was instructed to contact the sheriff’s department to serve the letters.

Instead of installing a tube to correct a street drainage problem, two loads of gravel were put into the ditch in question. Discussion was held with the aldermen thinking the gravel was just a bandage. Chief Operator Marvin Sumy stated the property owner did not want the bank cut into, which would need to happen if a tube was to be installed.

“It’s fixed now,” Sumy said. “But if we don’t get any more 10 inch rains, it’ll stay fixed.

Several residents had 60-day overdue water and sewer bills. These need to be turned off, however, the water bills gave the residents until October 14 to pay the past due amounts. All overdue accounts have received a red tag warning of the water turn-off.

The bills are due on the 20th of each month. Shewey will instruct Morrow on how to change the wording on the bills and how to run reports which show all overdue bills. 

Fall cleanup will be October 21 through 27.