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Council advances two grant ordinances and narrowly approves stormwater code changes after debate
Summary
Council voted to move two grant-related ordinances to the next reading (Nichols Street Bridge replacement and airport infrastructure) and debated a new chapter on construction site runoff and illicit discharge; the stormwater ordinance (Bill 17-41) passed by voice vote 5–3 after extended discussion about enforcement and homeowner impacts.
The Fulton City Council placed two grant-related ordinances on the agenda for formal reading at the next meeting and separately debated a proposed environmental code expansion to address construction site runoff and illicit discharges.
Bill 17-39, the Nichols Street Bridge Replacement Project ordinance authorizing the mayor to sign documents related to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission off-system bridge program for bridge number 1555004 in Fulton, was placed for reading at the next regularly scheduled council meeting. Council members thanked staff (several mentioned Kyle Brimmer) for work securing the grant and noted restoring access where the bridge had been closed would be important for local circulation.
Bill 17-40, an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute an airport infrastructure grant agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for project 24-040A-1 at Elton Hensley Memorial Airport, also was placed for reading at the next meeting with no substantive discussion recorded.
Bill 17-41, an ordinance amending Fulton City Code chapter 46 by adding Article 4 (construction site runoff) and Article 5 (illicit discharge detection and elimination), prompted extended debate. Council members expressed differing views on scope and enforcement. Councilman West asked to send the ordinance to the Planning and Zoning Commission for review, saying “I'd like to actually, I'd like to send this to the Planning and Zoning Commission to look at.”
Kyle Brimmer, Assistant City Engineer, explained the change was prompted by a recent Department of Natural Resources audit of the city’s MS4 stormwater permit. Brimmer said the DNR told the city it needed stronger corrective actions and enforcement language in local code: “the Department of Natural Resources...came to town this last week to audit our MS4 permit...one of the things they said that we need to correct is the ability to have a little more corrective action and teeth in our codes.” He told council the provisions aim to address construction-site runoff and to help detect and trace illicit discharges to their source.
Other council members voiced concerns about reach and enforcement. Some said the draft text looked broad and questioned whether it might penalize individual homeowners; one member said the proposed penalties were “pretty stringent” and worried about homeowner impacts. Brimmer said fines and fees would be aimed at project owners and contractors for construction-related violations and would be traced back to whoever causes the pollution.
After discussion, the council held a voice vote on placing Bill 17-41 for reading and approval of the motion to move it forward. The clerk reported five affirmative votes and three opposed on the motion (voice vote recorded in transcript as: Mister Hinge? Yes; Mister Luther? Yes; Miss Nelson? Yes; Miss Recluse? No; Mister Stone? No; Mister Washington? Yes; Mister West? No; Mister Combs? Yes). The motion to place the ordinance for the next reading carried 5–3. Council members asked staff to clarify enforcement mechanics and overlap with county agencies as the item proceeds.
Summary of next steps: Bills 17-39 and 17-40 will be read at the next regularly scheduled council meeting; Bill 17-41 will advance but staff were asked to provide clarifications on enforcement, fines and coordination with county agencies before final adoption.
