Council approves multiple resolutions, accepts claims and federal transit grant; tables collective-bargaining bill for follow-up

The Carthage City Council on Jan. 28 accepted claims totaling $4,019,641.25, adopted multiple resolutions and approved several personnel and administrative actions. The council also accepted an $87,000 federal assistance award for transit projects and voted to go into a closed session to discuss real estate under the statutory exemption.

Claims and fiscal items The committee on claims filed a report for $4,019,641.25; council voted to accept those claims. The council also adopted Resolution 20-70, a supplemental budget adjustment for $10,658.25 to pay professional services rendered in December 2024 by Paul Martin; council discussion noted that because a majority of the council previously approved the contract, services rendered are payable under city policy pending any future council action.

Federal grant and cost-share Council passed Council Bill 25-05, authorizing the mayor to accept federal financial assistance of $87,000 from the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for commission-approved transit projects. The council adopted Resolution 20-69 authorizing the mayor to accept a cost-share grant from the Missouri Department of Conservation for removal and replacement of invasive grasses at the municipal golf course.

Donations and surplus property Council adopted Resolution 20-71 to accept an anonymous $10,000 donation directed for use by the police department. The council declared several items surplus and approved dispositions: Resolution 20-68 authorized disposition of the former Memorial Hall digital sign; Resolution 20-72 authorized donation of former city hall council desks to the city of Miller; Resolution 20-75 authorized disposition of eight Kenwood radios, donating three to Carthage R-9 School District Transportation and five to Carthage Water and Electric Plant.

Personnel and job descriptions The council approved multiple job-description and grade adjustments forwarded from committee: upgrades to administrative assistant job descriptions in the Fire Department (to include emergency management coordinator responsibilities), Parks and Recreation, and Public Works; the council also approved advancing Morgan Hausch (fire department administrative assistant) from step 1 to step 2, which committee members said follows the city's personnel policy.

Other committee and procedural actions The Public Safety Committee moved to table Council Bill 25-06 (recognition of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 27 as exclusive bargaining representative) pending further clarification; the motion to table carried and the item will return to the Public Safety Committee. The mayor made standing committee appointments; the council approved adding Council Member Ray West to the Budget Committee and the Public Services Committee. Near the end of the meeting the council voted to close part of the meeting under Missouri statutory exemption for real estate negotiations (Section 610.021(2)).

Votes and records The meeting used voice votes for many routine motions; the transcript records that motions were carried but does not provide roll-call tallies for most items. Where votes were announced as adopted or carried, the article records the action as approved. Specific resolutions and council bills addressed during the meeting are listed below.

Votes at a glance - Council bill 25-04: Ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad Company, Inc., for plan review of the McGregor Street bridge in the amount of $39,061. (Reading on the floor; meeting transcript indicates council action later in the meeting.) - Council bill 25-05: Ordinance to accept federal financial assistance of $87,000 from the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for commission-approved transit projects. (Adopted.) - Council bill 25-06: Public Safety Committee moved to table until next Public Safety Committee meeting for further clarity on two subsections related to collective bargaining with Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 27; the motion to table carried. (Transcript later contains an in-meeting announcement that "council bill 25-06 passes," but the committee record earlier in the same meeting documents tabling; the transcript does not provide a clear roll-call record resolving that sequence.) - Resolution 20-68: Declare former Memorial Hall digital sign surplus and authorize disposition. (Adopted.) - Resolution 20-69: Authorize mayor to accept cost-share grant from Missouri Department of Conservation for invasive-grass removal at municipal golf course. (Adopted.) - Resolution 20-70: Supplemental budget adjustment to pay Paul Martin $10,658.25 for December 2024 services. (Adopted.) - Resolution 20-71: Formal acceptance of an anonymous $10,000 donation for police department use. (Adopted.) - Resolution 20-72: Declare former city hall council chamber desks surplus and donate to city of Miller. (Adopted.) - Resolution 20-73: Resolution stating intent to pursue Community Development Block Grant funding. (Adopted.) - Resolution 20-74: Correct Carthage Water and Electric board term for Darren Collier (align term to expire April 2026). (Adopted.) - Resolution 20-75: Declare eight Kenwood radios surplus and donate three to Carthage R-9 School District Transportation and five to Carthage Water and Electric Plant. (Adopted.)

The council also received committee reports, appointed Council Member West to two standing committees, and recessed into closed session under the stated statutory exemption for real estate.