Saint Joseph council approves agenda and consent package, attaches reciprocal easement for DFI Inc.

The Saint Joseph City Council on Monday approved its published agenda and a consent package that included appointments, multiple fee increases and grant-funded purchases, and amended an ordinance to attach a reciprocal easement agreement permitting DFI Inc. to place a railroad spur across Waterworks Road.

Presiding Official opened the meeting, asked Pastor David Gourge of First Baptist Church to lead the invocation and led the pledge of allegiance. “Members of the public speaker cards are not required in order to speak during a public hearing,” the Presiding Official said when calling a public hearing for the Community Partnership Strategy and consolidated plan 2025–2029 and the city’s first-year annual plan for fiscal 2025–26; the clerk read the HUD-related hearing notice and, after three calls for speakers produced no commenters, the public hearing was closed.

The council approved the agenda in a roll-call vote and later approved the consent agenda by voice/roll call, with the clerk recording seven ayes in both votes. The consent package included appointments to the Community Police Advisory Committee and the Senior Citizen Foundation board; ordinances proposing fee increases at the Saint Joseph Recreation, Exercise and Community Center and the Remington Nature Center; increases to landfill and sanitary sewer service fees; and an ordinance authorizing submittal of the consolidated plan and the city’s use of FY2025–26 Community Development Block Grant and HOME program funds to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The council also approved an ordinance amendment to recognize wellness funds from Blue Cross and Blue Shield totaling $30,000 and to authorize purchase of two treadmills from Free Motion Fitness for $17,317.48, allocating the remainder as reimbursement for previously purchased treadmills. A transportation planning consolidated grant with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission was read for first reading, providing up to $245,396 in MHTC funds with a city match not to exceed $57,815 to assist Metropolitan Planning Organization planning activities in the Saint Joseph urbanized area.

On Ordinance 35 — a reciprocal easement agreement to allow DFI Inc. to place a railroad spur across Waterworks Road — the Presiding Official asked council members to consider an amendment attaching the reciprocal easement agreement to the ordinance. Council member Grama moved to amend and Council member Schultz seconded; the clerk recorded the roll call and the amendment carried with seven ayes. "Gentlemen, at your desk is a proposed amendment to the attached reciprocal easement agreement with DFI Inc to this ordinance," the Presiding Official said when introducing the amendment.

Clerk read additional first-reading bills including an ordinance to authorize a billing and collection cooperative agreement with Buchanan County and the county collector to collect special tax bills as real property taxes, and an ordinance amending the landfill fund budget to authorize a balloon payment for a hydraulic excavator from Foley Equipment not to exceed $68,240. The council approved the consent items as a group; individual first readings will return for further consideration as required.

City Manager reported the council retreat is scheduled for July 1 at 2 p.m. and said Cell 8 at the landfill is expected to open in August, adding that the majority of work on that cell has been completed. "We look forward to the retreat and building upon your strategic plan," the City Manager said.

With no speaker cards submitted the evening, the Presiding Official closed the meeting.