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Ashland board closes "Friends of the City" fund, approves budget amendments and local projects
Summary
At its Oct. 1 meeting the Ashland Board of Aldermen voted to close the Friends of the City 501(c)(3) account and transfer its roughly $22,006 balance into city park and pool accounts; the board also adopted budget amendments, approved traffic changes, accepted a $6,832 bid for two replacement doors, authorized a police-recruit reimbursement agreement, and moved the November meeting date.
The Ashland Board of Aldermen on Oct. 1 approved a series of administrative and budget measures, including an ordinance to close the Friends of the City 501(c)(3) bank account and move its funds into city accounts for use in park master planning and pool operations.
Staff told the board the Friends of the City account had been administratively dissolved by the Missouri Secretary of State and currently held a balance of $22,006.59. "The front of the City 501 C has been administratively dissolved by the Missouri State, or the Missouri Secretary of State," the staff member reported, and recommended combining the funds with park and pool accounts to allow credit-card processing for donations and vendor fees.
The board voted to authorize the closure and transfer. Chair called for the motion, it was seconded, and the vote carried.
Why it matters: Closing the separately held account will shift donated funds and vendor receipts into the city's budgetary structure, allowing staff to directly manage park-related revenues and accept credit-card payments for memorial bricks and vendor fees. Staff said the move also avoids the administrative burden of reinstating a dissolved nonprofit.
Other measures adopted - Budget amendments: Staff presented six-month budget adjustments for FY2025, citing increases in general-fund revenues such as liquor and business licenses and higher projected expenditures for workers' compensation and some capital projects. The board approved the ordinance authorizing appropriations to certain accounts within the FY2025 budget.
- Traffic code change: On second reading, the board approved an ordinance to convert designated blocks of Burnham and South College to one-way streets. Staff said signs will be placed, then bagged for public awareness before being un-bagged and enforced with a grace period similar to a prior conversion.
- City-hall doors: The board accepted the low bid from Clean Media Glass and Meagher Incorporated, $6,832, to replace two doors at city hall (the northeast public entrance and an employee entrance), and authorized the mayor to complete the purchase. A presenter confirmed three vendors were solicited; the board approved the resolution after staff said contractors had inspected the doors and replacement would alleviate seasonal swelling and security concerns.
- Police recruitment reimbursement agreement: The board authorized a standard, prorated three-year reimbursement agreement intended to help recruit a new officer and cover academy costs; staff said the training cost referenced in the discussion is $5,000 and the agreement requires repayment on a pro rata basis if the recruit leaves early.
- Calendar change: To avoid Election Day conflicts, the board voted to move its Nov. 5 meeting to Oct. 29.
What’s next: Staff said Bartlett & West will present a guaranteed maximum price for a wastewater-treatment expansion at a future meeting, and several items (including a more detailed budget amendment later in the year and park master-plan spending tied to the transferred funds) will return to the board for further action.
