Council tackles several matters in two-hour meeting

The Houston City Council handled several matters during a two-hour meeting Monday. 

Members:

• Approved the purchase of a dump truck bed for the public grounds department by accepting an $18,512 bid from Crown Manufacturing LLC in West Plains. 
• Approved the installation of 15 utility poles. Of those, 10 were earlier identified for replacement following an inspection. The project will be tackled by Kiowa Line Builders, a Tipton firm. The outlay is $115,850. The city will obtain start and finish dates from the company. 
• OK’d a $7,154 piece of equipment — known as a top dresser — for the Houston Municipal Golf Course. It aids in enhancing conditions for smoothing surfaces, reducing thatch, aiding drainage and promoting faster, healthier turf recovery.
• Authorized the purchase of an HVAC system in space at city hall that includes the city administrator and some police functions. A bid not to exceed $18,800 was approved from Shannon Heating and Cooling, Mountain Grove. The city hopes the move will eliminate a trouble spot that has developed for those offices. 
• Will formalize downtown parking policies following a public meeting. It is expected to remain unchanged, which is two-hour parking downtown, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Two additional accessible parking spots will be created near the Houston Senior Center. 
• Reviewed a draft for later consideration that includes instructions for issuing burn bans and possible penalties. Also on the city’s radar is a timetable to replace its ladder fire truck, which will begin a process to review the need and potentially order a truck that takes years to manufacture. 
• Approved a resolution that affirms the city’s support for law enforcement as part of an application to Missouri’s Blue Shield program. If approved, it would open the door for possible grants, said Police Chief Brad Evans. The council also approved an annual MoDOT agreement that opens financial resources to the police department. 
• Will formulate an ordinance that covers the city’s actual material costs for water meter installation. The rate would increase from $450 to $700. 
• Heard from City Administrator Lloyd Wells that materials have been ordered to install a bigger sewer line near Houston Sonic and Cozumel areas. He also said golf clubhouse renovations have been completed, and he presented a document that tracks deemed dangerous buildings, along with the status of each. It is part of a council plan to eliminate eyesores. 
• Heard praise for the city’s workforce and city clerk for improvements on the city’s risk rating from its insurance carrier. The progress is expected to translate into improved rates.

The council adjourned into a closed session at 7:28 p.m.