Skid Steer Secured

During the July 27 meeting, the Mountain View board of aldermen revisited the purchase of a skid steer. They received 19 bids in total, for both used and new skid steers. The aldermen discussed the budget, with Alderwoman Jennifer McAdams declaring she would not vote on any purchases until the finances have been looked at, as she was scared to do something they might regret. Alderwoman Gail Wallander made a motion to deny bids until the books are done, seconded by McAdams. Aldermen Calvin Perry and Toby Orchard voted nay, and Mayor Karen Gaddy broke the tie vote with a nay to continue discussion. 

 

Upon further discussion, City Clerk Terry Thornton told the board that the last good books found by the financial advisor were from June 2022, and when she began in her post about a year ago, the books were six million dollars out of balance. Audience member (and city clerk Terry Thornton’s husband) Rick Thornton spoke up to “applaud” Alderwomen McAdams and Wallander and “shame” the rest of the board for, “trying to spend money they don’t have.” Mayor Gaddy called for order, saying, “We will not be going there tonight,” as she had requested at the beginning of the meeting for everybody to be respectful when speaking. Thornton responded, “I already did [go there].”

 

A different audience member then spoke, saying he can see both sides of the issue, brought up the point, “sometimes you have to spend money to save money,” noted that he had “never seen so much division over a piece of equipment,” and ended by saying “we cannot live in fear.” Mayor Gaddy responded by recognizing the fact that she has both visited and spoken to every department, and every department she has spoken to is in need of the skid steer. Alderwoman McAdams said the efforts are there to get departments the equipment they need, and she does not care if they purchase the most or least expensive equipment as long as the finances have been sorted, but she cannot move forward until that has been done.

 

Alderman Orchard made a motion to accept the bid for a new skid steer from Hayden Machinery in West Plains, seconded by Alderman Perry. The Hayden bid was the low bid at a purchase price of $67,000. An insurance check of $17,966.67 offsets the city’s cost. Aldermen Perry and Orchard voted aye and Alderwomen McAdams and Wallander voted nay during the roll call vote. Mayor Gaddy broke the tie with an aye vote, accepting the bid.

 

At the end of the meeting, the board went into closed session to discuss the hiring of a new city administrator. While the board was in closed session, audience member Rick Thornton received a call, during which he left the building. After returning, Thornton audibly whispered to Police Chief Stetson Schwien. According to his commentary, the caller was City Clerk Terry Thornton, who had withdrawn from the chamber when the aldermen went into closed session. Mr. Thornton audibly repeated details of this call. He ended his commentary by telling Schwien in a lowered voice that now he, Schwien, was up to date with what was happening in the closed session. No votes or motions were made during the three-hour closed session, reports Mayor Gaddy. 

 

The board will be meeting again on August 7 at 1:00 p.m. for a closed session to review applications for the city administrator position. A public hearing on August 11 at 5:30 p.m. has also been scheduled to discuss the proposed property tax rates.

 

Other board actions:

- Board heard technology needs presentation from ComSec Consulting and Unified Systems

- Fuel bids from both Anchor and Signal were accepted

- Bill 1500 Ordinance 1813 Personnel Policy Manual Update was approved

- Board heard the Preliminary Engineering Report from Smith & Co. Engineers regarding the CDBG Grant