Ball
field drainage
issue
gets attention
by Ivan
Foley
Landmark editor
An attempt at a quick fix for the drainage problem at
the youth baseball fields at Hwy. 92 and Fourth St. was
approved by the Platte City Board of Aldermen Tuesday
night.
Aldermen approved spending $3,000 toward installing an
asphalt curb near the ball fields to help funnel water
to a drainage inlet. The drainage inlet will need to be
cleaned and Frank Mabry, public works superintendent,
suggested enlarging the inlet to handle the anticipated
increase in water.
Officials described it as a logical first step to address
the drainage problem at the fields. Eventually the city
intends to deal with a runoff problem below the Kennedy
Building on the Hwy. 92 side of the ball fields.
Dannie Stamper, parks and rec director, said the erosion
problem from a nearby hillside will need to be addressed
eventually so the drainage inlet won't get plugged again.
Mayor Dave Brooks said the action by the city was needed
to help ensure the use of the ball fields this summer
by local youth teams. A more permanent solution can be
addressed upon conclusion of the season, he said.
The city also approved spending $2,000 to help the parks
and recreation department restore the fields from damage
caused in recent months by the severe drainage problem
at the fields.
In other business at Tuesday's meeting, the aldermen:
•Tabled discussion on the city's temporary sign
ordinance until the next meeting. Recently it was reported
several businesses are in violation of the ordinance.
Currently the city's ordinance is good for 21 days, requires
a $250 deposit and only allows a business to be issued
one annually. Brooks remarked he'd like to see the ordinance
relaxed a bit. "I'd like to see us consider something
other than what we're doing now," he said. "These
businesses are trying to make a living in the city."
•Tabled a decision on increasing the amount the
city pays toward employee health insurance premiums. The
motion would have been tied to increasing the maximum
pay scale amounts for the positions of city administrator,
police chief and public works superintendent, among others,
and Alderman Ron Porter questioned the need to raise the
maximum pay for those spots considerably more than the
maximum pay for other public workers.
Currently, employees receive a monthly benefit credit
of $265 that can be used toward health, dental, life and
disability insurance. City Administrator Keith Moody is
recommending that amount be increased to $285 per month.
He said the city's health insurance premiums will be going
up significantly soon, and employees will see an increased
deduction from their paycheck as a result.
The issue will be brought up again at the next meeting.
•Decided to use all means to enforce the city's
ordinance requiring all businesses to purchase an annual
business license. City Clerk Tanya Bates said there are
currently six businesses who have not renewed. She said
in the past five years the city has taken only one business
to court for failure to buy a license. The board authorized
proceeding with issuing a court summons to those who have
not yet renewed.
•Approved the following appointments.
Planning and zoning: David Shaw, Carole Coots and Bill
Knighton.
Parks and rec: Richard Stephens and Ron Laures.
Board of zoning adjustment: Tom Arnold.
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