BY MURRAY BISHOFF Special to the Cassville Democrat

A new city clerk was introduced to the Purdy City Council on July 9 as council members reviewed infrastructure issues and property maintenance concerns.  

Meranda Juarez, a 2014 Purdy High School graduate, was introduced by council member Heather Van Note as the new city clerk, having started two weeks earlier. Van Note said Juarez had been working with auditors from the Bill Miller Group transitioning city record-keeping to an online system. Additional work is estimated to cost $2,000 and require 16 hours more work. The transition stemmed from a shift from QuickBooks, making the desktop version prohibitively expensive. Van Note added the clerk in Wheaton uses a similar system and would be available for addressing issues.

Juarez had also been working with Bob Sells with the engineering firm of Allgeier, Martin and Associates. Sells is preparing the city’s financial strategy for funding a major assault on the city’s inflow and infiltration problems that are overloading the city’s sewer system. Previously announced plans project making an annual expenditure to line sewer mains and plug leaking manholes to block stormwater runoff from getting into the system. 

Spending is expected to proceed annually until problems are corrected. The city still has borrowing power from its last bond issue that resulted in hooking up with Monett’s wastewater plant for treating effluent. Customers can anticipate higher sewer rates to pay back the additional spending. 

Council members authorized placing Juarez’s name on city bank accounts instead of former clerk Katy Prock, who took another position in Cassville.

Property maintenance issues

Much of the discussion during the meeting focused on issues in the 300 block of Barry Avenue, next to where Jasmine and Trevor Russell reside on Edina Street. The Russells renewed their concerns about their neighbor blocking a nearby alley and others parking in the alley. 

Police Chief Jackie Lowe said the neighbor in question, Juan Rivera, was due in court later this month for review of his six-month probation over property maintenance issues. Additional information would help the Barry County Associate Circuit Court judge decide how to proceed. 

The Russells reported their neighbor was not living in the house, which they previously said was full of material, but instead was in a shed, which Lowe identified as a cargo container. Lowe indicated the city had no ordinances prohibiting persons from living in cargo containers, though one ordinance restricts people from living in campers unless parked in a trailer court. 

“Stuff comes up that we hadn’t thought of,” Lowe said. 

Council members agreed to present the situation to the city attorney for review and possible action. 

In addition, the alley behind Rivera’s property was reported to be a poor condition and rutted so deeply that Rivera was placing drywall and planks over the holes. Kevin Cook, public works foreman, said the city does not maintain alleys. 

“If we added gravel, it would be the only alley in town that would have gravel in it,” he said. “If we move dirt around, it will turn into a muddy mess when it rains.” 

Beyond that, Cook cautioned improving the alley would only encourage the neighbor and his visitors to use the alleyway more. 

“Alleys are for emergency use, like fire trucks,” Lowe said, “not for daily use.” 

Van Note summed up the city’s problem. 

“We can put it on the list,” she said. “I don’t know where in our priorities this would fall. We would probably fix the main roads first. I don’t want to say we will never fix it. It’s probably a low priority. We’re struggling to get our sewer infrastructure fixed.” 

Aldermen discussed the Russells’ problem when Rivera blocked access to their mailbox. The Post Office would not allow them to move the box to their side of the street. The mailbox was moved to another location, where that neighbor objected.

Another issue prompted discussion over a couch placed by the road for disposal at 110 Edina Street. Unwilling to pay Doty trash service the extra disposal fee, the property owner left the couch sitting in her yard. According to Lowe, after he asked to have it removed or issue a citation, the couch was loaded onto a truck, dumped at another residence, hauled back and dumped again at the original home, then hauled a third time to a location on the north end of town, where it was burned. 

“There’s nothing set as to the amount of time [something like a couch] can be out there,” Van Note said. “We can’t make someone care about their property.” 

“I write letters,” Lowe said. “I appeal to them. The main objective in any citation is to change their mind. I shouldn’t have to tell people to do it.” 

Council members also reviewed procedures for contacting Liberty Utilities to repair or replace malfunctioning or missing street lights. 

Reports

Lowe said he spent much of the past month focusing on ordinance violations and loose dog complaints. He had all four tires on the patrol car replaced as authorized by Mayor Brian Bowers when they were found to be in poor condition after a flat tire repair failed. 

Ken and Julie Terry’s July 3 celebration for the community went smoothly without any disturbances. Lowe received help from a Wheaton police officer and a Highway Patrol trooper.  

Cook reported the second pump for the wastewater lift station was due to be installed in the coming week. The two pumps are supposed to take turns sending effluent to Monett. He noted 80 percent of the city’s water reached meters in the past month. A major water leak on Washington was repaired without having to dig up a sidewalk. 

The next council meeting was set for 6 p.m. on Aug. 16.