CHAMOIS — Chamois residents Caitlin Leonard and Andrew Owens asked aldermen at their April 25 meeting to close several alleys that run through their property.

“The alleyways adjacent to our properties have not been maintained or cared for by the city in 20 to 30 years,” Leonard said. “At this point, they serve no purpose and have no benefit to the public.”

Leonard handed out a map illustrating that an alleyway runs between 205 North Main Street and 208 North Markey Street. They also requested closure of the alleyway between 105 West Railroad Street and near 204 North Markey Street. Leonard and Owens said that they have maintained the alleyways for the past seven years.

“The alleyway is dead on both sides, and it has no current use,” Leonard said. “The (other) property owner agrees with us regarding the closure. We would like it to be voted on tonight. I’m simply asking for fair treatment, and transparency as a resident going through the process.”

Leonard said that if her request to close the alleyways was denied, she and Owens asked the city to take responsibility for maintaining them immediately.

The last time the city closed an alleyway was in 1984, according to City Clerk Megan Birmingham. Aldermen questioned if there were any water lines, sewer lines, or manholes within the alleyway.

Leonard and Owen were not aware of anything that ran through them.

“I’ve lived here all of my life, and I didn’t know there were any alleys in that area,” said Alderman Cole Schaben. “I would like to talk to the other property owner before we make any decisions.”

Leonard explained that the property owner was Leonard Neely and that he was in favor of closing the alleyway and splitting the property between the two property owners.

“It’s not as easy as the two of you agreeing to split the property,” Birmingham said. “There is a process to go through, according to our lawyer.”

The issue had been brought up at the March meeting and aldermen decided that no alleys would be closed on the advice of the City Attorney David Bandre.

“I did not want this issue brought up at the last meeting,” Leonard said. “I emailed the city telling them that I did not want this brought up because I couldn’t be here. I requested that it not be brought up and it was still brought up. It still got voted no.”

Leonard handed out a printed email conversation that she had with the city attorney. Bandre clearly stated the Board of Aldermen has the flexibility to make up an agenda on issues as they see fit and do not need the approval of a resident for an issue to be placed on the agenda.

Schaben said that Bandre had advised them not to close any alleys.

“We want them closed, “Leonard repeated. “There is no point to having them.”

“Our legal advisor gave us justification to not close them,” Schaben said. “He looks out for us, and he was against it. I would like to hear from the other property owner.”

Fellow aldermen agreed that it would be necessary to speak with the other property owner before any decisions could be made

Schaben said that he did not think that the person currently living on the property owned it. The property is listed as being owned by Monte Neely on the map provided by Leonard and Owen, whom aldermen believed has passed away.

Owen asked why the aldermen were concerned with where the water and sewer lines ran.

“We may need access to the lines at some point in the future,” said Alderman Cheyanna Wolf.

Birmingham noted that Bandre had explained there would need to be a title search done on the property and the original owners of the alleyway would have to be researched before the city could vacate them.

Aldermen agreed to table the ordinance that would close both alleyways until more information could be found and they could go to the property for themselves.

“My issue is, I have spoken to the mayor a month ago about finding the property owners and what has been done?” Leonard asked. “No one has searched for or talked to the property owner. No one has done anything in a month.”

Mayor Marie Slusser was not at the meeting due to family issues.

“We can’t speak on her behalf,” said Alderman Shawn Mitchem.

“We have no idea what has or hasn’t been done,” Alderman Lacey Garrett added.

“So, you are saying no?” Leonard asked.

Aldermen reiterated that they were tabling the issue until the next meeting.

Leonard and Owens asked to be put on the agenda for the May meeting and for the ordinance referring to closing the alleyway be divided up with one ordinance for each alleyway described.

• In other business, aldermen approved Invoice #5 to Byrne & Jones Construction for $68,404 for the Lead Service Line Survey. The money is still being paid out of a grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“It looks like they are finishing everything up,” Birmingham reported. “They have looked at all of the lines and they are ready to send us the latest maps.”

The city will have a trial membership to a mapping software service.

Byrne & Jones Construction will work on the next steps of the process, which is coordinating with the city to get grant money to replace the lead and galvanized pipeline found during the survey.

• Aldermen also approved Change Order #5 for the second phase of the well project, which extends the completion date to August 2025. Repairs on the existing well are scheduled to begin soon.

• Aldermen approved $2,500 for the Chamois Day Fund to cover inflatables and kids’ games at the City Park.

“That is just a portion that we are giving as the city of Chamois,” said City Treasurer Theresa Walter. “The other organizations will also be contributing and there are funds from previous Chamois Days.”

Walter is hoping to increase excitement and participation in Chamois Day this year.

“We’re trying to bring the people back,” Walter said. “The last few years, attendance has been poor. We want to make it better. We want to do a lot of stuff for the kids this year and that comes with a cost.”

The next Chamois Day Committee Meeting is on May 8 at 6 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge. All are welcome to attend.

• The city continues to work with the adjusters and insurance company to get things fixed at the park after a spring storm.

Birmingham noted that even though things haven’t been repaired,  yet she didn’t want people to think that it had been forgotten about.

• Unterrified Democrat reporter Theresa Brandt asked if the Utility Worker Jake Shockley has finished taking the online class for his drinking water permit.

Birmingham said that he had finished the class and taken the test, but she wasn’t aware of the results. Brandt asked if the city could have the results available at the May meeting.

• Aldermen approved $10,739.54 in outstanding bills.

They also approved a reimbursements to Shockley for $30.04 (office supplies), and $182.66 for the remaining utilities deposit for a customer who has moved out of town. The last utility bill was deducted from the deposit.

• Chamois had the following ending account balances: cemetery fund ($10,401.27), general fund ($33,937.87), water fund ($251,421.19), sewer fund ($117,656.62), city Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in and out ($10), city park ($10,488.37), American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) ($71,169.95), sewer repair, ($6,958.05), sewer bond reserve ($26,850.86), city cemetery ($20,897.51), meter deposits ($14,306.43), street ($22,768.68), online bill pay ($19,202.35), city police ($561.50), city cemetery ($20, 884.44), business check ($985), and water repair ($30,155.01).

• The city holds five certificates of deposit totaling $12,266.10.

• Chamois had a water loss of 40% for the month of March.

Birmingham noted that there had been a huge leak at the campground at the park and it took a while to find and repair it. The city pumped 962,500 gallons and sold 575,700 gallons. The city has 240 water connections and 221active accounts.

• The next regular board meeting is set for Monday, May 19, at 6 p.m.