CHAMOIS — Mayor Marie Slusser announced at the July 24 meeting that after years of discussion and piles of paperwork, Chamois City Marshal Riley Lewis is finally able to write tickets to people who violate traffic or other ordinances. City Treasurer Theresa Walter and City Clerk Meghan Birmingham are being trained to process the tickets and log them as of Aug. 15. The first court date for any tickets or ordinance violations is set for Oct. 15.

In other business, Walter reported that the city had increased the amount of money collected for water bills over the last several months, including $16,965.07 in June. Between June 21 and July 15, the city had 223 active accounts, with 216 either current or following payment plans.

“I am really happy,” Walker said. “We are doing well with people paying their bills.”

Unterrified Democrat reporter Theresa Brandt asked if the people on the payment plans were up to date.

Walker admitted that two of the payment plans would be on the shut-off list for this month.

“I’m very proud from where we were to where we are now,” Walker said. “There has been a super improvement.”

Brandt cautioned that in years past, when aldermen cracked down on residents who were not paying their bills, things changed in the short term, but eventually, for whatever reason, the situation recurred, and bills went unpaid.

“As long as I’m sitting in this chair, people will pay, or I’ll shut them off myself,” Slusser said.

• Aldermen passed Ordinance #666, which adds stealing and trespassing to the city ordinances. Birmingham explained that Lewis requested the ordinance so that he could write tickets for these specific violations. The new ordinance defines stealing as something less than $750 in value. If convicted, the person would be fined the value of the stolen item, 30 days in jail, or restitution, as ordered by the court.

Ordinance #666 also includes definitions for first-degree trespassing, defined as a person “who knowingly enters unlawfully or knowingly remains unlawfully in a building or inhabitable structure or upon real estate.” The property must be fenced to be considered trespassing unless the person has had communication with the owner and has been asked not to come onto the property or if “no trespassing” is posted on the property. The fine for first-degree trespassing will not exceed $500.

Second-degree trespassing is defined as someone who “enters unlawfully upon real property of another” and includes property owners, lease-holders, and anyone with an easement. Anyone found in violation of second-degree trespassing will receive a fine not to exceed $400. The ordinance also makes it illegal to block easements or areas of public access, including alleyways and streets. Vehicles violating the ordinance will be towed at the owner’s expense if the car causes an obstruction or could restrict emergency vehicle access.

• Aldermen also passed Ordinance #664, which adopts a $35 fee for checks written to the city with insufficient funds or on closed accounts. The city has the option to have the bad check turned over to legal authorities for prosecution. Anyone who writes a bad check to the city will not be able to write another for two years following the incident.

Alderman Cole Schaben asked if the city had a problem with bad checks.

“We’ve had some,” Slusser replied, “but it’s always been a problem.”

• Lindsay McKague, who has a balance of $2,134.24, was the only resident on the agenda to address the board regarding a past-due account. McKague was not at the meeting but sent an email disputing with the Missouri Attorney General the $1,000 charge added to her bill for turning her water on after the city had shut it off. She also said she would bring legal counsel to the August meeting if the aldermen did not resolve the matter.

“She wants a payment plan but has not shown up for the fourth time,” Slusser said. “She also wants the tampering charge of $1,000 removed but we have proof she tampered with it.”

Slusser said all the information had been sent to City Attorney David Bandre, who planned to contact the Attorney General’s office for the city.

“Her water is turned off, and it will not be turned back on until she signs a payment plan or pays the bill in full,” Slusser said.

The mayor said she had no idea why McKague hadn’t shown up at the last four meetings and was waiting for more information from Bandre.

• The aldermen tabled Ordinance #667, which would have replaced the city’s current dog ordinance — a copy of the ordinance in place at Gasconade — requested of the city marshal to enact. Brandt asked how aldermen could consider passing an unenforceable ordinance.

“Effectively, this ordinance would require that all animals have a city license,” Brandt said. “Do you require that residents get a dog license currently?”

“I was under the impression that if you had an animal or dog in the city, you had to come down and sign paperwork and pay a fee,” Slusser said, adding that years ago when she had a dog, that was the procedure in place.

“I’ve never had anyone license their dog since I’ve been the city clerk,” Birmingham said.

Aldermen said that they had no idea that anyone needed a dog license and that there was no policy or procedures in place for dog licenses.

Alderman Cristy Nolte asked if the licenses would extend just to dogs or if residents would need to license other animals as well.

The ordinance also states that dogs would be “captured or impounded and determined not to be affected with rabies by a licensed veterinarian,” dogs without a license would be impounded and only returned to the owners if they paid the license fee and additional veterinarian fees that may apply. The ordinance states that “dogs or other animals impounded and not claimed by their owner within five days shall be disposed of.” Vicious or dangerous dogs running at large can be impounded or shot by the city marshal, as stated in the ordinance. Residents are not allowed to keep dogs whose “loud, continual barking, bawling, or yelping shall annoy any neighborhood or any person.” Owners of dogs running around the city could receive a fine of up to $500.

“Who is going to catch the dogs that are running around loose?” Brandt asked. “Where are you going to impound the dogs? Who is going to transport the dogs to a veterinarian to be checked for inoculations? If the person doesn’t take their dog back, who pays for the veterinarian care? Who is going to dispose of the dog?”

Slusser admitted that the city had no place to impound a dog or any animal.

“I was told when we had a city marshal before he would shoot and dispose of them,” Slusser said.

Brandt asked if Lewis was comfortable doing that.

Slusser did not know.

“This ordinance is over one particular dog,” Walter said.

“You shouldn’t pass an ordinance for one dog or one person; it would have to apply equally to everyone,” Brandt argued.

Schaben asked if the city already had a current dog ordinance.

“We already have an ordinance that allows Lewis to write a ticket and assess a fine,” Slusser said, proposing that aldermen look at the city’s current dog ordinance and make any appropriate changes.

Alderman Nolte added that it would be a good opportunity to add something to the ordinance for people who are abusing or neglecting animals.

• Aldermen also passed Ordinance #2024-07, which amended “the eligible enhanced enterprise businesses for the Chamois Area Enhanced Enterprise Zone and amended the abatement on the ad valorem tax on eligible projects within the designated enhanced enterprise zone.”

Aldermen initially did not know what the ordinance involved, so Mayor Slusser called Steve Duncan, who serves on the board, to explain it.

“An enhanced Enterprise Zone is attempting to encourage businesses by abating a portion of their personal property taxes,” Duncan explained.

Businesses must meet certain conditions to qualify for the tax reduction, including the addition of employees, falling under the list of accepted companies, and providing health insurance. Each Enhanced Enterprise Zone is governed by a seven-person board appointed by county commissioners.

Duncan explained that only one business has participated in the program in the Chamois area: Mike Stone and the Avalanche water slides.

The ordinance needed approval from the city of Chamois, and commissioners will need to pass a similar resolution since the Enhanced Economic Zone is not confined to the city limits of Chamois.

“It is an economic development tool,” Duncan said. “We may never be able to use it, but if an existing business can expand, this could help.”

“Any time we can pull businesses in or help them expand — that’s tax revenue coming in our door,” Garret said.

• Aldermen approved a bid from Light Property Management for $12,000 to make repairs to city park buildings damaged by a June storm and damage sustained in a different storm last year that was never repaired.

The estimate includes repairs to the pavilion, such as a new rafter, fascia boards, three sheets of metal and brace, and lag where needed. Concession-stand repairs include replacing the metal roof and re-anchoring the existing posts to the concrete. The bleachers would also need a partial new roof and posts anchored to the concrete.

Slusser noted that Light would like to start in the next couple of weeks, and Slusser wants to get the repairs made before Chamois Day on Sept. 21. The city has received one check from the insurance company, less depreciation for the pavilion and a $1,000 deductible.

“I sent that check back because last year, we received the full amount minus the deductible,” Slusser said.

Repairs will begin as soon as Light is available, and Slusser will update aldermen on the insurance claim when she has more information.

The city’s softball team cleaned up the tree that had fallen at the park because of the storm. Several individuals have been working to clean up the tree that has fallen at the cemetery.

• Aldermen approved a payment of $323 to the Leap Frog Inflatable Rentals for “Balloon Typhoon” and “Cash Cube” to be set up for Chamois Day.

While the city does not typically participate in Chamois Day, aldermen would like to set up an activity for children.

Walker looked into renting bounce houses, but that requires special insurance, so she instead got a quote for inflatables suitable for different age groups. Also, the plan is to blow balloons around for the younger kids and toss fake money for the older kids. Those who grab a balloon or the fake money win a prize. Walker has received several donations for prizes already and plans to charge $1 per child; she volunteered to run both activities on Chamois Day.

“This is the only thing that Chamois Day will have for the kids,” Walker said. “The city will have to put out a little money, and I know the budget is tight, but I think we’ll break even.”

Walker plans to talk to a few more individuals and businesses for donations.

• The starter for the new well is supposed to be installed in two weeks.

• The lead service line project is underway and on schedule.

• Chamois has received a letter from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) noting the city is in compliance.

• Aldermen approved $2,500 to purchase a new dissolved oxygen (DO) meter for the wastewater plant to replace a damaged unit failing to provide good readings.

• The board approved $19,374.01 in outstanding bills.

• Chamois had the following ending account balances: cemetery fund ($10,537.77), general fund ($49,664.61), water fund ($209,135.01), sewer fund ($95,754.91), city Community Block Development Grant (CBDG) in and out ($1,250), city park ($9,362.15), American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) ($69,713.68), sewer bond reserve ($26,800.63), city cemetery ($20,147.57), meter deposits ($12,036.88), street ($9,670.70), online bill pay ($11,449.55), city police ($152.50), city cemetery ($20, 736.50), and water repair ($25,086.19).

• The city holds five certificates of deposit totaling $12,238.88.

• Chamois had a water loss of 16% for the month of June. The city pumped 756,297 gallons and sold 637,200 gallons, with 119,097 gallons lost or unaccounted for. The city has 240 water connections and 223 active accounts.

• The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 16 at 7 p.m.