SCOTT CITY APPROVES CONTRACT FOR FIRE TRUCK

SCOTT CITY -- The Scott City Council voted to approve the city's contract with Quality Manufacturing Co., for a new fire truck and related fire-fighting equipment.

Scott City Mayor Larry Forhan signed the contract after the council's unanimous decision in favor of accepting the $218,985 bid.

Quality Manufacturing's bid was the lowest of the five submitted to the council in November.

City Attorney Francis J. Siebert is looking into financing options with several local banks, seeking the lowest interest rate on the lease/purchase agreement for the truck.

Siebert was asked by the mayor to report to the city's finance committee for a final decision regarding the payment options on the truck.

Seibert is also drawing up a contract to allow Sonny's Solid Waste Inc., of Sikeston, to deposit excess sludge in the city lagoons.

Public Works Director Harold Uelsman recommended that the city require the waste removal company to pay a $60 annual permit fee, a 5 cents per gallon charge on the sludge and require that all necessary environmental testing be paid for by Sonny's.

The terms of the agreement were based largely upon Cape Girardeau's regulations involving the hauling and dumping of waste materials.

Sonny's contract will be renewable on an annual basis, and the city plans to place a 5,000 gallons per month cap on the amount the company can deposit into the city lagoon.

The contract will also contain a clause that will allow the city to break the contract at any time, if a problem environmentally based or otherwise should arise.

"We need to be able to get out of the contract quickly if necessary," Forhan said.

The council unanimously approved a measure agreeing to care for flowers and shrubbery planted by the Sunny Village Garden Club and the Missouri Highway Department near the Interstate 55 interchange at the west end of the city.

The public works department will water the flowers once a week or as needed for one summer or until the plants take root and can survive on their own. The Garden Club and the Highway Department will supply the city with a watering tank that can easily be mounted on the back of a pickup truck.

"I want to see our city look beautiful," said Uelsman. "I think we ought to give it a try."

The council unanimously approved the appointment of Richard Hink as a full time city employee. Hink, who now works for the city's sanitation service, will replace the city mechanic when he retires next year.

"(Hink) is one heck of a mechanic ... a good worker, too," Uelsman said. "I just hope we can hold on to him for another year."

The council also voted to authorize the implementation of the 911 emergency telephone service contract that they will enter into with Commerce and Kelso.

Council members plan to travel to DeSoto Jan. 26, to view the operational 911 service in that area.