Officials make plans for election

Wednesday, November 14, 2001

MINER - Election news was one of the top items on the

agenda for the Miner Board of Aldermen which gathered

Tuesday night at City Hall.

Last week, voters in Miner defeated a proposal to have

the chief of police become an appointed position

rather than elected. The election results were 79 no

to 71 yes.

After the aldermen voted to accept the results of the

election, they discussed and approved an ordinance

pertaining to the police chief's job description.

Among things, the ordinance states:

* The chief shall be required to work a minimum 40

hour week and is on call at all times. The chief shall

be required to register his time on the job by

punching the time clock.

* The police chief shall fall under the direction of

the mayor and board of aldermen. The police chief must

follow directions from the mayor and board unless he

is given an unlawful order.

* The city of Miner requires the elected marshal

(police chief) to maintain and further his education

to complete the recommended 480 hours of training.

This training will be at the expense of the marshal

(police chief).

* Salary for the remaining unexpired term will be

$2,100 per month. A 5 percent cost of living increase

will be allowed for this three-year period only. These

cost of living increases will be given on the one-year

employment anniversary of the April 2, 2002, election

and each year thereafter on the yearly anniversary for

three years. After this three-year term is up the

police chief will not receive any cost of living or

other pay increases in accordance with State Statute

RSMo. 79.270.

* Vacation time will be accumulated as with other

employees and must be used each year. No additional

compensation will be paid for holidays and the chief

shall receive no comp time or pay for overtime.

Tom Mitchell resigned as police chief in June having

put in some 18 years with the Miner Police Department.

Voters will fill the three years left in that term of

office when the next regular city election is held on

April 2.

In addition, ballots will also be cast for the offices

of mayor, Ward 1 and Ward 2 aldermen. All three

offices carry a two-year term. The officials whose

terms are set to expire next year are Frank Tatum,

mayor; Mitch Thompson, Ward 1 alderman; and Harry

Barnes, Ward 2 alderman (absent from Tuesday's

meeting).

Those wanting to file for the election can do so from

Dec. 18 to Jan. 15.

The aldermen also passed an ordinance pertaining to

unsafe homes which is to "provide a just, equitable

and practicable method for the repairing, vacating or

demolition of buildings or structures which may

endanger the life, limb, health, property, safety or

welfare of the occupants of such buildings or to the

general public ... "

The ordinance applies to current buildings and any

built from now on.

Discussion on the matter included what time limits

residents will have to make repairs.

Alderman Tom Brock stated: "My biggest concern is

somebody that says 'I'm working on it' and they just

do a little at a time. Because I've had that answer

quite a few times."

In cases of house fires, homeowners will have 30 days

to get started on repairing the structure.

"This ordinance is not to move somebody out in the

street," Tatum said. "Its strictly a safety issue."

During the meeting the board:

* Voted to annex two properties into the city limits;

one is owned by J.C. Cain, the other is owned by Floyd

W. Humphreys and both are situated on H Road.

* Approved the placement of stop signs on the east and

west ends of Albert and Elizabeth, and the

intersection of Albert and Harrison.

Also, Tatum offered some economic development news,

stating, "Ruby Tuesdays has committed to come into

Miner to be located east of the Ramada Inn next to the

interstate." Work on the new restaurant site is

expected to begin January.

He said there are some other new business prospects

but "nothing definite."

With no other business, the board adjourned into

executive session to discuss personnel.

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