In Butler City Council news, our Mark Arbuthnot, our City Administrator, has dropped the other shoe. Some time ago, he told the City Council that he has plans to retire, but had no precise date in mind, and this would give them time to thank about a change. Mark still has no exact date in mind, but has told the Council to find a replacement. His plan is to retire in Florida. It goes without saying, that we regret his decision, and we’ll have more on this as the Council studies the coming change.
In conjunction with Mark’s coming retirement, the City Council has received a five-page application from the company of Art Davis, to look for a new city administrator. He comes with much information as to his qualifications, and with an estimated cost of an amount not to exceed 11-thousand dollars, but with a list of possible additional expenses, with some amounts such as airfare, trip mileage, overnight expenses and other items unknown at this time. The Council approved the proposal, but will not get down to business until our present City Administrator gives a definite date for his
retirement.
The citywide spring cleanup is picking up at all houses north of Fort Scott Street this week, and all south of Fort Scott Street next week.
Bates County Disposal will pick up old furniture, appliances, paint, batteries and miscellaneous junk, and the City of Butler will pick up your brush and limbs that are placed at the curb.
Have your clean-up items or trash separate from your regular weekly trash, but both should be at the curbside. Have your brush in a pile separate from the rest of your trash, and of course this also must be at the curbside. Leaves must be bagged in City of Butler leaf bags to have them collected.
Have everything ready by six a.m….they will not make return trips after they’ve completed a street.
The second part of the rate increase for sewers will be on your June first bill. You may remember that in order for the adjustment to be easier on you, the first portion was last year on June first…now the second portion will come up on your next bill.
The base rate for Butler residents is $11.40 per month, and $5.30 per thousand gallons of metered water use for all usage.
Outside of Butler city limits, the base fee will be $16.65 per month, and $8.45 per thousand gallons of metered water use for all usage.
For residents outside of Butler’s city limits that are not connected to the city’s waterworks system will be a base fee of $67.50 per month
A report from the Police Department shows 130 actions in March and 125 in April, with the most activity being with vehicle registration…39 in March and 31 last month. Less surprising is that they had to stop 36 speeders in March, and 26 in April. And they had 12 drug related arrests in march, and 16 in April.
The latest word concerning the proposed Solar Farm for Butler, is that MC Power has requested permission to erect an off-site sign on city property, adjacent to I-49/71 for the three-megawatt solar location. It has been recommended for approval, contingent on the purchase of the city property by MC Power, and on approval from the Missouri Department of Transportation.One step closer for the Solar Farm.
The study concerning Bates County and its three largest communities teaming together toward economic development in our area continues. The Butler City Council agreed to participate if the other two towns, Adrian and Rich Hill, will also take part. And of course there will be a final agreement between the cities and the county.
If entered into, the initial budget would be 50-thousand dollars, with the County paying half…Butler a bit over 14-thousand, Adrian almost six-thousand, and Rich Hill a little less than five-thousand dollars into the plan. Of course, economic development is on the minds of every area, and Bates County is as interested as any, in creating new jobs for our people.
Concerning the funding for the demolition of unsafe structures here in Butler, an application will be submitted to the Missouri Department of Economic Development toward that end.The funding would include 35 residential and three commercial properties. Butler has budgeted 50-thousand dollars for this work, with one-thousand dollars going toward each residence and 25% toward commercial demolition costs. More on that as it progresses.
Courtesy of FM. 92
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