The Carl Junction City Council met in regular session on Tuesday June 3, 2025 at 7:00 PM at City Hall. Mayor Mike Moss called the meeting to order with the following present: Anita Francis, Walter Hayes, Hollie LaVigne, Bob McAfee, David Pyle, James Shanks, Roger Spencer, and Carole Wofford. Also present were City Administrator Steve Lawver, City Attorney Mike Talley, City Clerk Alaina Wright and Assistant Crystal Winkfield. AGENDA Roger Spencer motioned to approve the agenda as presented. Walter Hayes seconded. All in favor. No opposed. Hollie LaVigne motioned to remove the disbursement to Nelson Enterprises until the work can be reviewed. David Pyle seconded. All in favor. No opposed. Hollie LaVigne motioned to approve the consent agenda as amended. Roger Spencer seconded. All in favor. No opposed. PUBLIC FORUM There was no one present for public forum. ORDINANCES Roger Spencer motioned to put "AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN ENGAGEMENT LETTER BETWEEN THE CITY OF CARL JUNCTION, MISSOURI AND LAUBER MUNICIPAL LAW TO PROVIDE SPECIAL COUNSEL- GENERAL MUNCIPAL LEGAL SERVICESTO THE CITY OF CARLJUNCTION, MISSOURI AT A RATE GENERALLY OF $240.00 PER HOUR PLUS REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES AND AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THE ENGAGEMENT LETTER; PROVIDING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS THEREOF; AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND/OR CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE SAID ENGAGEMENT LETTER FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF CARL JUNCTION, MISSOURI" on first reading by title only. Hollie LaVigne seconded. All in favor. No opposed. Discussion: Mike Talley said there are a number of questions that require direction and at the last meeting he explained his conflicted position to the city and its officers. He recommended retaining special counsel to deal with those issues. He said there are a number of ancillary issues to the main issue that require special legal guidance and Lauber is statewide and recognized as an expert in these areas and it's in the city's best interest to have experts help decide issues directly related to the controversy discussed at the last meeting. He said Lauber Municipal Law has the most qualified experts in their organization at their disposal. He said it is expensive, but he believes it would be money well spent. Mayor Moss asked if the economic development matters discussed in the contract is was what Mike Talley was talking about and Mike Talley said no. He said he believed it was a form letter and as of now nobody was planning on asking questions about economic development. Walter Hayes motioned to put it on second reading. Roger Spencer seconded. All in favor. No opposed. Discussion: Bob McAfee asked if the city was paying for Mayor Moss's council also. Mike Talley said he hadn' t had that question yet and he didn't have an answer, and it would be possible that Lauber Municipal Law might have to answer that question. David Pyle asked Mike Talley where this engagement letter would leave him. Mike Talley said as long as he can, he intends to stay privy of counsel, but he doesn'tfeel proper giving counsel on these matters because any advice he gives taints the city'sp position because he has a loyalty to the mayor and other city officers. He said if he saw something grossly inappropriate, he would advise someone. Steve Lawver said in the past when the city has hired special counsel, he has kept Mike Talley up to date and he would do the same thing here. David Pyle asked if there was a timeline and how much the council would be kept informed. Mike Talley said he didn't know the answer to those questions. Steve Lawver said the open records questions were fielded through MIRMA HR-1 website which goes directly to Lauber Municipal Law. Hollie LaVigne asked if there was any kind of timeline for a hearing and Mike Talley said Lauber Municipal Law would help determine that. Roger Spencer motioned to put it on final passage. Walter Hayes seconded. All in favor. No opposed. RS WH Francis-yes, LaVigne-yes, McAfee-yes, Spencer-yes, Pyle-yes, Hayes-yes, Wofford-yes, Shanks-yes. Motion on Ordinance #25-16 was approved by roll call vote, signed by the Mayor, attested by the City Clerk and made a part of the permanent records of the City of Carl Junction. REPORTS The Council reviewed the Administration report. Steve Lawver said he had the bids for tornado repairs and would have that information for the next council meeting. He said he needs guidance on the solar arrays. Carole Wofford asked ift they are worth fixing for the value we get. Steve Lawver said it wasn't worth it in his opinion. Hollie LaVigne said it was her opinion that the arrays be scrapped and there was a consensus among the full council. Hollie LaVigne asked if we could put braces on the memorial trees that got damaged in the storm and Mayor Moss and Steve Lawver said those belonged to the American Legion and were on their property. Steve Lawver said he's waiting on Mid Central to update quotes from several months ago on the police department technology upgrades because it is being tied into the grant application process with the school. Hollie LaVigne asked about the timeline for the grant and Crystal said she believed July 26th is the deadline. Bob McAfee asked about the mosquito issues discussed at the previous meeting. Hollie LaVigne said the old fogger couldn't be repaired and the price of a new fogger and chemicals would be around $18,000. Steve said Mandy with BYAA contacted Mosquito Joes about a module that you put water in and hang it outside and it emits some kind of mosquito repellant, and you can place them around the ballfield. Mayor Moss asked if Steve Lawver had called the resident from last week and Steve Lawver said no because he wanted guidance from the council first. Mayor Moss said he believed she should be contacted SO she knows what' S going on. Hollie LaVigne said the Missouri Public Service Commission is holding a public hearing about the pricing practices from Liberty Utilities on Thursday June 12 at 6:00 pm for anyone who wants to attend. Carole Wofford asked if wej planned on buying a fogger to only use it several times per year and Steve Lawver said no because the council hasn't authorized purchasing one. Annual Treasurer' s report - Mayor Moss asked if the account balances on the report were correct and Alaina Wright said yes. Mayor Moss said he believed the public should know the balances of the accounts and Alaina Wright said the report was available to anyone that wished to do a public records request. Police Department report - Hollie LaVigne said she asked Chief McCall to look into hosting a fingerprint clinic for children, and said it was a little over $400 to order $250 kits from the vendor Webb City Police Department uses and asked Chief McCall what he thought about it. Chief McCall said it's a good PR process. She asked what he thought about the expense and Chief McCall said he didn't believe the cost was exorbitant, depending on how many we ordered. Someone in the audience asked ifa a business could sponsor the kit if the city couldn't buy it and Hollie LaVigne said that was a great idea. Chief McCall said there were no calls for service or complaints about the carnival. Public Works report No discussion. COMMITTEE REPORTS Budget/Finance: Walter Hayes said he came by and spoke with Alaina Wright about getting the budget committee together to review the budget once the first quarter is over and he would get that set up sometime next month. Code/ Nuisance: Carole Wofford had nothing to report. Human Resources: Roger Spencer had nothing to report. Public Facilities & Planning: David Pyle asked if we could get someone to check Country Club Park to make sure the work was done correctly. Economic Development: Hollie LaVigne said she met with someone today about property on Highway 171 and everything is going in the right direction. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Walter Hayes said he was in Austin TX for the last meeting and was watching the livestream and asked if there was an update for upgrading the streaming system and Steve Lawver said that is part of the quote they're upgrading. Alaina Wright asked if the council wanted to approve the disbursement at the next meeting for Nelson Enterprises or if she should mail the check once it was verified the work was done. Hollie LaVigne said she wanted it to be approved first and there was a consensus among the council. NEW BUSINESS James Shanks said he wanted it on the record that there' S an issue going on in the city, and he said it's S easy to complain but it's gut-wrenching and miserable to actually file a complaint. He said after the complaint process there's a misconception on what we do going forward. He said any interactions between the mayor and anyone who has filed a complaint would taint either side of the equation and he thinks it opens up exponential liability to the city, when even a tone of voice could feel retaliatory. He thinks it would be in everyone's best interest and would like to motion to suspend the mayor from his duties as mayor until such time as he can take back over. Mayor Moss asked Mike Talley if the motion on the floor was proper. Mike Talley read the code and said he thought the board could vote to put the motion in order. Carole Wofford seconded the motion. A roll call vote was held on the motion to suspend Mayor Moss from his duties temporarily. Anita Francis-yes, Hollie LaVigne-abstain, Bob McAfee-yes, Roger Spencer-yes, David Pyle-no, Walter Hayes-yes, Carole Wofford-yes, James Shanks-yes. Mayor Moss asked Mike Talley if he was suspended right now and Mike Talley said he believed he should be. Hollie LaVigne took over as mayor pro-tem. Walter Hayes said he received an email asking about excessive speed on Terrill and Park. He said the speed is posted as 20 mph which isn' 't obeyed or enforced and asked about speed bumps. Hollie LaVigne asked if we could put the speed trailer out there and Chief McCall said yes. Carole Wofford wanted to commend the people that hosted the carnival. Hollie LaVigne wanted to thank the Chamber of Commerce and all the employees at the city who helped. She said most people knew it was planned at Frank Dean, and it was a last-minute decision to have it on Main Street due to the weather. Mike Talley said Crystal Winkfield just shared a code that any elected officer including mayor, can be removed for cause by a 2/3 vote of the council. He doesn' 't believe that happened here tonight and wanted to verify that the motion that occurred was not a motion to permanently remove Mayor Moss from office and James Shanks said that was correct. Roger Spencer asked about signing checks with Mayor Moss suspended and Alaina Wright said that it wouldn't be affected because of the process to change check signers on the account. ADJOURNMENT Roger Spencer motioned to adjourn the meeting. All in favor. No opposed. Meeting adjourned at 7:44 PM. CLERK dlyma CITY MAYOR luyhl