Moniteau County on FEMA blizzard assistance list

Moniteau County is not only on the FEMA blizzard assistance list, it is one of the seven counties approved for the 72 hour emergency for the Feb. 1 blizzard. The other counties approved for 72 hours are Cooper, Dallas, Linn, Macon, Ralls and Shelby. The other counties on the blizzard assistance list are on the 48 hour list. The "FEMA Kick Off Meeting" was Tuesday, April 5.

The announcement was given at the regular monthly meeting of the City of California Board of Aldermen on Monday, April 4.

This is reported to have been the first blizzard for which an emergency was declared for Missouri. Several counties in the northwest and southeast parts of the state are not considered to have been in the blizzard emergency. Camden County is also not on either list although the counties surrounding are on one or the other of the lists.

The city is eligible for reimbursement of up to 75 percent of the overtime (not regular pay) and equipment used during the declared emergency. The cost to the city is estimated to have been about $25,000 with about $18,750 possible reimbursements.

In other business, the Council recommended interviews begin this month to seek a person to fill the Parks and Recreation Director position. A committee has been formed to narrow the 20 applicants to five for interviews. According to City Clerk Brian Scrivner, applicants are not only from the local area but from several states, including Pennsylvania and Alabama.

The emphasis is for the position, at least initially, is swimming pool related, but is planned to expand to other recreation facilities and schedules in the city.

Related to recreation, bids are being sought for repair of the tennis courts at the City Park. The work must be done in warmer weather and it is hoped to have the bids read by the May Council meeting.

The Council approved the low bid for a new backhoe for the City Street Department in the amount of $90,985 from Martin Tri-State for a John Deere. After trade-in, the cost will be $66,485.

Also approved was a low bid from a Columbia dealer for a Grasshopper mower for $8,330 for the Parks Department.

Under police reports, Police Chief Fred Kirchoff reported 61 contact calls, 11 tickets issued, 13 accidents investigated and one charge filed.

Fire Chief Allen Smith reported a total of 41 calls, with two fires calls, three rescue calls and 36 medical calls. The total calls for the year is 116.

Rick Graham reported the city wide cleanup is April 11 - 15. He also announced mulch to give away on April 15,16, 22 and 23.

Also reported was a replacement of a culvert pipe on Gordon Road after the culvert was undermined as the result of rain.

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