The Ava City Council heard updates on many grant applications and the water project when they met in regular session on Tuesday, Oct. 26.
For the first order of business, Administrative Director Peggy Porter introduced Kelly Beets from MIRMA (Missouri Intergovernmental Risk Management Association).
Beets presented a certification to the council in recognition of the in-car camera the city recently purchased with a grant from MIRMA.
“It’s a great tool for us to use if litigation comes out (about a police report or traffic stop,” Beets said. “We generally find that the officers were in the right and the camera tells the whole story.”
The camera cost $3,243.
Janice Lorrain, director of planning & development gave an update on several grants.
She said the Source Water Protection Grant to update the city’s water protection plan has been submitted.
A grant for sidewalk improvements has also been submitted.
The city had hoped to use the grant, which is in the amount of $360,000, to work on sidewalks along NW 12th Avenue, Jefferson Street and part of Washington Avenue.
Lorrain said that with the amount of money the grant will provide, it’s likely that the city will only be able to work on sidewalks along NW 12th Avenue.
The grant application for the Land and Water Conservation Fund for a new skate park and vandal-proof restrooms must be submitted by December, Lorrain said.
That grant is in the amount of $150,000.
Lorrain said that she, the mayor and some city employees met with engineers on the by-pass elimination plan.
The plan will keep water from being discharged out the city’s lagoons.
The council approved a re-zoning ordinance requested by the planning & zoning commission.
The re-zoning was for Paul Wade & Associates Accounting, located at 1400 S. Jefferson.
The property is owned by Paul and Elizabeth Wade and was re-zoned from B-2 central business district to B-3 general business district.
Mayor Leon Harris reported that most of the work for the water project has been completed. Clean-up and asphalt work will be the bulk of the work that is left.
Council members present were Ric Engelhardt, Billy Long, Burrely Loftin and Judy Lovan.
The next regular council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. in City Hall.
