City finalizes merger of E-911 services, staff

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In action that was 10 years in the making, the city and county finalized an intergovernmental agreement to centralize emergency calling operations.|ret||ret||tab|

At the Dec. 17 City Council meeting the city authorized City Manager Tom Finnie to enter into an amended agreement with the Greene County Commis-sion to bring the county's 14 telecommunications-related staff under the one roof with the city's E-911 program staff and turn them into city employees with commensurate benefits and tenure. |ret||ret||tab|

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E-911|ret||ret||tab|

Becky Jungmann, the director of the city's E-911 program, will direct the new centralized operation, according to the attachment to the bill that was approved by the council.|ret||ret||tab|

Remarks in the bill's explanation thanked Joe Jenkins, who served as the special committee chairman and helped the city, the county, the sheriff and the 911 advisory group attain the much sought-after centralization.|ret||ret||tab|

The city of Republic, which has its own self-contained system, didn't wish to be included in the centralized system because its own works well independently.|ret||ret||tab|

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Olde Ivy|ret||ret||tab|

In other business, council members heard an earful about changes to the final plat of the Olde Ivy Subdivision, with proponents and opponents wading in.|ret||ret||tab|

There were two bills the original and a substitute bill, the latter of which City Attorney Howard Wright advised may not be legal because it didn't conform to the preliminary plat. |ret||ret||tab|

Wright told council that the proposed cul-de-sac in the substitute bill, which the city staff opposed but some area residents wanted, was against subdivision regulations adopted by the city. In the end, council tabled the bill to the next meeting.|ret||ret||tab|

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Emergency bills|ret||ret||tab|

Two emergency bills were approved enabling improvements to the intersection of Kearney Street and LeCompte Avenue, including the installation of traffic control signals. |ret||ret||tab|

The first bill allowed the city manager to enter into an agreement with Spring-field Underground, which is located in that area, to share the costs of the im-provement and to amend the Depart-ment of Public Works budget for fiscal 2001-2002 by $1.05 million.|ret||ret||tab|

The second bill authorized the city manager to entered into a similar agreement with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission to share the cost of the same improvement. That bill also included an amendment to the Public Works budget of $407,500.|ret||ret||tab|

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Busy intersections|ret||ret||tab|

Public hearing was held on two bills regarding busy intersections on West Republic Road. City staff opposed one bill and recommended the other, while Planning and Zoning recommended ap-proval of both.|ret||ret||tab|

The first bill, for a planned development at 634/636 and 656 W. Republic Road, requires a change from single-family residential zoning. |ret||ret||tab|

The developer wants to be able to put in a hotel or motel with a restaurant, but city staff recommended only 10 percent retail use for the area. Under the plan, signage would be prohibited on James River Expressway other than a wall sign on the building.|ret||ret||tab|

Architect Geoff Butler said the plan is to keep the 10-acre area low-density and blend the buildings into the residential character of the area not a Wal-Mart-like venture, rather small businesses to serve the immediate residential area. |ret||ret||tab|

Butler said it would not be much different than the other zoning change up for public hearing 5.7 acres at 1500 W. Republic Road near Remington's, a change that city staff recommended. Butler told council he couldn't see the difference. |ret||ret||tab|

Attorney Bruce McCurry, representing Loren C. Sackett, owner of the 1500 W. Republic property near Remington's, said a zoning change to general retail use would be a much better designation than the current single-family zoning because of the property's proximity to James River Freeway and Kansas Expressway. Both bills will be voted on in two weeks. [[In-content Ad]]