General Board Meeting called to order at 8:00 a.m. by Chairman Mr. Meyer. Present were Directors Mr. Meyer, Mr. Schloss and Mr. Bettag, Chief Svetanics and Ms. Vincent. Also present was a Citizen of the District, Robert Gifford, who is running for the office of Director of the Board in the April 5, 2011 Election.
Mr. Meyer noted an addition to the agenda of 4.13 - Tax Issues. Motion by Mr. Schloss to accept the amended agenda as presented, 2nd by Mr. Bettag, roll call vote Mr. Meyer aye, Mr. Schloss aye, Mr. Bettag aye.
Mr. Bettag made a motion to withdraw his 2nd to the Motion as Chief Svetanics asked to make additions to the agenda. Mr. Meyer noted additional additions to the agenda of 4.14 Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District and 4.15 Missouri American Water.
Motion by Mr. Schloss to accept the amended agenda as presented, 2nd by Mr. Bettag,
roll call vote Mr. Meyer aye, Mr. Schloss aye, Mr. Bettag aye.
4.11 Fire Board Association. Chief Svetanics was contacted by Valley Park F.P.D. and asked to become a member of the Fire Board Association, to which we once belonged. They hold meetings once a month and the dues are $2,000 per year. The meetings are held during dinner at different restaurants, which cost $25 per person. The main function of the Board is that they are lobbyists. The Board asked that Chief Svetanics requests more information from the Board for them to review.
4.12 Staff Car. Chief Svetanics asked the Board to review the offer made by Joe Machens Ford Dealer regarding the purchase of a new Crown Victoria for the District, since they have the state contract for selling government vehicles, and the staff car is 11 years old and has been having reoccurring maintenance issues. The pricing is $21,768. The Board asked Chief Svetanics to get information on what our trade-in will bring so we have a final cost.
Chief Svetanics and the Board discussed a letter by Lt. Michalski stating that we have had a request for any excess, outdated or no longer used medical equipment to be donated to a church ministry. The request reported that we do have items that we no longer use.
Motion by Mr. Bettag that the Board declares obsolete items such as the LifePak 10 Monitors plus batteries and chargers as surplus, 2nd by Mr. Schloss, roll call vote Mr. Meyer aye, Mr. Schloss aye, Mr. Bettag aye.
Board Meeting
January 25, 2011
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Motion by Mr. Bettag to donate before-mentioned no longer used and outdated medical equipment to the Baptist Missionary Association of America, 2nd by Mr. Schloss, roll call vote Mr. Meyer aye, Mr. Schloss aye, Mr. Bettag aye.
4.13 Tax Issues. Pinnacle (River City Casino) has paid its taxes, but is protesting the assessed amount. St. Louis County is holding the taxes paid in an escrow account until the matter is settled. The District will have to petition to get the funds released. Mr. Schloss recommended that we meet with District Attorney Matt Hoffman to see what our legal course would be. The Board also discussed the fact that St. Louis County receives half of the admissions tax or head tax from Pinnacle. This amount is totally separate from the Safety Tax. The State collects $2 per head (person) with $1 going to the Gaming Commission and the other $1 going to the dock city (St. Louis County). Since opening last March, the State collects $570,000 to $600,000 a month, with half going to the Gaming Commission and half going to St. Louis County as general revenue. For the 10 months the casino has been opened, St. Louis County has received close to $3,000,000 from the head tax. St. Louis County will also receive approximately $6,000,000 from the Safety Tax. So St. Louis County not only gets head tax and safety tax, but property tax as well.
4.14 Metropolitan Sewer District. Chief Svetanics wondered why we have to pay $1,390 a year for sewer services if MSD doesnt have to pay taxes. The District pays two separate sewer bills, one for Telegraph (front of building) and one for Point St. (the back). They do not pay us for fire or ambulance service calls, why should we pay them for service?
4.15 Missouri American Water. The same goes for water service. Twice a year we check every hydrant in the District and do not charge for this service. Yet the District pays two separate water bills, one for hydrant usage and the other domestic. The Board discussed asking Mr. Hoffman to write a letter to each department.
Mr. Gifford left the meeting at 8:38 a.m.
5.0 Regular Agenda. The Board reviewed and signed monthly expenses.
Motion by Mr. Bettag to recess general session and move to executive session at 8:56 a.m., 2nd by Mr. Schloss, roll call vote Mr. Meyer aye, Mr. Schloss aye, Mr. Bettag aye. Ms. Vincent left the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Jerry G. Schloss, Secretary
JGS/pgv