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The Board of Alderman met this evening, August 23 at 6:00 p.m. 

Several updates were given regarding the Highway 38 cost share project, MODOT enhancement grant, and ice storm clean-up. 

Ellis Floyd took the floor to speak on behalf of the Marshfield Activites Center.  As an item of old business, the city agreed to grant funds for a contract for service for the M.A.C.  Mr. Floyd also discussed a survey that was conducted during this year’s Webster County Fair by the M.A.C. board.  The results showed an overwhelming majority of those surveyed would support a tax levy to fund a civic center.  The M.A.C. board asked that this issue be put on the upcoming ballot.  Alderman Nicholas Inman made a motion to put this issue on the ballot, but the motion died for failure to recieve a second.  The other alderman felt there were several unanswered questions to support putting it on the ballot.  Among those concerns was the question of whether it would be run by the city or by the existing board.  Since there is a provision in the law stating that no public funds can be used for a private institution, this is one question that would have to addressed before moving forward.   

In discussing ‘New Business’ the board agreed to close Garst Drive on September 8th from around 3 to 8 p.m.  for safety issues during a scheduled bow shoot. 

Three items were referred to planning and zoning. 

Then came a rather lengthy discussion on an ordinance involving Wal-Mart.  On the agenda this was explained as ‘Authorizing the Mayor to sign A Memorandum of Agreement with Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust.’  Since two aldermen work for Wal-Mart, Inman and Owen, they obstained from the vote leaving only two that could address the issue.  As the law reads, there must be at least a two-thirds majority for a council to act.  This item remains up in the air so to speak.  This poses a problem for future items of business concerning Wal-Mart with this board. 

Comments from aldermen for future agenda items included the paving of the parking lots at Rotary and North parks.  This is one of the items to be discussed at next month’s meeting.

In what was deemed an ‘Emergeny Item’ on the agenda, the board of aldermen voted not to waive the engineering or architectural requirements for remodeling a local restaurant.

The Board of Aldermen then went into closed session to discuss real estate related issues.