CHAFFEE EX-COUNCILMAN BEGINS DUTIES AS MAYOR

CHAFFEE -- With some prompts on conducting a council meeting, former councilman Bill Cannon began his four-year term as Chaffee's mayor Monday night.

Cannon admitted to being nervous as he moved the council through its agenda, asking for motions and votes. He expects to name committee members at the May 1 meeting.

Councilmen were also sworn into office for two-year terms: Ron Davis, a former councilman who replaces Cannon from Ward 1; Mike Hinkebein, a new councilman from Ward 2; and Danny Finley and Tom Cunningham, who were re-elected without opposition from Wards 3 and 4.

The council authorized the mayor to sign the application for a Community Development Block Grant to provide housing rehabilitation over two square blocks in the northern part of Chaffee. The area includes 22 substandard residences of 35 houses from Dame Avenue on the north to Cook Avenue on the south and from Second Street on the east to Third Street on the west.

The application will be submitted by the Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission before the May 1 deadline. Joe Lane, the commission's director of community planning and development, expects the application to seek about $300,000 in state funds.

The council learned the city will spend about $1,000 in local funds and another $7,000 of in-kind services to complete the project, which is expected to take a year if approved by the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

The council set May as cleanup month for residents wanting to dispose of large household items. Cleanup will be the first week of May in Ward 1, the second week in Ward 2, and so on for Wards 3 and 4.

Residents wanting a pick-up at their homes must first request a work order at city hall. The charge will be $5 per large item. No compressors, batteries, paint, toxic materials or tires will be picked up by city crews.

The council discussed some dilapidated housing on North Main Street. Ward 1 councilman Jerry Wolsey said the houses present a danger to their residents and are an eyesore to visitors.

Cannon asked Wolsey to meet with fire chief Mike Lee and an inspector from the Scott County Health Department to check the houses and make a report at an upcoming council meeting.

The council decided to seek advice on the city's computer system, which is unable to hold any more data, from local residents Dan Heeb and Scott Wachter.