Bob Foos
Remember in August when the city was going to save $100,000 on its credit-card service fees by switching companies? That change didn’t happen, and for good reason.
Financial Officer Natasha Gossett and other staff members have found a new proposal that will integrate all departments’ records in one system – while offering the same credit-card processing savings.
On Monday, the Webb City Council approved the staff’s recommendation to contract with BS&A for an initial implementation and training fee of $171,000. After that, Gossett reported the ongoing annual cost will be $40,000.
That’s compared to $215,000 that the city is spending for several software products.
As Gossett wrote in her report, “None of these are intergrated. They all require us to manually transfer data from one system to another. This takes extra time and leaves a lot of room for errors. Currently we have an annual total cost for these programs of over $215,000. I have explored three viable options for consideration. They all have benefits that will make the city more efficient while incurring significant savings at the same time.”
After collaborating among departments and with the auditor, the staff determined BS&A is the best option.
The cost of the program will be part of the new budget, which the staff is preparing for council approval before the end of the current fiscal year on Oct. 31.
The public works department has been dealing with water-main breaks. The one above was at 200 N. Madison St.
City Administrator Carl Francis reported that such breaks are normal occurrences during periods of 100-degree days.
The other breaks have been at 1400 W. Aylor St., North Main Street, Pennsylvania Street, behind Walgreens and on Prairie Flower Road.
Then there are the leaks that aren’t noticeable but still rob the system of water.
To find those leaks, the council voted to renew its contract with Westrum Leak Detection for five years at a total cost of $37,500 ($7,500 annually).
Francis said he and other staff members are amazed at Troy Westrum’s apparent simple – yet effective – technique.
“There’s no reason not to bring him back,” said Francis. “He found 11 leaks last year and large ones the year before.”
The council also approved a $13,500 bid from Core and Main to install a 10-inch EZ valve at Hall Street and Broadway.
The street department has prepared a new entrance to King Jack Park that is south of the Praying Hands.
It will replace the steep entrance on the other side of Jeanne and Stan Newby’s house, on which some vehicles scrape the bottom of their chassis.
Parks Superintendent Gary Pippin gets credit for the “great idea,” that was better than anyone else came up with.
Blevins Asphalt will charge $9,808 to pave it. The council approved that bid, as well as a stretch on Jefferson Street between Third and Fourth streets for $19,178.
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In other action, the council:
• Alowed the police department to accept a $29,069 Missouri Department of Public Safety – Blue Shield grant for future equipment purchases that Police Chief Don Melton has in mind.
• Approved the purchase of a Rescue Randy manikin from Alternate Force at a bid price of $1,915. The manikin will be used in rescue simulations to train students in the fire academy and new-hires, as well as seasoned firefighters.
• Approved first reading of a council bill to vacate 190 feet of the alley behind 210 and 212 E. Broadway. The request was advanced by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
