The Tipton City Council was presented with another issue with storm runoff at its meeting Monday night, Oct. 5, and asked to make sure a similar issue does not develop with a new subdivision planned at the north city limits.
Cindy Suddarth, who lives at 101 Wade Boulevard going into the west entrance of the Tipton City Park, told the council she and her husband, Henry, have lost three to four feet of land from their backyard due to the ground being eroded by water flowing down a ditch that runs along the north and west side of their lot. She said the ditch runs full about five times a year after heavy rains.
Suddarth said the ditch starts at a point at the intersection of Morgan Street and Gravois Avenue where runoff dumps into a storm drain at the southwest corner, flows south along the west side of the street, beside the Tipton R-VI elementary and high schools, under Highway 50, between Koechner Manufacturing and Tipton United Methodist Church, and eventually dumps into the ditch at her property and flowing on to the Willow Fork Creek south of Tipton. In addition to runoff water coming down the streets the ditch carries water from drain pipes at neighboring lots.
The couple said they have tired putting rock into the bank to stabilize it but it washes away, and they have seen all types of trash, large limbs and even tree trunks carried in the water.
The council’s response is that the city has done no work to contribute to directing water flow and has no easement or right of way through there to take any corrective action along the drainage ditch. That area of the creek has also not been designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a flood zone.
This is the second issue with water runoff brought to the council, the first being at the east end of Danielle and Rex roads in the subdivision just east of the Tipton City Park.
Kay Clifford, who owns property at the north city limits where Bird Street forms the back boundary, also addressed what she fears may be a future issue. The street was platted in 1857 but has never been developed. Her father bought the property in 1970 and it has always been used as a small farm.
Clifford expressed concern that the property north of her, now part of a court case to determine its actual boundaries and where a new housing subdivision is being planned, will not be developed properly so that water issues do not impact her property.
“We want assurances and guarantees that it will be developed to prevent water washing away our property by installing curbing and drop boxes to direct water to the creek,” Clifford said.
A court date on Oct. 30 will determine the boundaries so the developers’ plans can continue. Mayor Mark Hampton said the council has to wait until that process has been completed before the city can expect any kind of complete plans to show those concerns are being taken care of.
During a discussion updating the council on the litigation that was intended to be held during closed session but which attorney Cydney Mayfield said could be discussed during the open meeting, court action will determine the boundary lines of the property owners, but that the developers will still need engineer’s development plans with specifications for tie-ins to the sewer and water mains, complying with requirements set by the Department of Natural Resources to insure the city is being “good stewards” of its infrastructure so as not to overload its capacity. “If they do not provide that, then we cannot accept the subdivision,” Mayfield said.
Faces of the Fallen
Paul Bloch of Leadership Moniteau County presented information on a project underway that would honor Moniteau County military personnel who died in the line of duty. Early discussions limited placement of Face of the Fallen banners on period poles around the county courthouse and along California’s historic district, however that has been expanded to include poles in Tipton.
Bloch said the committee has identified 105 service members so far from the Spanish American War to the most recent activity in the Middle East. Banners bearing their photos and names would be displayed between Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and when not displayed they would be available to view in public buildings in California and Tipton.
“They are more than names in a history book,” the promotional material says. “These were our neighbors, family members, classmates and friends. By putting faces to their names, this project will ensure their stories, and their sacrifice, are remembered for generations to come.”
Each banner would include a QR code that could be scanned to and link to a website, probably the Moniteau County Historical Society, where visitors could read more about the fallen hero.
Bloch said the committee has a goal of raising $15,000 to purchase the initial banners and maintain them for the first 10 years. A fundraising dinner and auction is set for Oct. 24 at California, with the Lions Club and Eagles joining Leadership Moniteau on the evening.
The banners would likely be hung by each city’s maintenance crew, but the council did not discuss the possibility or take any action at Monday’s meeting.
Also concerning veterans, Henry Suddarth, commander of American Legion Edgar Cole Post 304 presented the council with a request to install the replica bomb removed from its former headquarters on Independence Avenue to the Legion’s shelterhouse in the City Park. Initial thoughts were to locate it at the Veterans Memorial but that idea has since been changed.
The council discussed the plan, asked questions and said if the plan passes scrutiny by the city’s insurer they saw no problem with re-erecting it on its tall posts anchored in a concrete pad at the shelterhouse. Suddarth also suggested a fence would be put around the pad, however the council said it will check with MIRMA to see if that would be required.
Budget passed
The fiscal year 2027 budget was adopted with passage of Ordinance 26-05. There were no comments aired during the public hearing portion of the meeting.
The budget estimates revenues in all funds will total $3,270,855, and expenditures will be $3,816,075. Highlights include replacing the water main in the 400 to 600 block of East Morgan Street and a 12-inch main in Bestgen Heights. Rotors, pumps and gearboxes at the wastewater treatment plant will also be replaced with 2027 funds.
The council also approved the purchase of a new truck for the public works department, estimated at $39,000. A Dodge truck will be sold as surplus property with other equipment in the spring.
The council adopted a resolution honoring the memory of the late Neil Burger and his contributions to the city as a member of the council from April 2004 until September 2007.
The council’s next meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2.
