Mayor Harnes leads last meeting, receives award

Noreen Hyslop photo Advance Mayor Pro Tem Leeman Shirrell (far right) presents a special plaque to retiring Mayor James J. Harnes, Sr. at the Monday Oct. 19 Board of Aldermen meeting. On hand for the presentation were grandson Chad Kight, daughter Sheila Gray, and the mayor's wife Mildred Harnes. Harnes served Advance for 14 years. The filing for the April 6, 2010 mayoral contest is Dec. 15 - Jan. 19, 2010.

"I have to be honest, Mayor Harnes, I didn't think you were going to make it," admitted Mayor Pro Tem Leeman Shirrell, after the meeting. "Not many 90-year-olds could have survived that surgery, much less have recuperated like you have."

During the campaign earlier this year, the mayor had a fall which put him in the hospital. Two surgeries later, it was unknown if he would even come out of the coma.

However, this World War II veteran not only survived, but, other than the cane he has to use, he seems as good as ever. His wife Mildred credits the power of faith and prayer with having saved him.

"Nothing else could have done it!" Mildred Harnes insists.

With three of the four candidates for the mayor's position sitting in the audience, James Harnes took his old seat and proceeded through his final meeting at the city hall where he devoted the last 14 years to watching over this little town of 1244.

Known for making a full-time job out of a part-time position, Mayor Harnes was involved in every aspect of the city, always promoting Advance at meetings with the other mayors, traveling to county events, presiding over the ceremonies at Memorial Day, Veteran's Day and even once giving the key to the city to the Cat in the Hat at an elementary program. Because of his support, the Advance Community Library was formed in 2004, the Senior Citizen's Center was reopened in 2006, several successful clean-outs of local ditches were initiated, and two permanent city signs were built at the entrances to Advance.

The last order of business on this Monday, Oct. 19, was a special award presented by the Advance aldermen, commemorating the mayor's service to his city.

Stoddard County Commissioner Greg Mathis was on hand to speak to the council about the Outdoor Warning System, one of many which needs to be serviced. He said that he had sent each town a maintenance agreement. Commissioner Mathis is also collecting information on the emergency generators each city has, the emergency warming shelters available and other issues. FEMA has asked about the generators, and the county is responsible for turning this information into that agency.

"I've been going around to all the cities in Stoddard County, and I'm just amazed at what each town has already done for emergencies," Mathis said.

In department reports, Water Superintendent Shelby Harrington reported on a letter from DNR concerning an unsatisfactory lagoon test.

Each of the other department reports were in the aldermen's board packets, so they were not discussed. Even the budget was deferred until the next meeting, so that it could be accepted by ordinance, instead of by resolution.

Diane Reeves, Advance Community Library treasurer, presented the end-of-the-year report for the library. Sally Jones was approved by the board of aldermen as a new member of the library board.

In the ACT report, the board was informed that the Advance Senior Community Center is in need of volunteers to take money at the door, clean the building, deliver meals, and help make desserts. Aldermen were asked if they could share an "Experience Works" worker with the senior center. These workers are paid for 18 hours per week, minimum, and the senior center only needs them for about 8 hours.

The board approved a compensation ordinance, giving a 50 -cent an hour raise to 3 city employees - Ronnie Winchester, Lance Harrington, and Tina Bailey. They discussed whether Winchester was obligated to pass the water certification test or just to take it.

Discussion of the annexation of the Wiggins' trailer court was continued from last month. The owners have asked to get city water and have said they would like to be annexed into the city. Board members decided to check with DNR to see if a 6-inch water pipe and a hydrant would require an engineer. Harrington was pretty sure it would. A 2-inch pipe could be considered a service line, but the larger line would be an extension of the distribution system.

The mayor said that the city could not legally help on the cost of the water line; it would have to be paid for completely by the owners of the trailer court. All other subdivision developers had been required to pay all the sewer and water costs before being annexed into the city. Aldermen said they thought the annexing of the trailer court would be a good thing for the city. However, Alderman Kimmel, who is an engineer, was concerned about annexing a large area with so many septic tanks.

The mayor recommended that the aldermen call a special meeting when they found out the results from the city attorney.

Alderman Kimmel asked about his request for a golf practice range at the high school, and he was put in charge of forming a committee to check into this project. He has been in touch with the Park Board president to see if some sort of co-operative arrangement can be made between the city and the school.

In new business, Wayne Page voiced concerns over a local bar and grill, where some questionable activities may have taken place. The mayor indicated that the city did have an ordinance to address issues concerning adult entertainment. The Chief of Police has given this ordinance to the City Attorney to examine.

Mayor Harnes recommended that every department submit a written report to the city each month. If they did so, the Mayor said that the meetings could be shortened by at least 30 minutes. He also said that the collector's report should be included in the board packet just as she had written it. He also reminded the board that all records are public, except for the police report, which is not public until it gets to court. The buying or selling of land also does not have to be public.

Concerning the mayoral election, the following information applies:

* Since the Nov. 3 election was declared illegal by current Missouri statutes, there will be no election on that date. According to the County Clerk's office, all candidates will have to refile for the vacant office Dec. 15, 2009 -- Jan. 19, 2010. The election will be held on Tuesday, April 6, 2010.

* On Nov. 5, the Advance Board of Aldermen will appoint a temporary mayor, who will hold office until a new mayor is elected on April 6, 2010.

* Current Mayor Pro Tem Leeman Shirrell suggested that if the board wants to appoint a current alderman as temporary mayor, they choose Keith Kimmel, who goes off the board on April 6. This way, Shirrell can go back to his alderman position, which does not expire until April of 2011. This action might result in better continuity of experienced personnel.

The next Board of Aldermen meeting will be held on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. Since it is so early in the month, they will not require all the written reports from the various departments until the December meeting.