City To Receive $865,728 In Coronavirus Relief Funds

     The Board of Aldermen approved a resolution authorizing the City Administrator to enter into an agreement with Jackson County to distribute $865,728 in coronavirus relief funds for the 2020 budget year during its July 13th meeting.                
     Funding is intended to provide relief from costs associated with technology and software upgrades, facility safety measures, personnel costs related to the virus, and the administration of the Coronavirus Relief Fund. Due to the amount of funding, a single audit will be required.
     The breakdown of expenses allocated for this funding is as follows:
Administration $14,000.00
Citizen Relief $21,500.00
Facility Upgrades $5,112.42
Substantial Personnel Costs $690,014.00
Supplies (Protective Equipment/Cleaning) $3,431.64
Technology $126,345.94
Unanticipated COVID Expenses $4,596.00
     In other business, Alderman Shea Bass was appointed Mayor Pro Tem, and the Board approved a liquor license for B&B Theatres and approved the final plat of Rosewood Hills 10th plat. The final plat contains 42 lots and Tract F. The total land area is approximately 22 acres with 10.5 acres designated for common area for water detention purposes and setback from creek. The final plat for the 10th phase substantially conforms to the approved preliminary plat. The final plat conforms to city standards and the engineering civil plans have been approved by the City Engineer.
     The Board also approved a payment to the Central Jackson County Emergency Management Agency (CJCEMA) for emergency management services. The CJCEMA is a cooperative effort between the cities of Grain Valley, Blue Springs and Lake Tapawingo in conjunction with the Central Jackson County Fire Protection District. The budgeted cost of this payment is $14,333.00.
     City staff requested Board input regarding policies for food truck permit fees, resulting in an extended discussion by Mayor Johnston and other members regarding the impact and benefits of allowing food trucks in the community.  
     “Our brick and mortar businesses have been decimated. And we’re hurting their investment when we’re bringing in competition and not putting them on a level playing field,” Johnston said. Aldermen Stratton and Aldermen Knox expressed their disagreement that food trucks are negatively impacting brick and mortar restaurants.
     “If you have a truck up in Rosewood Hills for instance, they’re not hurting any brick and mortar businesses,” Knox said.
     “The Mexican restaurant (El Tequilazo) has had more business than it’s ever had,” Stratton said, referring to the recent Food Truck Friday events downtown. Stratton, who owns a beauty salon in Grain Valley, suggested there was no similar consideration given to other types of businesses.
     “The other way I look at it, is that I cannot come to the Board asking that there be no other salons brought into town. There’s no limit put on any other business in town, so I don’t know that it is fair to target them because they have a different type of business, just because it is brick and mortar,”
     “I just believe we ought to protect our City businesses. When they’re (residents) buying from a food truck, they are not spending their money to support our local businesses,” Johnston said.
     City Administrator Ken Murphy redirected the discussion, noting there seemed to be consensus to develop a fee structure for both one time and annual food truck permit fees. City staff will draft options for the Board to review and discuss.
     The next scheduled meeting of the Board of Aldermen will be held at 7:00pm on July 27th at Grain Valley City Hall.