Report
Cameron City Manager Report
Steve Rasmussen announces new managers and directors, reservoir maintenance and ending duck hunting at Grindstone Reservoir.
See the full article and Jamey's thoughts in Friday's Clinton County Leader for FREE!
Pool disagreement
Cameron pool management and contract
authority put park board/council at odds
Cameron Park Board met in a joint session with Cameron City Council Monday night before regular session to discuss several issues.
President Matt Arndt led most of the discussion that spread across topics such as pool management and reservoir projects as well as who has the authority to approve contracts.
Recent comments from council and on social media raised concerns in the park board's mind leading to the, at sometimes blunt, meeting.
The most contentious part of that meeting involved numerous outbursts from council member John Breckinridge regarding what he considered outrageous costs to manage the pool and what he described as an obvious attempt by city staff to get out of managing the pool that he described as a bureaucratic nightmare. “They do not want to manage the pool, that is obvious,” said Breckenridge.
At the center of the concern is a $93,000 management contract to Midwest Pool Management. MPM has managed the Cameron Pool for the past few years. Pool management was contracted out in recent years as an effort to save the city money but questions have surfaced as to how much, if any, is being saved.
Park Board president Matt Arndt insists that the concern in his mind is more staffing that cost. “I take the financial side completely out of it,” said Arndt, “We just don’t have the staffing to pull it off.”
Earlier estimates projected the city could save as much as $30,000 per year managing the pool internally but staffing issues caused the board to recommend MPM in the past.
After heated conversations on a couple of occasions, the council decided to get more information and explore other options for management before signing a contract.
The decision was postponed until the November 4, 2024 city council meeting.
Another issue brought up by Arndt was a request to clarify the park board's duties and authority. “There have been decisions made and actions taken t
resign
Feighert asks Hibler to resign from Cameron City Council
Citing recent alleged ethics breaches, councilor John Feighert has requested that Gina Reed Hibler officially resign from city council.
The request came during comments for council and staff at the end of Monday night’s often contentious meeting.
Feighert mentioned recent lapses that led to Sunshine Law requests that exposed what appear to be conversations Hibler initiated with council members Feighert and Curtis that amounted to an illegal quorum.
Members are encouraged not to communicate in this way as it could be used to circumvent public discussion and collude outside oversight from the body and public.
Those discussions were initiated by Hibler as she appeared to try and gain consensus to have a public meeting to discuss concerns over her recent purchase of condemned buildings in the 200 block of 3rd Street in downtown Cameron.
The citizen requested the communication based on “a city councilwoman's attempts to marshal city resources to quell concerns over her business dealings as a private citizen”. Copies of the messages have been obtained by the Clinton County Leader.
Hibler recently announced the purchase of those buildings and had concerns directed her way after the last city council meeting. During public participation at the end of the last meeting, her ability to properly manage the project after others have failed was called into question by local business woman Sue Manion.
Online, criticism apparently led to Hibler communicating with other members electronically outside advertised meetings. In the communication, Hibler mentions calls on social media by citizens to have an emergency meeting to discuss issues with the buildings and the impending purchase by Hibler.
In that message string, Curtis and Feighert attempt to tell Hibler that the communication is a bad idea. Mayor Curtis replied, “Gina, we can’t respond to you….you’re speaking to all of us, you can’t”
Hibler responds
Johnson resigns
Zac Johnson resigns as Cameron Assistant City Manager
After almost 10 years as Assistant City Manager, Zac Johnson is leaving Cameron City Hall.
Johnson is accepting a position with Alliance Water Resources as Division Manager.
The resignation was announced at Monday night’s City Council meeting during the City Manager’s report, given by Steve Rasmussen. Rasmussen said, “It is with mixed feelings because, on the one hand, while I hate to see him go, we always like to see our employees do well here and move on to other jobs, so Zac, I wanted to say farewell to you.”
Johnson’s last day is October 15.
Historical Preservation Society ends City partnership
Cameron Historical Preservation Society ends city partnership renovating collapsing downtown buildings
Apparently the Historical Preservation Society has had enough trying to save some of the historic but crumbling buildings in Cameron’s historic 3rd Street retail district.
Economic Development Director Lance Rains made the announcement Monday night at city council that he had received word that, in their words, “They didn’t want to do it (the lead and asbestos abatement).” Their directions were to “stop working with DNR.”
Council members voiced frustration with the Historical Preservation Society backing out of the agreement. Rains reminded council that regardless of who was leading the project, the city was ultimately liable for the buildings and that either way, the demolition would have to be done but that most of the grant money to fund the project had been identified.
“I’m not going to sit by anymore,” said Mayor Becky Curtis, “I am done, we’ve got to move forward with this and if they are not going to do anything, then we’re going to have to.”
Cameron is currently working with MoKAN and MoDNR on getting grant funding to perform a Phase I and possibly a Phase II Environmental Assessment for the 112 E. Third Street Building that has been condemned. Currently there aren’t any Brownfield funds left in the 2023-2024 Budget in EPA/MoDNR. Those funds will be replenished in the 2024-2025 Budget that begins October 1, 2024. These are grant funds using Brownfield dollars and if successful will save the City of Cameron thousands of dollars in demolition fees and testing on that property.
The Economic Development Director has also been working with MoKAN to get Brownfield Grant dollars for the condemned Third Street Buildings for a Phase I and possibly a Phase II Environmental that would test for and possibly abate lead paint and asbestos in the four buildings on Third Street. He received word that the Old School/Historic Preservation S
Statement issued regarding book policies
School board president Pam Ice reads a prepared statement from the board regarding the recent book controversy 
School threats
Cameron superintendent, Dr. Matt Robinson addresses recent online threats in the wake of the Georgia school shooting. See additional coverage in this Friday's Clinton County Leader
City of Cameron, MO approves budget, city manager explains expense scrutiny
