Billboard Warning, Pool Problems for Manchester

BILLBOARDS

Manchester has a city ordinance completely prohibiting billboards, but State Rep. Sue Allen, R-Town and Country addressed the Manchester Board of Aldermen Monday night to suggest the board might want to reconsider.

Allen said she is concerned that a city such as Manchester that completely prohibits the billboards may be setting itself up for challenges of freedom of speech and property rights.

The issue stems from House Bill 430 which lumps a number of transportation bills together. Allen said House Bill 430 would also eliminate complete prohibition of billboards within municipalities and not allow them to prevent customary usage.

House Bill 430 was passed by the Missouri House and Senate in May, but then vetoed by Governor Jay Nixon in July. The House could have voted to override the governor's veto in Wednesday, but it did not.

Allen said she has spoken to a number of people who wanted the governor's veto overridden. She said although the bill consisted of a number of items, including more than $70 million in federal funding for highways and other transportation benefits, she's heard it was billboards that caused the governor to veto it.

"That's what I was told," Allen said.

Allen said that the billboard industry is not happy about the bill being vetoed and it will likely bring the issue of billboard prohibition back to the forefront and before lawmakers. She suggested that Manchester consider tweaking its ordinance from complete prohibition to defining sizes and spacing of the signs allowed withing city limits. Allen said this could help the city avoid freedom of speech or property rights issues, which she said she's heard mentioned as concerns over the prohibition.

Aldermen did not comment on how they would handle the suggestion moving forward, but made it clear they do not want more billboards posted in the city.

"We don't need more billboards, we don't need them closer together and we absolutely do not need them in the city of Manchester," Ward 2 Alderman Mike Clement said.

Ward 2 Alderwoman Marilyn Ottenad recalled a recent drive to and from St. Louis to Kansas City.

"There were at least 24 huge billboards that said 'Call this number,' because they had nothing on them. We really don't need more billboards until we use what is already out there," Ottenad said.

POOL REPAIR PROBLEMS

City Administrator Ed Blattner told board members there are big changes to requirements from the contractor, Kadean Construction, in regard to the bid on the $584,888 construction project for the pool repair at the Manchester Aquatic Center. This means more delays on the project.

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Board members were not happy with the numerous changes to the bid specifications that they were told about Monday night.

Permits necessary to move forward with the project have not yet been acquired by the city or the contractor, Kulhmann Design Group.

"We just found this out," Blattner said. "We will get the permits as soon as possible, but we don't have them now so the project cannot proceed."

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Other changes board members found out about Monday night include an additional $5,000 wanted by Kadean if needed for winter heat, which keeps concrete warm during winter. Blattner said this cost was in his initial bid, but not in the memo Blattner sent out to aldermen. There are also changes to the length of the contract project from 120 days to 180 days, extending the current March 15 completion date.

Another issue is a rate for liquidation damages. The city's normal rate is $200 per day for liquidated damages, but Kulhmann had requested $2,000 per day. Blattner said Kadean thinks $2,000 per day is too high.

Alderman Paul Hamill suggested the city consider working with another engineering firm and construction company. Blattner said the next bid, over Kadean's, for the pool repair project came in $32,000 higher for the cost of the project.

The board of aldermen and mayor will send a letter to Kuhlmann Design Wednesday asking when permits will be in hand to begin the project. The letter will also address concerns on changes the board members learned about Monday night.

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