Local & Regional News

by Stephen Hankins - Staff Writer

​​The Malden City Council, in a 6-1 vote, Monday evening, agreed to release a $55,000 demolition lien on the property at 100 South Madison Street, formerly home to a well-known bank and eventually to Pizza Express. 

Malden City Councilman Robert House cast the lone no vote.

Malden Mayor Denton Kooyman said the city demolished the structure several years ago after it began to collapse, exercising emergency authority and placing a lien to recover costs. 

John Welch, either personally or through a related business entity, has expressed interest in purchasing the property for the back taxes owed and has asked the city to release the lien if the purchase goes through.

Welch shared plans to redevelop the property into an inclusive playground for children with special needs. 

The proposed park would include wheelchair-accessible swings and ramps, rubber surfacing, shaded areas for those with sun sensitivities, and full landscaping to make it a “jewel of downtown.” 

Though construction is not expected to begin this year, Welch aims to complete the project and add it to his already growing number of buildings he is redeveloping downtown.

Council members supported the plan but discussed attaching a three-year completion deadline as a condition for releasing the lien. 

The lien, they noted, could complicate Welch’s access to financing. 

However, the council agreed to remain flexible should Welch encounter funding-related challenges.

The Council appointed former Deputy Clerk Jessie Cobb to the position of City Clerk.

Ms. Cobb has faithfully performed the duties of Deputy Clerk for the past three years and enjoys the full support of the Council and City staff.

Council Approves Retirement Plan Transfer for DPS Communications Officers

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The council unanimously approved transferring four Department of Public Safety (DPS) communications officers from the LAGERS General retirement system to the DPS-specific plan. 

The change, first discussed in August but not formally recorded, will reduce the city’s contribution rate from 13% to 1.8%, generating an estimated $20,000 in annual savings.

It also enables affected employees to retire at age 55 instead of 60.

A letter was sent to the employees' union on October 16 informing them of the proposed change. No objections had been received at the time of the meeting. 

If issues arise, the council agreed to delay implementation until any union concerns are addressed. The transfer does not affect employee wages or existing benefits.

Council Approves Food Truck Permit Fee Waiver for Monthly Museum Events

The council approved a request from the Bootheel Youth Museum (BYM) to waive the city's $100 annual food truck permit fee for vendors participating in its monthly Thursday evening programs. 

The BYM hosts themed educational events on the third Thursday of each month and invites food trucks to serve attendees before the presentations.

 The events have been well attended and feature a variety of topics, such as the Titanic, local history, and art.

BYM leadership stated that some food trucks had declined to participate due to the $100 permit fee and the need for separate health inspections. 

To encourage participation, the museum offered to cover the fee for one event per month, for up to 10 months annually.

The waiver applies to food trucks operating under the museum’s business license.

Malden Mayor Denton Kooyman noted the health inspector is willing to work with vendors and confirmed that health inspections can be coordinated at little or no cost, depending on the county of origin. 

The museum has also partnered with local businesses to be included in the events—an approach praised by council members as a way to foster goodwill and avoid competition-related pushback from local eateries.

The council agreed that promoting economic development, tourism, and community enrichment justified the waiver.

Officials clarified that while the city controls permit fees, vendors are still responsible for health department regulations. 

The motion passed unanimously.

Water System Update

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Malden city administrator Ivone Smith offered an update regarding ongoing water system issues.

Weekly water samples continue to be taken, and all recent results have come back clean, including a sample from a previously affected area. 

The city remains in good standing for the next month.

However, chlorine distribution remains a concern. 

City water crews are currently working at the airbase, installing new lines to create a looped system that will improve water flow—an improvement recommended by both the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and a consulting engineer.

Additionally, the Board of Public Works held a special meeting on Oct. 7 and voted to move forward with a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to hire a water engineer. 

The goal is to evaluate the system, improve chlorine distribution, and address elevated levels of manganese and iron found in some wells.

A council member raised a resident's complaint about a sewage odor near the Mayberry area.

It was clarified that while the plant is not currently operating at full capacity, it is intermittently running as system upgrades are being installed, which may be the source of the odor. Staff will follow up on the issue.

Council Considers Request for State Compliance Audit

Ward 3 Councilor Charles Dierks made a motion to pursue a state compliance audit of the City of Malden, specifically addressing areas including the BPW (Board of Public Works), city login systems, and the Airport. 

The motion sparked questions regarding procedure and potential costs to the city.

Malden City Attorney Jonce Chidister advised that a compliance audit initiated by the state would likely incur significant expenses, and such a request should be formally placed on the agenda for either a regular or specially called council meeting. 

This would allow for thorough discussion and a formal vote to either approve or disapprove the audit request, given the associated financial obligations.

The council agreed that the matter should be revisited once the appropriate information is gathered and procedural requirements—such as public posting—are met. 

No action was taken at this time, and the discussion continues at the Council’s November meeting.

First responders commended

Mayor Kooyman read aloud a letter of appreciation from resident Terry Norrid, who commended first responders Tiffany Pflsterer, Josh Roberts, Keegan Jackson, and John Johnson for their professionalism and rapid response when his father became ill on September 17, describing it as his first experience calling 911. 

In other announcements, Kooyman said the State Auditor’s Office released its final findings on the Sewer District audit, which are now available online. 

The city's annual Halloween parade is scheduled for 6 pm Friday, Oct. 31, with the lineup beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Trick-or-treating hours are set by ordinance from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

The next regular city council meeting is scheduled for Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. At the Malden Community Center,  607 N.Douglass St.  

With no further business, the council voted to enter closed session under RSMO 610.021 subsections 1, 3, and 13.