Red Bud Council looks for ways to void accepted bid
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Believe it on not, a controversy was at the center of Red Bud's City Council meeting Monday.
This time the controversy involved the potential sale of Lot 3 at the South Industrial Park.
This lot has been vacant for many years and no one showed any interest in it. But, the owner of the Country Inn, a motel adjacent to Lot 3 decided to buy it in order to expand the motel's capacity. The owner has expressed interest in adding 18 units.
The $8,000 bid was opened and made public at the council's meeting on June 2. It was the only bid received and fell below the city's established reserve. The council went into executive session and authorized Mayor Ken Mueller to negotiate with the owner and any other interested parties.
Mueller said he was then contacted on June 12 by Colin Diewald, who is interested in the lot. Diewald, who owns a business and has a contract with the city, is the son of Red Bud's Utility Superintendent David "Louie" Diewald.
"How do you negotiate after the bid has been opened?" Mueller asked. Knowing the bid, Diewald or anyone else could bid one dollar more. If he was interested, why didn't he bid on it?"
This is the way the council has conducted business too often in the past, according to Mueller. He said his opponents in the administration tried to make him look prejudicial in not negotiating as directed. But, he said, "I think I acted in good faith and used good judgment."
On July 7, the city council voted to accept the Country Inn's bid, with Clarence Nail casting the only dissenting vote.
Then this week, the item was back on the agenda and the council asked City Attorney Mark Rohr to research what action, if any they can take, to void the sale of the property to the bidder.
The council accepted bids from Missouri Engineering and Machinery Company in the amounts of $8,550 and $5,765 for upgrades to lift stations located at the Dairy Queen and at Knotty Pines.
A recommendation authorizing the city to install curb and guttering at 505 High Street, with the city providing the labor and the property owner paying for the concrete was approved.
Rohr was directed to amend the stop sign ordinance to include the Fieldstone subdivision. Also, an ordinance amending Article 11 of Chapter 30 of the City Code was approved. The ordinance deals with the general organization of the police department and establishes a detective position.
A request for Cliff Crafton to attend a 10-day training program in Springfield was approved. The motion included food lodging, transportation and a registration fee.
The council authorized the purchase of software to record old records stored at City Hall and authorized the continued employment of Brie Conte to work with the transfer of the records.
Alderman Dennis Braun was directed to explore the possibility of expanding the East Industrial Park.
The council entered into an agreement with Rhutassel and Associates, Inc. for engineering/surveying services for the Lincoln Park project.
Scott and Terry Dilley want to buy First Stage, a metal works company from Mike Moll and approached the council about assuming the company's loan from the city. The council approved.
The Chamber of Commerce was granted authority to host the Town and Country Festival in the City Hall Park (including the parking lot) on Saturday, Sept. 13. The approval includes the closing of Bloom Street from East Market to South First Street, use of bleachers from Lincoln Park, additional electricity for a band, and use of picnic tables from Ratz Park.
Request to conduct sales at the four way stop on Saturday, Sept. 13 from the Red Bud High School football team from the Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis on Thursday, Nov. 20 from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. were approved. The football team will sell Krispy Kreme donuts and have a certificate of liability insurance. The Suburban Journals will sell newspapers as part of an Old Newsboys Day promotion.
However, a request from Vernon Buch to sell cookies at the intersection from 1-7 p.m. on Saturdays and 4-6:30 p.m. on weekdays was referred to the Department of Public Safety for further review.
Requests to reserve pavilion #1 at Lincoln Park were approved. The Violence Prevention Center has reserved the pavilion on Saturday, Aug. 23 and Southwestern Illinois College on Friday, Aug. 29.