BELLE — A unanimous vote on Nov. 12 by the Belle Board of Aldermen suspended the street commissioner position. During a Nov. 19 special meeting, aldermen adjourned to closed session and voted to reinstate the street commissioner without outlining in the motion the reason for either vote or if pay was continued during the intermediate period.

When asked about the vote, Belle officials answered a few questions regarding pay and probation of the street commissioner, a title currently held by Marshal Jerry Coborn. Coborn’s name was not mentioned in the minutes or motions.

“(He) returned to duty with pay and five weeks probation,” the board said in a joint statement, adding that the street commissioner began working again on Nov. 25.

When asked what suspending the street commissioner meant, if he was paid during the suspension period, and if he worked during the suspension, the board said they couldn’t comment. They cited personnel, number three of the 25 reasons the board can enter a closed session. As the item contains employee information and disciplinary records, it is unlikely to be discussed or revealed in an open session

Coborn has been serving as street commissioner since April 24, 2023, according to meeting minutes. The board agreed to appoint him street commissioner for $25 an hour after discussing ways to pay him a living wage while he served as the city’s marshal. The board added duties to the street commissioner position via Ordinance 642 at its October 2024 meeting.

When asked if Coborn was still working as marshal, Mitchell said. “He always has been working as the city marshal.”

When the board returned to open session during the Nov. 12 meeting, an item was added to the agenda regarding property damage. Alderman Steve Vogt made a motion, seconded by Alderman Kevin Guffey, to have Adam Rogers Auto Body make repairs to a citizen’s car. The motion passed with a 4-0 vote.

When questioned about the incident and vote, the board responded that a city truck had backed into an employee’s car. The board would not say which employee’s property was damaged. Mitchell said the city received two estimates to repair the vehicle before voting. The repairs are estimated to cost $1,800 and will be taken from the general fund.

“City property was not damaged,” Mitchell said. “The hitch is what hit it. It was parked behind the building.”

Mitchell said the incident happened around the end of October and the November meeting was the first chance the board had to discuss it.

“It was an accident,” Mitchell said. “He just didn’t see it behind him.”

Earlier in the meeting, the board prepared to approve paying bills, which included a street overlay invoice from Pierce Asphalt. Alderman Kevin Guffey asked if the company had returned to inspect some of the asphalt overlay that’s coming up already. Mitchell said they had not.

City Treasurer Charro Reasor told the board on Nov. 12 that the invoice for Pierce Asphalt came in and was approved in August with the bid.

“Just FYI I am going to be transferring that amount out of the special road district into general for that check, too,” Reasor said.

Alderman Steve Vogt said Pierce Asphalt came in under less than what they expected by about $7,000.

“Have they come back and looked at what we questioned them on?” Mitchell asked.

Public works Director Jim Goben said no.

“Should we call again?” Reasor said

Mitchell said they needed to because the board is being asked to pay the bill and the company paved over a manhole. He asked for the board’s opinion.

“If we had to uncover it, what would it cost?” Guffey asked.

Goben said 30 minutes to an hour to chip out the manhole and resmoothed.

“Then there’s some issues on Belle Avenue, you can take your foot and it’s startin’ to come up,” Mitchell said.

Guffey suggested approving the bill, minus $10,000.

“Enough to get them to come back or if we have to have another company fix it we’ve got enough,” Guffey said.

Mitchell asked for Aldermen Barb Howarth and Jeanette Struemph’s opinions.

“I think we need a full report before we pay,” Struemph said.

Mitchell said Guffey suggested withholding $10,000 from the payment and Struemph agreed.

“That’s fine with me,” Struemph said.

“Since they haven’t come back to rectify the problem,” Haworth agreed.

“In order to get the other $10 grande, they have to come back and rectify the problem,” Mitchell said.

Struemph asked again if anyone from the company came back and Mitchell said no.

“He did talk to Darin (Guinn),” Reasor said. “Maybe because of last week with all the rain, he couldn’t? We will get back in touch.”

Guffey made a motion to approve the cash summary and bills to be paid except for the Pierce Asphalt invoice, for which they would withhold $10,000 until repairs are completed. Vogt seconded the motion which was approved with a 4-0 vote.

As of Nov. 26, Mitchell said the company has not returned to make the repairs and the city has not paid the remaining $10,000.