CHAMOIS —  Chamois aldermen unanimously voted to terminate Utilities Supervisor Justin Bathke’s employment in closed session following their regular meeting last Wednesday. Mayor Marie Slusser explained that Bathke was fired because he had not passed either the water or wastewater test to get a license as required by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Slusser said it was the board’s understanding that this was a condition of employment set forth when Bathke was hired.

The city of Chamois will pay Bathke $500 monthly in back pay for health insurance that aldermen approved at the August meeting. Slusser was unsure whether they could continue to pay the $500 per month until it was paid up or if the city would have to pay the entire amount since Bathke was no longer employed by Chamois.

Utilities Worker Rusty McCoy had submitted his letter of resignation to the board before the meeting started. He declined an invitation from aldermen to continue working with the city.

In other business, aldermen approved the second payment for the water project totaling $99,750. The money will come from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant administered by DNR. Archer-Elgin Engineering Surveying and Architecture submitted an update on the progress of the water project.

B&H Well Drilling installed and grouted 500 feet of casing for the new well. A preliminary pump test indicated the increased length of casing required by DNR diminished some of the well’s available water and flow capacity. B&H drilled deeper than previously discussed, from 650 to 712 feet, and found the previous capacity returned. They believe the well will maintain 225 gallons of water as required at the new well depth approved by DNR.

Currently, the yield and draw-down pump test of the new well is being reviewed by DNR for approval. The demolition of City Well #1 began on Sept. 28.

• Aldermen also approved expenses related to repairing the trench on Market Street dug to help divert water from the old well as the new one was being drilled. The board approved $500 for work on the trench done by Greg Breeden, $637.88 to Deer Creek Trucking and Excavation for rock and hauling, and $336.11 to Guy Slusser to reimburse him for the culvert pipe he purchased at Hermann Lumber.

Aldermen also approved a bid from Deer Creek Trucking and Excavation for $2,000 to install the culverts, haul in dirt and rock, and fix the driveways.

According to Aldermen Sara Mengwasser, water needs to be able to flow through this trench since the old well is an artisan well and is still pumping water that needs to be directed to somewhere other than the wastewater system.

“For the last two and a half weeks that I have been doing this project, I have been down on Market Street, and this trench is not part of the water project,” Slusser said. “This is actually coming out of the city’s pocket. So, we can make this trench as we see fit.”

Slusser said that she has talked to Archer-Elgin Engineering Surveying and Architecture about the trench and confirmed that aldermen can make any decision they want on the trench.

“I made the executive decision to put the culvert pipe in,” Slusser announced. “I’m going to make sure that everything that was dug up will be fixed, to an extent.”

Slusser explained that it was too expensive for the city to put a culvert in the entire length of the trench. Instead, the city will install culverts in front of the houses and driveways so people can continue to park and use their property. The city has purchased all but one of the culverts and is actively searching for an additional 20-foot piece of culvert pipe.

“We have it so water will go down into the culvert pipes and flow easily and efficiently so if we have any more leaks or runoff, it will not cross over the street,” Slusser explained. “The goal is to have the water flowing properly.”

Slusser had hired Greg Breeden to put in the culvert pipes last Saturday, but due to a miscommunication between Breeden, Slusser, and one of the city residents, the culvert was not installed. Breeden was unable to come back and work on the trench for several weeks.

“We cannot wait that long,” Slusser said. “We need this project done immediately.”

Deer Creek Trucking and Excavation can start the work immediately if weather permits. Slusser warned that the estimate of $2,000 may change if another culvert pipe is not located.

Slusser noted she would like to keep this project cost-friendly but that the work needs to get done so residents affected by the trench can return to normal.

• Aldermen requested $6,000 from the Chamois Water System Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) to be paid to the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) for the financial management of the Chamois Water Project.

• The board authorized the city’s annual insurance renewal for $13,110. The item was tabled from the September meeting because the city’s dump truck was listed even though it is not useable. Removing the dump truck reduced the insurance renewal by $338.

• Mayor Slusser would like to start enforcing the city’s nuisance ordinance.

“We do have an ordinance for trash, nuisance, noise, farm animals, and I would like to have a copy sent out to residents to let them know this will be the next ordinance we will be sending (Chief Riley Lewis) out for,” Slusser explained, asking everyone to pick up their trash and yards. “A lot of farm animals people have they are not supposed to have, like ducks, donkeys, pigs, goats, horses, etcetera, etcetera.”

Alderman Cole Schaben asked that Ordinance #2015-1 dealing with dogs in the city limits also be included.

Unterrified Democrat Reporter Theresa Brandt asked for a copy of the ordinances and, after quickly reading over them, asked which part of the ordinance listed the farm animals not allowed in city limits.

City Clerk Megan Birmingham quickly pointed to item #19 in the ordinance, which, upon closer inspection by aldermen only refers to regulating the “stable, animal pen, poultry yard or coup” so that they do not become “foul, offensive or hazardous.” It does not list animals that cannot be inside the city limits.

“I know we have an animal ordinance that refers to farm animals, but this may not be the right one,” Slusser said.

Aldermen will send out the two ordinances discussed at the meeting, and Slusser will look for the city ordinance that relates specifically to farm animals.

• Schaben plans to go to the Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church priest and ask if the basketball goals can be put back up in the church’s parking lot.

“I think if the public saw the city was trying to bring those back, it would look really positive,” Schaben said. “It is a sentimental thing to get a pickup game going on the blacktop. I’ve had a whole bunch of people bring it up.”

“I get that,” Slusser said. “Kids have been playing there for years, and it gives the kids something to do.”

Schaben asked if the city would help with fundraising for new basketball goals if the parish would let them put them up.

Slusser suggested that Schaben reach out to the parish first, and if he receives approval, the city would consider options.

“That is their property,” Slusser said. “We have to get approval from them to do anything.”

• Aldermen approved putting an ad in the UD for a part-time city treasurer. The position was approved at a prior meeting for $12 per hour for 10 to 15 hours per week.

• Several city residents have called the city to report that someone with out-of-state plates is taking pictures of their yards. They had accused the city of taking the pictures to use to enforce the city’s ordinances.

“I want to reassure everyone that we are not taking pictures of anything,” Slusser said. She pointed to Chief Lewis, noting that aldermen depend on his judgment to enforce the city’s ordinances.

Slusser and Lewis asked that residents call the non-emergency Osage County Sheriff’s Department if they notice suspicious activity.

• Alderman Cheyanna Wolfe pointed out that a lot of the sidewalks in town are in bad shape, making it dangerous for kids to walk to school.

Everyone agreed that the sidewalks would need attention soon, as well as the city streets, but there was no money in the budget for either project this year.

Slusser would like to look into grants or other financial assistance for the city streets and sidewalks.

• Aldermen approved bills for $7,127.44.

• The city of Chamois had the following account balances: cemetery fund ($10,437.77), general fund ($32,442.11), water fund ($206.619.12), sewer fund ($93,968.06), city CBDG in and out ($1,250), city park ($4,425.59), American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) ($361,263.68), sewer bond reserve ($26,750.48), sewer repair ($23,510.56), and water repair ($29,032.70).

• The city’s water report showed 998,300 gallons pumped and 927,331 gallons billed, a loss of 70,969 gallons, or 8% for the month.

• The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.