Argyle trustees at their May 19 meeting approved a reorganization of village government after Jerica Otto was sworn in as the newest board member. 

Otto was a write-in on the April 5 ballot and was “kind enough” to agree to Mayor Ryan Davis’ request to join the board.

Davis suggested that instead of having a mayor and clerk and three trustees, former Clerk Kym Brunnert will act as treasurer, Otto will serve as clerk, and there will be only two trustees, Felicia Wieberg and Todd Wildhaber. 

The clerk will take minutes, deal with the county, prepare the agenda, and present the minutes. The treasurer will produce the financial statement, handle the money, and, for the time being, enter the sewer numbers to satisfy state requirements. 

Treasurer Brunnert reported she has ordered two laptops for village use. The purchase will enable her and the clerk to work from home instead of having to come to City Hall to use the desktop computer. Brunnert’s laptop will be set up with Quickbooks, and  Otto will use the second. 

Salaries for Otto and Brunnert will be $150 per month, with Brunnert also earning an hourly wage for sewer system data entry. According to Davis, the hourly wage is the only fair way to compensate Brunnert for the extra work. “It’s fair for Kym and the city,” he added. 

In other business, Davis talked to the board about Mid-Missouri Operations, which has recently taken over sewer operations for the city of Westphalia. Davis has spoken to one of their representatives, Aaron Lachowicz, about doing the same for Argyle. The company, Davis reports, is interested in taking on new clients. 

Argyle has been struggling with sewer operations since J.D. Fritchey retired. The village has been receiving guidance from Shawn York of Mid-Missouri Environmental, LLC, but Davis acknowledges “we really don’t know what we’re doing.” 

Davis would like to consider hiring Mid-Missouri Operations if the cost is within reason. He sees it as a preferable alternative to being in trouble with the state and receiving fines. Trustees will take it up at the next meeting.

• Wieberg reported she is having trouble establishing a UEI number that will allow Argyle to claim their second installment of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. She noted that a lot of small communities are having a similar issue. Wieberg has submitted an incident report and documents to establish that number to the federal government.

• Wieberg asked what the village could do about condemning bad houses, noting there are a couple of abandoned houses ready to fall down. She pointed out how Freeburg had done that a few years ago and really cleaned up the town. She and Davis will check out ordinances from other municipalities. 

• Davis told trustees that as a result of the new ordinance for abandoned vehicles, two of the three offending vehicles have been removed as requested.

• The old “Welcome to Argyle” sign reported missing last month has not been returned as hoped. 

• The new “Welcome to Argyle” sign will be erected as soon as the brackets are welded. This is a replacement for the sign hit by a trailer tire shortly after it was put up. 

• Davis and Todd Wildhaber will hang flags for Memorial Day.