ARGYLE — Argyle trustees decided at their November meeting not to renew the contract with Barb Schmitz from the Public Water Board to assist with the village’s sewer billing. Schmitz currently receives $.25 per customer reading per month and has asked that the amount be increased. 

“Barb has mentioned she wants a raise,” Village Treasurer Kym Brunnert said.

“Everyone wants a raise,” Mayor Ryan Davis replied with a grin.

“Todd (Alderman Wildhaber) reads the late meters and collects the sheet from Barb,” Brunnert explained. “She makes the list and gives it to Todd, but Todd could make the list. I say we don’t need Barb.”

Brunnert went on to explain that the process gets confusing with the Public Water Board. 

“The reason Barb used to get paid was to make up the list before we had the payment booklets,” Davis said. “It’s not really about the cost; it’s about streamlining the process.”

“We had a contract with the water board, but it has expired,” Brunnert said. “We just won’t renew it.”

Brunnert also suggested getting a sewer payment booklet in a different color, so it was easy for customers to see the difference between the Argyle sewer bill and the Public Water District bills. Brunnert will check pricing and report back.

• Mayor Davis had talked to Freeburg Mayor Darryl Haller about how they were able to demolish several condemned houses in the village limits.

“(The Village of Freeburg) went through Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), and they helped them condemn the houses,” Davis said. “It cost the town a little or nothing, and it didn’t cost the homeowners anything.”

Davis has spoken to several village property owners about cleaning up their properties.

“I’m not looking to condemn and take buildings, but if you’re not willing to make it look decent for the community, we’ll have to step in and do what we have to do,” Davis said. “It’s getting out of hand.”

Davis will contact MRPC to see what steps the village must go through to condemn a building.

Wildhaber had a conversation with the Meta city clerk regarding the same subject and had copies of Meta’s ordinances and a notice they use to condemn buildings. 

“Does the town get the property after it’s been condemned?” Trustee Felicia Wieberg asked.

“No,” Davis answered. “They still own the property, but we tear down the building.”

Davis hopes that property owners will take notice and do what is necessary to fix their buildings.

• Long-time village attorney Albert Crump has recently retired, and Davis spoke with Mayor Haller to see what they were doing for a village attorney. Haller recommended their new attorney, Nathan Nickolaus, with Lauber Municipal Law LLC of Jefferson City. 

Wildhaber said this is the same attorney Meta hired.

Davis will contact Nickolaus when he has a chance.

• Davis reported that the sewer plant is operating well and that he is pleased with the service Mid Missouri Operations offers the village. 

“They are doing a great job,” Davis said.

• Davis noted that he had meant to take down the flags after Veterans Day but will get to it when he has time. 

He plans to contact Rep. Bruce Sassmann to see if the village can get new flags since some of them are looking tattered. 

• Davis plans to reach out to several contractors to get a price on repaving the worst village streets. 

• Davis asked trustees to think of ways that the city could spend the American Rescue Plan Act funds. He will check with MRPC to determine the deadline for using the money. 

• Trustees forgot about striping for the village streets, so that will be pushed off until the spring.

• Argyle had the following receipts for November: general ($2,644.74), and sewer ($3,879.17).

• Trustees approved monthly expenses: general ($4,568.58), and sewer ($74.77).

• The village of Argyle had the following account balances: general ($28,391.72), ARPA ($32,596.80), general money market account ($63,935.69), sewer ($3,804.40), sewer money market ($30,030.40), and debt service ($26,976.54).

• Argyle will not hold a meeting in December. The next meeting will be on Jan. 19 at 7 p.m.