CHAMOIS — Chamois aldermen voted unanimously on Sept. 30 to purchase three stop signs for two intersections following residents’ complaints about speeding.

Two signs will make Vine and West Second streets a four-way stop. A third will be placed at Cherry and East Second streets to stop traffic coming from Hwy 89. Aldermen also discussed adding a “Stop Ahead” warning sign on the approach to that intersection.

Mary Minor brought the proposal for the signs at Vine and West Second to the board during public forum, asking aldermen to consider two additional stop signs instead of speed bumps. The discussion focused on speeding before and after school and requiring traffic in both directions to stop.

Aldermen agreed that adding two signs to the existing two-way stop would address traffic traveling both toward and away from school.

Mayor Shawn Mitchem then raised similar complaints from residents near Cherry Street, including concerns about people using wheelchairs and children playing.

The board discussed several possible locations before settling on Cherry and East Second. City Clerk Meghan Birmingham questioned whether drivers coming downhill from Hwy 89 would have enough warning to stop. Alderman Dylan Barnes countered that drivers traveling at the speed limit would have ample time. Alderman Darrell Chrisenberry proposed placing a yellow-and-black “Stop Ahead” sign between Hwy 89 and the new stop sign.

Chrisenberry also suggested publicizing the changes and having Police Chief Riley Lewis watch the areas and make traffic stops.

Birmingham said five stop signs purchased previously cost about $100 each. Mitchem said the city already has posts available.

• Maintenance staffing was discussed both in connection with drainage problems and as a separate agenda item. Mitchem said culvert pipes need cleaning and some culvert ends are crushed, pointing to a clogged culvert that was causing water to back up across a block.

Alderman Justin “Jay” Bathke said the city needs a maintenance worker before it can address the culverts. The previous mowing worker had turned in his keys, and Bathke suggested seeking someone willing to perform general maintenance rather than hiring only to finish the mowing season.

The board tabled drainage work and later approved a small newspaper advertisement for a part-time maintenance worker for two weeks. Bathke and Mitchem said they would finish the mowing season.

• Mitchem said he would personally pay $30 for pest treatment already completed in the office.

• Bathke also plans to handle snow plowing this winter and inspect the equipment in October so repairs can be addressed before snow arrives. Discussion included welding damage to the plow blade and determining whether the salt spreader could be reinforced or must be replaced.

Chrisenberry offered to ask Linn maintenance personnel about spare plows or compatible parts.

Mitchem said the city has about 30 bags of salt. Bathke said that supply could be used in one night and asked that additional salt be addressed at the next meeting.

• The board voted to have Bathke take the city’s zero-turn mower to Brandt’s for assessment and possible repair. Bathke said it ran well for a couple of hours but then began losing power near the lagoon. He said he would rather explore repairs before purchasing another mower and offered a motor from a John Deere he owns if it proves compatible.

Mitchem also reported finding wire wrapped around the blades of the new mower and a broken deck cover, and expressed profound disappointment at the state in which he found both mowers.

• City spending prompted an extended exchange later in the meeting when Chrisenberry raised concerns about the mayor’s monthly spending authority and the city’s finances.

Chrisenberry acknowledged that some purchases and replacements are unavoidable but said he feared the city could find itself in a financial hole unless the spending cap was changed.

Mitchem asked for a specific example. Chrisenberry said he would have to pull the bills and did not have a specific example, referring generally to repairs, painting, and upgrades.

Mitchem responded that the city has no maintenance worker and that he has been doing mowing, weed eating, brush cutting, and other work without charging additional labor costs. He estimated he was working about 200 hours a month while receiving $130 a month in pay.

Chrisenberry said he was not questioning Mitchem’s work. Bathke said the concern was the amount being spent and suggested prioritizing projects. Alderman Mercedes Durham agreed that painting and replacing signs were needed but asked what funds could be directed toward infrastructure rather than cosmetics.

Mitchem offered to explain individual bills and said the city should be able to answer residents’ questions about every expenditure, whether for gasoline to mow the park or paint for curbs.

Chrisenberry compared the spending limit to an allowance, saying additional spending should require an explanation and approval. Mitchem again asked for an example and questioned the amount available to the mayor for emergencies.

Treasurer Theresa Walter said the allowance had been $500 and was supposed to have been reduced to $250 when the office allowance was reduced. She said it was intended for emergency purchases that could not wait until a meeting.

When Mitchem asked how much he had used since taking office, Walter said she could not give a dollar amount because she did not know whether purchases were being treated as maintenance or mayoral expenses. Mitchem said he believed 90% were maintenance purchases.

Walter said the improvements looked good, but the city must retain enough money to pay its electric and other bills. She stressed that an authorized spending allowance does not necessarily mean the money is available.

Mitchem described replacing pavilion outlets after a resident planning a celebration of life asked whether they worked. He said he should have been able to answer that question and had requested money to replace the outlets.

Walter acknowledged that equipment needed servicing when Mitchem took office and cited the $2,700 mower purchase and rising costs. She warned that continued financial problems could lead to state control and higher utility costs. Mitchem pointed out that existing rate increases were tied to agreements the city must follow.

No specific example of improper spending was provided, and the board did not vote to change the mayor’s spending limit.

Earlier, Walter reported problems with payments reaching companies on time, resulting in some bills covering two months and, in some cases, interest charges.

She also said the city was paying $155 a month for Starlink service that was not yet working and could not discontinue its existing internet until the new service was operational.

Mitchem explained that he arranged installation because approximately $2,200 worth of equipment was sitting on the floor and he feared it would be damaged. He acknowledged he should have consulted the board before arranging the work, which cost $160, and said the installer had agreed to finish the installation without additional charges. (Barnes got the service working after the meeting.)

• On building condemnation, Chrisenberry said the city first needs a list of properties to consider. An inspector’s work would cost approximately $400 per house, and properties could be addressed one or two at a time as money becomes available.

Bathke offered to help compile the list while reading meters. Burned-out apartments were suggested as a starting point. Walter said the owner had already spoken with people about taking them down. Chrisenberry said he would review the ordinance and coordinate the inspection before the matter proceeds legally.

• The bandstand renovation remains awaiting measurements and floodplain review. Durham said she needs dimensions to consult state officials about permitting requirements because the proposed work would add height.

The board discussed having the floodplain development paperwork completed and submitting the project plans and renderings with it. Birmingham was to seek the measurements.

• Durham also reported that her grandfather has two metal doors that could replace the bathroom doors. He needs measurements of the doors and hinge locations, along with photographs, to determine whether they will fit. Mitchem offered to obtain the measurements.

• Sidewalk responsibilities remained unresolved. Birmingham shared information from Westphalia, where the city maintains sidewalks except for private driveway portions, which are generally the owners’ responsibility. She said she had not found a Chamois ordinance addressing the issue.

Discussion included who should pay when conditions on private property damage a sidewalk, whether damage predating the current owner could be charged to that owner, and potential liability if sidewalk replacement damages a tree. The board tabled the issue for further review.

• Birmingham reported that Crossfire had completed work at seven additional addresses for the lead service line investigation. She and Aaron were reviewing the results, and state money had arrived to pay the company. More funding is needed to investigate remaining unknown lines.

• On the well project, Mitchem said a leak affecting residents’ properties had been repaired within two days after he contacted the contractor’s supervisor. He planned another call to obtain a project update.

• A sewer smoke test report is being prepared to identify repairs and determine responsibility for some problems. Durham said no major issues were found, and Bathke described the findings as small items. Birmingham said broken cleanouts were among the problems, and that Aaron Lachowicz of Mid MO Operations would have a complete report ready within the next two weeks.

Chrisenberry suggested asking Linn about supplies the city does not already have, saying a previous arrangement offered materials at cost plus 10%.

• The board approved purchasing a box of water meters after Birmingham said only one remained and was already needed for a replacement. Mitchem said the estimate was approximately $60 per meter.

• Bathke proposed asking Chamois Fire Protection District to flush and pressure-test hydrants following complaints about brown water after Chamois Day. He said Lachowicz attributed part of the problem to hydrants not being properly flushed and was preparing a schedule to prevent damage and provide flow information.

Birmingham said a schedule should be ready in about two weeks for the board and fire department to review, with Lachowicz available to help demonstrate the work.

• The board also approved a generator maintenance agreement under which Chamois Fire Protection District would perform monthly checks on the city’s generator, and make the city aware of any issues. The discussion included whether the city should buy a second generator to operate the lagoons and use the one for the lagoons to operate the well pump during an outage.

• A memorial mural was approved for the park bathroom wall, with the city retaining final approval of the design. Birmingham read a message identifying Sarah Connor as the proposed artist and saying Chamois Community in Action and the Lions Club would raise funds and select a theme.

• Walter reported that Mitchem, his daughter, and his sister raised $265 for the park fund by operating the concession stand on Chamois Day. They used supplies left from the MR340 and donated additional items.

• The board approved $274 for cemetery walk event insurance covering 100 people. Walter said the request had only recently reached the office and payment by debit card was needed to obtain coverage before the event. The cemetery fund will reimburse the general fund.

• Walter then announced she would be leaving her treasurer position and hoped to finish by Oct. 18, if possible. She said she no longer had time to give the job her full attention, had worked only 31 hours in September, and expected fewer hours in October.

She offered time for the city to find a replacement, saying the duties would otherwise return to Birmingham. Aldermen thanked her for her work and approved advertising the position in the following week’s newspaper.

• Birmingham also raised problems with the office’s color printer, which requires repeated troubleshooting and “babying.” She said ink costs approximately $80 a month and discussed tank-style replacements ranging from about $180 to $400.

Aldermen asked her to send options for review. Durham offered to lend her own printer temporarily if needed. No printer purchase was approved.

• The end-of-month bank balances for September showed a total of $590,726.77 in checking, including General Fund ($65,366.54), City CDBG In & Out ($10.00), City Park ($1,708.11), Cemetery Fund ($2,638.89), ARPA Funds ($17,300.17), Water Fund ($288,840.57), Sewer Fund ($122,760.86), City Police ($1,240.75), Online Bill Pay ($47,549.29), and Street ($43,311.59).

Savings account balances totaled $103,410.19, including Sewer Bond Reserve ($24,794.39), City Cemetery ($20,936.13), Water Repair ($30,249.31), Meter Deposits ($20,454.90), and Sewer Repair ($6,975.46).

CDs totaled $10,859.26, including one one-year ($2,138.44) and three two-year ($2,520.82, $5,200.00, and $1,000.00). A second one-year certificate was not shown on the report.

• County Aid Road Trust (CART) distribution received from the state of Missouri for the month of August was $2,056.57, including Motor Fuel Tax ($1,499.08), Motor Vehicle Sales Tax ($418.12), and Motor Vehicle Fee Increases ($139.37).

• Other taxes collected for August totaled $4,710.91, including Franchise Tax ($2,807.87), Sales Tax ($1,508.61), and Property Tax ($394.43).

• Bills totaling $20,766.90 were approved for September.

• Water loss reported was 53%, with 472,520 gallons billed and 512,280 gallons of loss.

The next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m.