Chamois aldermen voted last week to wait another 30 days before shutting off water for any of the city’s delinquent accounts in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I say we ought to let it ride one more month until maybe we get out of this just a little bit,” Alderman Matt Shockley said.

Mayor Elise Brochu noted that last month there were $1,400 in accounts that were 60 days past due. This month that amount is over $4,000 in accounts that are past due by 60 days.

Anyone that has past-due accounts will be getting a letter stating how many days they are past due, the amount that they are past due, and letting them know that payment is due in full by July 5 unless a payment plan has been set up with City Clerk Michelle Stanley at City Hall.

“Starting with the July 5 payment everyone needs to be caught up,” Brochu said. “On July 5, we’re going back to pre-COVID-19 rules. “

In other business, a public hearing was held to discuss submission of a Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) and a Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) grant for the city’s water project. The city is hoping to make upgrades to the water system including wells, well houses, and storage and replacement of some of the main water lines.

The total cost of the city’s water project is estimated at $1,514,707 with the city of Chamois estimating its contribution at $191,177. The city is hoping to get a CBDG grant of $750,000 and a MDNR grant for $573,530 to make up the balance of the funds needed for the project. The CBDG requires a public hearing to let area residents ask questions or voice concerns about the process. Attending residents are asked to complete a needs assessment for their community. The community needs assessment was completed and the residents in attendance at the meeting identified five priorities for the city of Chamois. The priorities were water system, street improvement, sidewalk improvement, available healthcare for the community and the lack of jobs in the area.

Kelly Sink-Blair works with the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), which is assisting in writing the grants.

“We are doing really good on time and I think we are making great progress,” Sink-Blair said.

* Aldermen approved the purchase of UV light bulbs and connectors for the city’s sewer system for a total of $4,705. The order will be placed with Derrick Brandt at the Municipal Equipment Company.

* Alderman Debbie Huff’s request for reimbursement in the amount of $235.19 to renew the city’s website was likewise approved.

Huff will assist Stanley on how to add new things to the website and all the log-in information, including switching the account to the city’s credit card.

* The audit for the fiscal year ending in June 2018 has been completed by Decker and DeGood. The reports were delivered to the city in April and although there are a few changes that need to still be made as to how the money is classified, the dollar amount remains the same.  At this point they do not anticipate that an amended audit will be needed.

The audit packet for 2019 still needs to be filled out and the audit completed.

“We do not anticipate any problems with 2019,” Mayor Brochu said. “Michelle (Stanley) and I have been through the books (for fiscal year 2019) 5,000 different ways.”

* Aldermen approved the purchase of QuickBooks 2020 at the request of the Decker and DeGood Accounting firm at a cost of $299.95.

* The Chamois City Park can be opened immediately if social distancing rules are being observed, but the Osage County Health Department wants the playground to remain closed until further notice.

* Stanley is requesting a raise. She noted that she was hired as a part-time employee with limited duties. Stanley wrote in her request that while she is still working part time, she has the full duties of the city clerk job, and has been working extra hours, including weekends.

Brochu would like to discuss this during closed session at next month’s meeting.

* Property owner Judie Maxie requested help from the mayor in regard to a property that she purchased that is in the floodplain. Maxie noted that when she bought the property it was not in the floodplain and now that has changed.

Maxie is wanting to add a new roof and new siding to the house, and noted that she is not in any way changing the footprint of the existing house.

“You still have to apply for the permit,” Brochu said. “You still have to follow the guidelines.”

Brochu acknowledged that the guidelines were extensive and difficult to navigate.

“If the work is more than 50% of the value of the property than there are separate guidelines,” Brochu said.

Brochu told Maxie to call her directly and she would help walk her through the process.

*  Bills were approved in the amount of $19,567.38.

* The city had the following ending balances: general fund ($65,505.05), water fund ($94,117.37), sewer fund ($19,371.97), park fund ($288.34), water deposits ($18,092.70), cemetery fund (9,643.17), city cemetery fund ($19,536.05) and 2-year funds ($6,606.45). Balances for the sewer repair fund, water repair fund and the sewer bond reserve were not available.

* The next meeting is scheduled for June 17 at 7 p.m.