CHAMOIS — Chamois has been cited for two violations from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for not having a licensed water and wastewater systems operator.

Mayor Elise Brochu stressed that the new Utilities Supervisor Justin Bathke is currently attending classes and will take the water-license test on Feb. 23. As soon as he is done with that, he will be enrolling in wastewater classes to get his license.

“We are getting all of our tests in, and everything is good and safe,” Brochu said. “We’re doing everything we are supposed to do; we just haven’t contracted a licensed operator to oversee it.” 

The city has posted the notice as directed by DNR.

DNR has also cited the city for not submitting a quarterly report last October. Brochu is working with former Utilities Supervisor Danny Kirsch to figure out what happened and get the correct form submitted.

In addition to being cited by DNR, the city is currently having trouble with the well.

“Every sign points to this being an electrical problem,” Brochu said. “I want to make sure and be clear that throughout this, the water has been safe.”

Ameren Missouri had several electrical problems in Chamois on Christmas, and the pump had not worked for three days following those issues. Kirsch assisted the city and installed new fuses. The well worked for a few days, and then the chlorine pump started having problems. Brochu called Tim Flagg, who has been working with the city and assisting Bathke when needed. The well will need a new chlorine pump, hoses, and a pressure transducer. Everything has been ordered and was to be delivered soon after the meeting. Kirsch or Flagg have agreed to help with the installation. The city is running everything manually to keep the water tower full until everything is repaired.

Chamois is also having problems with the lift station by the city park. Flagg looked at the pump in the lift station and determined it would only run for a little while and then shut itself off. ESA, Inc. quoted a replacement pump at $6,000. Alderman Jim Wright asked if there was a possibility of rebuilding the existing pump.

Aldermen will have Brochu see if rebuilding the pump is possible and authorized rebuilding or replacing the pump as soon as possible to avoid any additional problems.

In other business, aldermen approved the purchase of three speed bumps to be installed on Market Street at the request of Chamois Ag Supply owner Mike Nolte.

“(With) all of the trucks, skid steers, people parking, and people backing back (along Market Street), I would really like to see traffic slow down through there,” Nolte said. “One of these days, someone is going to get killed.”

The three six-foot speed bumps were priced out of the U-Line catalog and would cost about $900 plus shipping. Nolte agreed to help Utilities Supervisor Justin Bathke install them.

“I’m sure they would last a number of years,” Nolte said. “The only downside I see is it is going to be loud when trailers bounce over them for the houses right there, but with people squealing tires and stuff, people are pretty used to the noise around here.”

Nolte thought about gating the road since part of the street runs through his property, but he did not know if that would be an advantage to his business or the public.

Nolte was also concerned that the speed bumps would make snow removal more difficult for Bathke.

“I don’t want to make Justin’s life miserable plowing snow, but man, we don’t need someone hitting somebody,” Nolte added. “Nobody needs that headache.”

Brochu agreed that traffic on the street can be dangerous, noting that she had recently had a close call there.

“I don’t think you are going to have anyone in town complaining about cars going slower past their house,” Brochu said.

“I think it is a good idea,” Alderman Marty Gerloff said. “What’s one person getting hurt worth if we can help the situation?”

The city will initially install the speed bumps in one location to see if that slows down traffic.

“If that doesn’t solve the problem, we can look at other options, but I think it will work,” Nolte added.

• Aldermen approved an annual renewal payment of $426 to Softline Software Program for the city’s water-billing program. Amounts do not seem to coordinate with previous payments, and Brochu and City Clerk Megan Birmingham will investigate this before the due date of Jan. 27.

• Aldermen approved a long-term recreational vehicle (RV) rental for the city park for an individual that will be working for Morrison on the city’s cemetery in May. The individual will need rental space for two to three months.

Typically, aldermen try to limit park rental to less than two weeks but are willing to make an exception in this case since the individual has a legitimate reason to be in the area.

• All four aldermen positions and the mayor’s seat will be open for election in April. Aldermen Jeffrey Connor and Wright have both filed for the two-year positions. Two one-year alderman positions are open, and no one has filed for these slots. Mike Edwards has filed to run for the position of mayor.

Brochu noted that qualified applicants can file as write-in candidates up to two weeks before the election.

• Brochu told aldermen the city’s engineer does not believe that the water project is ready to go out for bid, though DNR says the project is ready.

“We will be talking over the next week or so and, hopefully, get things going,” Brochu said.

Brochu hoped to take advantage of the delay and asked DNR if they would consider allowing the city to potentially repair Well #2 instead of drilling two new wells. DNR has said they will send engineers to look at Well #2 and assess the situation.

Wright noted that he thought that it would take a lot to repair the existing well.

“But we know that it has water, and we know the water is good compared to drilling two new wells that we know nothing about,” Brochu said. “I think it’s worth looking at.”

• An adjustor has been out to look at the damage to the park buildings but still needs to submit his report, after which the city will get a check from the insurance company and can start looking at repair options.

• Birmingham will contact other cities to find examples of ordinances that deal with putting liens on properties for unpaid utility bills. Brochu instructed Birmingham to contact the city of Kirkwood since her sister lives there, and she knows they have such an ordinance.

• Chamois is double-checking that all the paperwork is in place to hire a city marshal. Aldermen approved contacting Osage County Deputy Amy Keilholz to see if she would be interested in the part-time position.

Keilholz grew up and currently lives in the area. She would need approval from Sheriff Mike Bonham to take on the additional work.

Brochu noted that even if Keilholz is interested in the job, the city would still have to advertise for the position.

• Aldermen approved paying for a hotel room for Bathke while he is taking classes for his water license in Rolla.

• Sheriff Michael Bonham visited with aldermen at the meeting.

“We have just done the end of the year statistics, and Chamois has received more hours of law enforcement from the Osage County Sheriff’s Department than anywhere else in the county,” Bonham said. “We really want to help and assist Chamois. This is the diamond in the rough right here.”

Bonham noted that he actively promotes the idea that Chamois has a port and rail service in the hope that they can increase industry in the city.

“Every time I have the opportunity to promote that in my travels across the country and the state and legislature, we try to promote that,” Bonham said. Bonham is not enthusiastic about the prospect of a bridge in Chamois to cross the Missouri river.

“I know that there is one commissioner really excited about putting a bridge in, but I know what’s on the other side of the river,” Bonham said, referencing the high crime rate in Callaway County.

“We do, too,” Alderman Matt Shockley said. “Work.”

“Jobs and increased property values,” Brochu added.

“There are advantages,” Bonham admitted. “It would make it a lot more accessible for trucks, and that is a big deal.”

Bonham explained that the sheriff’s department and the county commissioners work together because part of having a safe community is encouraging people to live and work in the county, which means attracting industry.

“We have some good news,” Bonham announced. “When I took over for our county, we were the 22nd safest county in the state, and we are now sixth. We’ve made great improvements.”

Bonham put all the credit on his deputies and their hard work.

He also noted that it was a record year for his department, which took more than seven pounds of methamphetamines off the streets.

Bonham noted that there had been an arrest in Chamois on New Year’s Eve.

“We continue to work in this town really hard,” Bonham explained. “I’ve got lots of friends here, and there are a lot of good people here. We really do become attached to them, and if we can make things better for you, we want to do that. It is about making things safe for everyone.”

Bonham also announced that he was sitting in for the county commissioners that evening as they had another meeting to attend and had wanted to talk about the new Osage County Health Department that will be open soon. Bonham noted that there were additional services that the health department will be offering, including immunizations, blood work, installation of child-safety seats, free pregnancy tests, water tests, distribution of death certificates, childcare provider training, and lead screenings.

“We appreciate all of you and all of our cities,” Bonham said. “We need you.”

• Aldermen approved expenses for the month totaling $13,715.44.

• Chamois had the following balances in their accounts: cemetery fund ($10,337.77), general fund ($19,277.04), water fund ($174,145.54), sewer fund ($88,396.20), city Community Development Block Grant ($1,250), city park ($3,331.59), American Rescue Plan Act ($77,213.68), sewer bond reserve ($26,700.52), sewer repair ($6,926.86), city cemetery ($20,510.42), meter deposits ($22,068.30), and water repair ($28,978.49).

• The next regular meeting will be on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m.