FREEBURG — Freeburg was nearly six weeks late filing its annual financial report with the state auditor’s office. The deadline for filing the report was Aug. 31, and the village did not file it until Oct. 11, with an addendum filed on Oct. 18. 

“We missed the deadline,” Mayor Darryl Haller said. 

In a closed-session meeting last Monday, trustees discussed how the deadline was missed.

While the Missouri State Auditor’s office can levy fines against the village for missing the deadline, Haller said that the office assured him there was no intention to do so and that all the proper paperwork had been filed.

“When you make a mistake, you own it, and we made a mistake,” Haller said, adding that trustees put new reminders and steps in place so this wouldn’t happen again.

In other business, trustees passed Ordinance #199, which renews the existing franchise agreement between the village of Freeburg and Ameren Missouri for a 20-year period. Haller was initially going to ask trustees to table the issue, but Village Attorney Nathan Nickolaus looked over the contract and thought it was a great deal for Freeburg.

Ameren Missouri will pay the village a 5% franchise tax over the life of the contract. 

“I asked (Nickolaus) about it, and he said that it is the same contract they send to everybody,” Haller explained. “He had no qualms about any of it.”

• Republic Trash Services is willing to replace broken, cracked, and stolen trash cans for village customers. The company would like any customers within the village limits to call Public Works Director Doug Hamacher if they have a broken or cracked trash can, and he will contact Republic. A new trash can will be dropped off at the resident’s address, and Republic will pick up the old, damaged trash can at the same time.

“They are under some type of insurance program, so they can turn the old ones in and get money back for the replacements,” Haller explained. “They definitely want the old ones back. “

“It doesn’t cost any money?” Trustee Jamie Kaesik asked.

“Not the way I understand it,” Haller replied. “The process is, if anybody in town needs a trash can replacement because of damage, or if they are stolen, they need to call Doug.”

Haller warned that it could take up to 10 days to get a new trash can delivered to the resident’s house.

Republic Services will also drop off three new trash cans at City Hall.

• Trustees approved the following outstanding expenses: general revenue ($4,908.47), sewer ($1,492.41), administration ($1,865.45), street department ($7,809.90), water ($2,027.44), and other ($3,955.77).

• Freeburg had the following account balances: general revenue checking balance ($40,580.41), general revenue money market ($386,377.20), sewer checking ($33,327.02), sewer money market ($247,772.43), purchasing account ($450.46), American Recovery Protection Act ($85,248.05), water revenue ($14,226.68), replacement and extension ($2,133.55), and water money market balance ($701,606.20).

• The next regular meeting will be held on Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m.