FREEBURG — At their March 9 meeting, Freeburg trustees approved changes to the wording on the sewer ordinance, but there will be no changes to the sewer surcharge rate. Currently, the village assesses a surcharge, in addition to the regular sewer and water rates, to commercial customers who use water and sewer services outside the village limits. Quaker Windows is the only customer that utilizes the village utilities outside of village limits and pays an estimated $8,000 in additional fees annually.

The current water and sewer rate surcharge is a combined rate of $2.80 per 1,000 gallons of water. The village will split the combined rate and allow $1.40 per 1,000 gallons for the water surcharge rate and $1.40 per 1,000 gallons for the sewer surcharge rate.

“For as long as we’ve had it, our water and sewer have been this same rate,” Mayor Darryl Haller explained. “It’s not going to be like that anymore. Our sewer rates are going up, but our water rates are not going to go up that much; that’s why we have to break it up.”

Water Clerk Cindy Struemph said that in 2025, she transferred half of the surcharge total to the village sewer account and will do the same in 2026.

“We need to do that at least once a year, so the sewer account gets its fair share of the surcharge money,” Haller agreed.

Haller did not think that the surcharge fees should increase dramatically for Quaker Windows at this point.

“Personally, I think it is fair where it is at,” Haller said.

He conceded that everyone on the board has a connection to Quaker Windows and that it would not be possible for everyone to abstain from voting because of a conflict of interest.

Haller again said that he thought that the surcharge rate was fair, but noted that the sewer and water rates would increase for the company, just like they would for all of the village customers.

“If that’s the case, I don’t think we have to raise it,” said Trustee Jamie Kaesik. “I say we don’t mess with it.”

The village will hold a public hearing on the sewer rate increases on March 16 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Trustees will have to decide if sewer rates will increase in incremental steps as the project is being constructed or if they will go up in one single rate bump after the project is completed.

Holterman noted that there are no updates on the current sewer project.

In other business, Freeburg was notified by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that the village is in violation concerning the Lead Line Survey conducted last year.

“We did the lead line survey last year, and at the end of the year, on Oct. 21, we got a letter from DNR saying we had to let everyone know who had lead in their lines,” said Haller.

Struemph noted that she wrote the letters and mailed them out to residents and responded to DNR with an additional letter on Nov. 4, 2025.

“They didn’t get it in the mail,” Struemph said. “Who knows what happened?”

Haller said that the violation simply states that the village did not follow through on the project. The mayor added that he has already sent an email and believes everything will be straightened out shortly.

• Trustees will not hold a public hearing on the village property tax that will be on the April 7 ballot. Voters will be asked to approve a tax of $.50 per $100 of assessed valuation, with the money going into the general revenue account.

Village Attorney Nathan Nickolaus recommended that the village not hold a public hearing.

“If we really want this to pass, we need to go out and spread the word,” Haller said. “I would like people to know everything about it. We all know that this is what the town needs for support to keep our roads in good shape.”

“(Village Attorney Nickolaus) doesn’t want to have a meeting because he thinks it might backfire?” Utilities Supervisor Doug Hamacher questioned.

“The people who don’t like it would probably be the ones who would attend a public hearing,” Haller said.

“That’s why he said a public hearing would not go well, because we wouldn’t be able to have the opportunity to get the information out,” Village Clerk Danielle Holterman explained.

The village will post information about the proposed tax on the Freeburg website and Facebook page.

Haller encouraged everyone in the community to get out and vote.

•  One of the owners of Maui Stop N Shop, Joe Maui, attended the meeting. He wants to power-wash and re-stripe the parking lot, but realized that a portion of the lot was village property.

“I wanted to ask permission before I stripe it,” Maui explained.

Haller asked if Maui planned to stripe it the same way it has always been striped.

“I just want to make sure it’s okay for me to stripe it,” Maui said. “I will stripe it back the same as it was.”

Haller noted that people have been using the parking lot for years and that it works out well for everyone.

Trustee Scott Knoll asked if Maui would be okay with being responsible for painting the stripes again if the city decided to repave the area in the future.

“I’d like to have the striping done in the spring and fall of every year,” Maui answered.

Haller said that the city had no plans to repave the area at this time.

Trustees approved Maui power-washing and striping the parking lot, including the area owned by the village of Freeburg.

Haller noted that he appreciated the Maui’s coming into the village and operating their business.

“I’ve seen a lot of people going in your store,” Haller said. “We appreciate you guys.”

“It’s been good for us,” Maui said, thanking trustees for their time in addressing the parking lot issue.

• Trustees approved raises for all village employees.

Hamacher’s pay was increased by $1 per hour to $25. The village also contributes $300 per month into Hamacher’s retirement fund, and that contribution remained unchanged. Part-time Utilities employee Tom Weed’s pay increased from $16.50 to $17 per hour.  Holterman’s monthly salary increased from $775 to $825 per month, and Struemph’s monthly salary increased from $675 to $700 per month. Trustees did not approve any increases to board members’ annual stipends, which remain at $3,900 and $1,440, respectively.

The approved pay increases took effect immediately.

• Freeburg will hold its annual residential bulk spring clean-up on May 4. The service provided by Republic Services will be available only for Freeburg residents. All items must be on the curb by 5 a.m. All items must be bagged or bundled so that they can be handled by one person. Hazardous material, liquid waste, yard waste, car parts, white goods (appliances), and concrete items will not be picked up.

Residents with questions or concerns should call 573-635-8805.

Details are posted on the village’s Facebook page.

• Hamacher noted that he has all the equipment ready to mow the grass this season.

• Trustees approved the following outstanding bills for March: general ($10,232.09), sewer ($727.10), and water ($1,244.38).

• Freeburg had the following ending account balances: purchasing ($669.37), sewer checking ($8,388.50) general revenue checking ($14,003.23), sewer money market ($430,334.66), general revenue money market ($518,625.65), wastewater and sewer project ($63,661.71), water ($6,229.55), water replacement ($245.97), and water money market ($1,055,162.86).

• Freeburg had a 3% water loss for January. The village pumped a total of 1,360,932 gallons of water and billed 1,269,700 gallons of water.

• The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 13, at 6:30 p.m.