Freeburg trustees at their regular meeting on Nov. 8 discussed the need to raise water rates. 

Trustee Shane Zimmer questioned what the village would need to charge for water to qualify for grants. At their previous meeting, Freeburg turned down Liberty Utilities’ proposal to take over city water and wastewater facilities. 

With aging infrastructure and the fact that eventually, their lagoon system will have to be phased out, big-money repairs have to be a part of their planning process. 

“The Liberty people put a lot of things in perspective and we have to get ready for it,” said Zimmer.

Liberty representatives had stated that obtaining grants would be a part of their business plan. Trustees know from experience that rates are too low to qualify for grants. Rather than turning utilities over to Liberty, trustees would prefer to retain control of that asset while raising rates gradually over time, enabling the village to qualify for grants. 

“If we’re going to start fixing our infrastructure … the fact that our stuff is aging and is phased out in 20 years or sooner, brings it into focus to see what we need to do to get ready,” said Zimmer, “If we’re not taking those steps now in letting people know what we need to do, they are going to be blindsided and upset. If we can find what numbers are needed to get into that grant money, we need to start working toward that now, slowly but surely.”

Freeburg’s incoming Public Works Director Doug Hamacher asked about the average bill for a residence. 

Trustee Dale Struemph said it was $20 for water and sewer. 

“That’s probably for a minimum user, only 2000 gallons or under,” Village Clerk Allen Gradel said.

“But 60 percent of our people are probably minimum users,” Mayor Darryl Haller interjected.

“We gotta at least work toward that minimum number (for grants),” said Zimmer.

Haller said that it looks better for the village to have a plan of action when working toward a grant, adding that if the people giving the grants can see Freeburg’s plan and the progress toward where they need to be, preference points might be given. 

Struemph said after their meeting with Missouri Rural Water (MRWA) several years ago, they raised rates. “We made a plan to continue that each year, but it just didn’t happen,” he said.

Plans were made for Zimmer and Mayor Haller to have a conference call with MRWA and/or the Meramec Regional Planning Commission to get more information. 

In other business, a rollback curb was chosen as the solution for the longtime water runoff issue at the Cyle Reinkemeyer residence at the corner of N. Pine and Lewis. The curb will be 100 feet long. Freeburg will provide seven yards of concrete and rebar plus have the digging done. Two bids were received for the labor to complete the job, one from Sam Hagan totaling $1,500 and another from Sam Welschmeyer for $2,500. 

Struemph did a quick calculation, estimating this job would cost $4,000 between Hagan’s bid, materials, and dirt work. He questioned whether the curb would remedy the problem or if a grate would be needed. 

“A grate would be more expensive,” outgoing Public Works Director Todd Feeler replied. “I’d like to try this first.”

Trustees approved Hagan’s bid for the installation of the rollback curb.

* Trustees denied the request from Trustee Zimmer to bring water to his farm on Rt. P. Feeler reported the cost would be $3,000 to bore under the road to deliver the water to what is currently a non-residential site. 

“I don’t see any reason the city would take this one,” Struemph said. “The utilities are not going to work with you on that.” 

He cited an example of electric companies will not bring electricity to anything less than a full-blown house. 

“I agree with Dale,” said Haller, “I know you want water on your farm. When you want to go put the residence up next springtime, come back when there is a residence. It works better for you and everybody on the board.”

Zimmer will revisit the board when there is a full-time residence at the site.

* The refrigerator at City Hall/Freeburg Fire Department is acting up. Trustee Glen Haller asked whether it was the village property or fire department property. Mayor Haller, who also serves as the fire chief, is not sure who owns it or if anyone even uses it. They will see what it would take to repair before considering replacement.

* Plans were made to shut off water for two customers who are three months in arrears on payment. Both customers have already exceeded the amount of their $125 deposit. Customers due for shut-off next month will be contacted before the next meeting. 

* Hamacher has checked the Christmas lights and will put them up. Various suggestions for color deviations were entertained.

* In financial news, Gradel presented figures showing general fund income for October totaling $23,640.80. The village had $38,074.76 in a general revenue checking account and $468,991.07 in a general revenue money market. Sewer system checking was at $42,416.49 and sewer money market amount was $210,946.49. Freeburg’s purchasing account balance was $967.72. The total on hand for all accounts besides water at the time of the meeting was $804,055.80. The water department had $642,787.20 on hand for a total of $1,446,843. 

* General revenue bills were approved for $118,536.64; sewer bills totaled $1038.44, and water expenses amounted to $17,206.50.

*Water Clerk Cindy Struemph reported a -2% water loss between Sept. 1 and Oct. 5 as 3,755,931 gallons were produced, with 26,541,700 gallons billed for a gain of 500 gallons.

* The next meeting will be on Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m.