Freeburg trustees last Monday approved payment in the amount of $11,029.29 to Suez Utility Service Co. Inc., for maintenance of the town’s two water towers. The bill was not paid last month due to a concern about the increased cost of service for maintenance to the south water tower.

Mayor Darryl Haller last month noted the agreement with Suez for the last three years has been for a base fee of $9,937, and included visual inspection, any needed repairs and emergency service. The agreement was developed after the village paid $2,081 in both 2011 and 2012, and then $44,724 in 2013 for a complete exterior renovation; a similar amount ($46,804) was paid in 2016 for a complete interior renovation of the 100,0000-gallon south water tower,

Haller said from that point forward, it was understood that a yearly inspection would cost $9,937, but this year the cost jumped by $1,092.29, and he wanted to understand why before having a check cut for that service.

After speaking with a representative of Suez, the situation became more clear, and trustees agreed that this agreement is much more tenable in the long run than going without regular maintenance and having to spend a lot more on the towers.

“She explained that their fees are going up 3.67 percent per year,” said Haller. “It is high, but at the end of the day, she asked what we’re doing to cover that increase on our end. She said we should be raising our rates every other year or so, and I can remember only one rate increase in the last 15 years.”

The 50,000-gallon water pedisphere is due for cleaning this year, and on the schedule to be painted in 2021 at a cost of $7,276.90.

Haller said if the tower was to be painted without such an agreement in place, it would cost between $60,000 and $70,000.

“We are pushing $20,000 a year for them to maintain our tanks,” said Haller. “The price you have to look at is what happens if you don’t maintain them. I was there before they maintained them.”

“Our cost projections would be astronomical,” said Trustee Shane Zimmer. “This is basically insurance for our water tanks.”

“More or less,” Haller agreed. “When I looked at them before we had (Suez), it wasn’t up to par. They made it up to par, and if it’s not, it’s on them. If DNR doesn’t like something, it goes to (Suez). It costs us three percent a year, so we have to be able to make that up somewhere.”

Haller said before any changes are made to agreements in place, he would like to see the tower painted.

One option to offset costs would be to add cellular antennas to the south tower, as the smaller tank is more difficult to access, and therefore less appealing to potential providers.

Haller suggested reaching out to see what options may exist.

In the meantime, by ordinance, the village reviews its water rates every year, and plans to do so again in May.

Rates were last raised two years ago, and will be considered to see if a raise is necessary. Anyone interested in commenting on the situation may contact a trustee.

In other business, an update from Matt Robertson at Bank of St. Elizabeth indicates the interest rate for the money market account is at 1.65%, down from 2.13%, through the Missouri Securities Investment Program (MoSIP). Trustees agreed to consider the rate every six months and decided at this time to make no changes to village accounts.

* Trustees took no action on a request from Missouri Municipal League (MML) for help with legislative lobbying on behalf of Freeburg. The cost for this service is $175, but that would be in addition to the annual membership dues the village pays MML.

* Filing for the April election closes Jan. 21 for seats currently held by trustees Dale Struemph and Shane Zimmer, both of whom have filed for reelection.

* Laptops were to be set and up functioning as of last week.

* Haller reported the Gilbert Street project is complete.

* Water Clerk Cindy Struemph noted that past-due water accounts totaled $477.53, and one account was three months behind.

* Water loss from Oct. 31 through Dec. 3 was 6%, Struemph reported, noting a total of 2,261,577 gallons were produced with 2,148,400 gallons sold. A total of 46,100 gallons was used by Capital Paving during its road work, which has yet to be billed. A total of 13,177 gallons were lost.

* In his regular monthly financial report, Gradel presented figures showing general fund income for the month of $16,984.60. The village has $3,387.95 in general revenue checking and $529,500.25 in a general-revenue money market. Sewer system checking stands at $11,149.93 and the sewer money market balance at $173,625.09. The purchasing account has a balance at $406.63. The total on hand in all accounts, not including water is $718,069.85. The total for all accounts is $1,220,481.29.

* General revenue bills were paid in the amount of $6,347.40, water bills were approved in the amount of $11,923.33, which includes the bill to Suez, and sewer bills were approved in the amount of $278.98.

* The next meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10.