FREEBURG — Hilke’s Ice Company President Laron Hilke told Freeburg trustees at their May meeting that his business is growing, and he expects an increase in ice production at their facilities.

“We are growing so fast that we have picked up 80 more stores,” Hilke said.

Hilke has purchased two new ice-making machines to increase production.

“I’m sucking more water, but they are more efficient,” Hilke explained. “These machines are great.”

Hilke plans to have his crew start the machines at separate times.

“When we hit the button on those big machines, I don’t want to hit both at the same time because I don’t think the village water can handle it,” Hilke explained. “When those new machines call for water, it is like a tsunami.”

Hilke asked that Public Works Director Doug Hamacher come down and discuss the new machines’ water needs when he has time.

Hilke also announced that his company is opening a new warehouse but that all ice manufacturing will be in Freeburg. He anticipates there may be another expansion in the future and will keep trustees informed.

In other business, trustees approved a resolution to allow Bartlett & West to apply for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Financial Assistance Center Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) funding. The money would help pay for an upcoming requirement for all cities and villages to have public water lines tested for lead. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has required all public water systems to complete an inventory of all drinking water service lines by Oct. 16, 2024.

“We have to do this survey no matter what,” Mayor Scott Knoll said.

The application is due on May 31.

• Freeburg received a Notice of Violation from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a posting about a gas leak the village didn’t post to the public. Hamacher has been in touch with DNR and has everything worked out.

“Everything is in motion,” Trustee Darryl Haller said. “He talked to DNR about what needs to be posted.”

“This just got missed,” Knoll admitted.

• Kelly Sink from the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and trustees discussed the village’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding plan. Trustees reported a balance of $86,473.97 in their ARPA fund and planned to use all that money for street repairs.

Sink reminded trustees they are required to make an effort to get three bids for anything over $10,000 and to keep clear records of how the ARPA money is spent. ARPA funds need to be used by 2026.

Sink also discussed the availability of Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grants through the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).

“The TAP program is for non-vehicle structures,” Sink explained. “Sidewalks are what most people think of when it comes to TAP grants.”

The amount requested can be up to $500,000, and the Village of Freeburg would need to come up with 80% matching funds in cash and could not include in-kind work.

While trustees believe there is a need to rehab the village’s streets, there is concern about how to make them ADA-compliant, which is required for the TAP grants. Haller explained that it would be tough on streets with steps.

Sink explained that the grant is renewable every two years, and the village would have to use an approved engineering firm to draw out specifications and observe construction. The application is due sometime in the summer though Sink was unsure of an exact date.

Cities and villages would be required to present their projects at the TAP meeting hosted by MRPC.

“The question is, do we have the extra money to spend on sidewalks?” Trustee Shane Zimmer asked. “We have already added $150,000 to the budget this year.”

“It sounds like a good idea, but we can’t do it until next year,” Knoll said.

“Between the street, sewer, and lead line testing, we just don’t have the money to spend on sidewalks,” Zimmer added.

Sink also discussed the availability of grants for mats under playground equipment. The money is available through the DNR and utilizes materials made from recycled tires. There is no cost match by the village, but Freeburg would be required to prep the area for installation.

“There is also an application for picnic tables and benches made out of recycled material,” Sink explained.

“I asked Doug to put pea gravel or something in there because it’s down to bare dirt,” Haller said.

“We really need a vast overhaul of the playground,” Zimmer said. “Some of that stuff is from when I was a little kid.”

Haller noted that new playground equipment priced several years ago started at $40,000.

Sink will forward the application for the mats to the village for further consideration.

• Village Clerk Nicki Bax looked into renting the American Legion Hall for a public meeting to explain the bond issue that will be on the ballot in August. The upstairs of the American Legion Hall will cost $75, and the basement will cost $50.

Zimmer questioned renting the hall and suggested instead moving the firetrucks out and using the fire station garage adjacent to the Village Hall.

“Seventy-five dollars is not that much,” Haller said. “We need to get it passed; otherwise, we’re going to be in trouble. Some people, if it says we are raising anything, they’ll vote no. I think it might be harder than we think. We have got to get the word out there so that it will pass.”

The plan is to have a separate meeting to discuss the bond issue and have Bartlett & West available to explain that voters need to approve the bond issue so they can apply for grant money. The public meeting is tentatively scheduled for July 24.

• Freeburg will run another ad for part-time help to cut grass and help Hamacher over the summer. Bax noted that Vienna had hired several 16-year-olds to help cut grass over the summer and asked if Freeburg could do the same.

“Doug is freaking out because he has to cut all of this grass by himself,” Bax said, who was instructed to check with the village’s insurance and labor laws to see if it was legal to hire someone under the age of 18. She will then run the ads again.

• Zimmer asked if there had been any progress or ideas on how to fix the water run-off issue for resident Dion Becker and his neighbor. Zimmer wants an engineering report on the street and the water issues.

Haller suggested that the city take a fire truck there, pump water out, and see where the water goes.

“If we are going to fix it, we have to fix it and not just do what the homeowners want,” Haller said.

“We need to get someone in there to look at it and see what we need to do to fix it,” Trustee Jamie Kaesik said.

“I want the engineering report to see what we need to do to fix it,” Zimmer said. “I looked at the map, and some of that is not city property.”

“We’re paying for the sins that were done in the 1960s,” Haller said.

“You are right,” Zimmer said. “But if we’re going to get it done, let’s get it done right so this doesn’t happen again. I want to take everything into consideration.”

Knoll questioned whether a full-blown engineering report is needed.

Zimmer suggested that the village ask several construction companies to look at it and make suggestions on how to fix it.

“I feel like we’ve been fighting this for four years,” Zimmer said. “We have ample space on each side to build a ditch.”

“That’s going to go over like a lead balloon,” Haller said.

“I just want to get it fixed and get it fixed right,” Zimmer said.

Knoll would like to contact several contractors and have them offer an estimate and ideas on how to fix the issue.

• Trustees approved the following bills for the month: general revenue ($3,322.37), ARPA ($73.09), sewer ($1,387.41), and water ($461.20).

• Freeburg had the following account balances: purchasing ($233.71), sewer checking ($54,625.07), general revenue checking ($34,539.99), sewer money market ($236,598.82), general revenue money market ($422,698.07), ARPA ($86,473.97), water ($8,924.42), water replacement ($1,375.06), and water money market ($743,221.78).

• The next meeting is scheduled for June 5 at 6:30 p.m.