Linn aldermen finalize employee retirement plan

By Theresa Brandt, Staff Writer
Posted 3/29/23

Linn aldermen finalize

employee retirement plan

BY THERESA BRANDT

UD Staff Writer

 

LINN —Linn Aldermen approved an ordinance that changes the Missouri Local Government …

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Linn aldermen finalize employee retirement plan

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LINN —Linn Aldermen approved an ordinance that changes the Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System (LAGERS) for the city’s employees. The ordinance finalizes the decision aldermen made at the January meeting to increase the overall amount put into the retirement fund by the city and require employee contributions.

Original estimates by LAGER noted that the change would cost the city an estimated $45,000 annually. City Treasurer Janelle Jaegers has reported in the last several meetings that the amount is within the budget and will require no changes.

Aldermen also approved an amendment to the budget to include the recent purchase of a 2019 Ford F-150 Super Crew four-wheel-drive truck for the police department at the cost of $30,000.

* In other business, Bartlett & West provided an update on the Jaegers Wastewater Regionalization project. According to the report,  final project documents have been submitted, and the project will begin on April 3. Bartlett & West engineers plan to meet with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a pre-construction meeting on March 27 or 29.

Bartlett & West has also submitted the application for funding for the Lee Mar Hills Subdivision wastewater project. The city will not know the results of the application until June or July. The grant will not be officially awarded until October.

* Mike McDaniel addressed aldermen regarding a water issue that his father, Merv McDaniel, is having at 1003 E. Benton St., across the street from Millard Funeral Chapel.

“Water has always run off of that drive, across the road and into my dad’s yard,” McDaniel said.

McDaniel believes that the culvert pipe is too high by about six or eight inches, which does not allow the water to flow through the culvert.

Mayer Dwight Massey was concerned that if the culvert is dug deeper, it may have a bad effect on other parts of the ditch and cause the culvert to get plugged up easily.

McDaniel was also concerned that a dirt dam was blocking the ditch to the east of the culvert. He suggested that if the culvert couldn’t be lowered, maybe the dirt obstruction in the ditch could be removed.

“There is so much dirt that has been piled into the ditch that the water pools there,” McDaniel said. “During heavy rains, there is water sitting in that ditch for weeks and weeks.”

Massey and Utilities Superintendent Larry Fredrich agreed to investigate the issue.

* Aldermen agreed to let the Linn Betterment Society use the city’s gravel lot near Legends Bank Park for a farmer’s market following a request from representative Shelly Klebba. She explained it was one of the things that people repeatedly said would be something they would utilize.

“We still have some details to work out,” said Klebba, noting the initial plan is for Thursday nights from 4-7 p.m. from May to September. “We are at a preliminary point, but if there are people who want to do it, we’re going to give it a try.”

Aldermen also approved Klebba putting together a marketing piece for the city of Linn either as a brochure or as a digital file to link to the city’s website.

“I’m not asking for a budget or funding; I’m just asking for your support,” said Klebba, who believes she will have this put together by fall.

* Aldermen Bill Turner is continuing to work on getting shades for the City Pool. He brought samples for fellow aldermen to look at but would like to have the involvement of the Park Board to make final decisions.

“If we’re going to do something, we need to do it pretty quickly if it’s going to be up by the time the pool opens,” Massey said.

Turner would like to put the support poles in place at the City Pool, after which the shades can be measured. He plans to meet with the Park Board and get a final decision and then return to the board meeting next month with an estimate and more details.

City Clerk Carrie Grellner noted that she has a good lead on a pool manager.

* The city’s digital sign is up and functional. Grellner asked aldermen if she needed approval for messages she puts out.

“As long as they are G-rated, I’m okay with it,” Turner joked.

Grellner will add city events to the digital board as requested. Turner suggested aldermen come up with phrases that could also be put on the sign.

* The Department of Revenue is working on allowing License Fee Offices to process online renewals.

“There will be a place when you log in where it will ask you where your agent fees should go,” Grellner explained. “They are still in the process of figuring this out.”

Jaegers noted that this could increase revenue for the License Fee Office.

* Soccer nets have been erected at Maguire Park, and soccer practices will start soon. There will be two soccer matches at the park on April 15 and April 22. The rain date is scheduled for May 13.

The Linn R-2 baseball team has started practices at the City Park.

“I haven’t figured that one out,” Massey said. “What’s wrong with their field?”

Grellner answered that it was her understanding that the Linn R-2 field is currently set up for softball.

“I find it interesting that they feel like they can use our field and we have never been able to use their field,” Massey said.

In other park news, Neil Loethen reported new doors installed at the City Park restrooms.

* Fredrich has reported that ultraviolet lights have been installed at the wastewater plant. He is also working on filling potholes.

“This is last year’s cold mix, so it isn’t great, but it’s better than a pothole,” Fredrich said. “There are a lot more holes to fill in.”

Fredrich also reported that the electrical work had been completed at the wash bay for the city’s shed. He is waiting for an estimate for new garage doors and a garage door opener.

Fredrich has met with resident Tracie Southerlin, who lives at 403 S. Ninth St., regarding an issue she has with wastewater backing up into her finished basement. It was determined that Southerlin had a dip in her line. She will replace the line and install a backflow device.

Fredrich and Massey were not able to meet with Logan Vogel about the problem he was having with blocked sewer lines.

* Police Chief Sam Ford noted that he has been very busy over the past month. He has hired two new full-time officers that are working out well.

Ford noted he has been getting out in the community and meeting people.

After investigating the lack of speed limit signs on Jefferson Street at the request of Aldermen Turner, he has found 12 locations where 20-mile per-hour speed-limit signs could be placed. He noticed that in the more densely populated areas, many kids rode bikes and skateboards after school.

Aldermen Rick Niewald said that he sees the same situation on Benton Street and asked Ford to see if more speed-limit signs would be helpful.

Ford reported that there is a sign missing where 10th Street meets Hwy. 50.

Ford has asked Fredrich to contact Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to paint the crosswalks as the lines have worn and faded over time.

Massey asked Ford how he was doing with his new position.

“Staffing is my biggest concern,” Ford said. “But things are working out well.”

“Things didn’t get messed up overnight, and it’s not going to get fixed overnight,” Massey said. “I’m tickled with what I’ve been seeing.”

“I’m really happy to be here,” Ford answered.

* City Attorney Kent Brown noted that he has been following up with AAA Rentals about paving their parking lot and working on getting the city’s police dog back from boarding; both situations are ongoing.

* Aldermen approved outstanding bills for the month for $189,692.82.

* Linn had the following ending balances in governmental fund accounts: general ($481,551.58), pool (-$17,234.61), park ($107,736.74), police training ($3,566.18), general fund-improvements and equipment ($8,646.09), park-improvements and equipment ($15,426.30), pool-improvement and equipment ($13,985.14).

* The city had the following ending balances in business-type funds: water ($442,629.22), water replacement ($66,368.36), sewer ($374,783.92), sewer replacement ($21,454.81), grants (-$23,742.16).

* Linn holds nine certificates of deposit totaling $1,276,980.03.

* The next budget meeting is scheduled for April 11 at 5 p.m., and the next regular meeting will be held on April 25 at 5 p.m.