Linn aldermen last Tuesday approved an ordinance authorizing Mayor Dwight Massey to sign a change order with Higgins Asphalt and Paving Company for the 2021 Street Resurfacing Project. The change order will add $60,798.35 to the street project adding an overlay to east Jefferson Street from Third to Fifth Street, an overlay to Fourth Street, from east Jefferson Street to the dead end, remove and replace the failed area on Fourth Street and an overlay to Fourth Street, from Highway 50 to east Jefferson Street. The original price tag for the street project was $242,863.41 and with the change order, the new total will be $303,661.76; the date of completion for the project will extend to June 22.

Aldermen also passed an ordinance establishing no parking areas for Benton Street. The amendment to the city’s traffic code will limit parking to only one side of the street. New “No Parking” zones will extend to the south side of east Benton Street, from north First Street to north Sixth Street, and the north side of west Benton Street, from west Main Street to north First Street.

“I know there are some areas where people are trying to park on both sides of the street,” Massey said. “When we had snow removal, there was no way to get through there.”

Concerns had been voiced by aldermen and the police department that emergency and services vehicles would not be able to drive down the street with the current parking situation. 

“A lot of these houses have no off-street parking and I understand that,” said Massey, who recommended that police inform residents of the new rules before writing tickets.

In other business aldermen approved the purchase of two handheld radios for the police department. The radios will cost the city $9,996.98 but the amount will be reimbursed through the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEGB) from the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

* The Jaegers Wastewater Regionalization Project is moving forward with four contractors purchasing plans and specifications for the project that went out to bid on March 14.  The project will be opened to accept bids on April 7. Linn is working with Bartlett & West on schedules and documents that are needed to keep the project on schedule to maintain funding.

* Linn signed a design-build contract with Bartlett & West on March 15 to move forward on the Stonegate Subdivision and Osage Country Club sewer projects. Bartlett & West will begin working on scheduling with Aplex, Inc.

* Aldermen approved a new ordinance adopting an investment policy for the city. The new ordinance outlines the investment policy that has already been in place by the city, but it was recommended by the city’s auditors that the policy be put in writing. This ordinance will meet the requirement set forth by the auditors.

* An estimate from Mid Country Tree Service to remove two dead trees from the Linn City Park was approved totaling $1,025, not including stump removal. The city received three other bids for removing the trees. Feeler Tree Service estimate came in at $1,300, Tree Solutions came in at $1,100, and Fields Tree Service estimated a cost of $1,830. The trees will be cut into pieces before they start to leaf out.

* Utilities Superintendent Larry Fredrich explained that the city is currently dealing with some pranksters that are putting things into the sewer system. Items have been wrapping around the pumps, tripping the overload on the lift stations, and requiring Fredrich and his crew to pull the pumps and clean them out.

“So far we’ve pulled out four big bath towels, a net laundry bag, a couple of t-shirts, and a long-sleeve shirt over the past two months,” Fredrich reported. 

He has walked the route and has not seen any obvious signs that the manhole covers have been disturbed.

“I think somebody is just being a prankster, lifting a manhole lid and throwing something in and walking away,” Fredrich said. “They don’t realize what that is costing the city and costing us in time. We don’t know how much damage it is doing to the pumps because before they trip out overheat. So, we are not sure how much of the lifetime of the pump we are losing. This is an expensive hobby for us.”

Fredrich noted that the manhole covers weigh between 110 to 120 pounds so it can’t be kids that are causing the problem.

Alderman Rick Niewald asked if it was possible to put locks on the manholes.

“No,’ Fredrich answered. “Manholes are designed so if the system has a backup of any kind the covers simply float off, so they don’t go into a customer’s house.”

Fredrich will continue to monitor the situations and continue cleanouts as necessary.

“I sure hope they get tired of doing this because I’m tired of cleaning up after them,” Fredrich said.

* Jim Butler Automotive has donated a blade to the city to be used on the front of the bobcat.

Fredrich noted that they used the blade in the last snow and that it worked well in tight spots.

* Fredrich is pricing a new blade for the snowplow that was damaged in one of the snows this winter. The blade cost $270 and was purchased from Garner Trucking.

* Osage County Special Services Executive Director and Committee Member for the All-Inclusive Playground Megan Reichart addressed aldermen with concerns about potential projects at the city park.

“I wanted to let you know that anything that involves exclusivity, I am more than happy to talk to you guys and be involved in those conversations,” said Reichart, who wants to make sure that moving forward, improvements to the city park will be fully accessible, along with the playground.

Regarding the All-Inclusive Playground, Reichart noted that the committee is currently waiting to hear back from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) about the grant.

“We’re still waiting to hear one way or another,” Reichart said. “We have an amount of money that we can’t do anything with until they tell us yes or no.”

Reichart explained that if they do not get the grant from DNR, the committee is ready to move forward on constructing most of the playground. If they receive the grant funding, the project can be done in its entirety. Reichart said that she is frustrated with the situation but the DNR keeps pushing back the award dates and there is nothing that can be done at this time.

“We promise, something inclusive will be built there,” Reichart said. “I hate waiting but that is kinda outa our hands right now.”

* Aldermen approved outstanding bills totaling $133,656.75.

* Linn has the following ending balances in their governmental fund accounts: general ($301,938.04), pool (-$8,379.24), park ($86,927.87), police training ($3,185.18), general fund-improvements and equipment ($8,646.09), park-improvements and equipment ($26,770.50), and pool-improvement and equipment ($13,985.14).

* The City has the following ending balances in their business-type fund: water ($413,534.21), water replacement ($123,587.17), sewer ($314,599.99), sewer replacement ($85,985.30), and grants ($68,338.26).

* Linn has nine certificates of deposit totaling $1,089,313.47.

* City Clerk Carrie Grellner and City Treasurer Janelle Jaegers presented aldermen with a quote of $643.50 from CentralSquare, the general ledger software that Jaegers would like to buy so that vendors can be paid electronically. Jaegers estimated that Grellner spends approximately $1,300 per year on envelopes, stamps, and time writing out checks. The total cost includes a one-time setup fee of $390 and an annual maintenance fee of $254.

“No matter how you look at it, there is a cost-saving,” Jaegers said.

Aldermen will decide on the software at a future meeting.

* Grellner reminded aldermen that the election is on April 5 and spring cleanup is on May 13.

* Alderman Bill Turner and Grellner will request quotes from several companies for coding services for the city’s ordinances. They will forward these quotes to all the aldermen for consideration.

* Niewald has recently started walking for his health and has noticed that there is a lot of chat, gravel, and cinders on the sidewalks that could be dangerous to walkers this spring.

Massey asked Fredrich to investigate an effective way to clean the sidewalks and intersections.

* The next budget and planning meeting will be held at 5 p.m. on April 5 and the next regular meeting will be held on April 19 at 5 p.m.