LINN — Linn aldermen were shocked by the price tag of $1,207,560 for four projects proposed at their meeting last Tuesday by Bartlett & West, which had completed a design-build estimate for the four projects at the request of the city. The gravity sewer extension for the golf course is estimated at $242,118 with an additional $441,498 estimated for the water extension. The gravity sewer extension for the Stone Gate Subdivision is estimated to cost $165,888, and the sewer extension for Community Christian Church is estimated at $358,056.  

Mayor Dwight Massey argued that he thought that they had eliminated several parts of the projects after Bartlett & West had presented original estimates to reduce costs.

“The initial numbers that we were given, I said there was no way we could afford this on water lines,” Massey said. “We don’t have $1.2 million  to spend on these projects right now.”

Bartlett & West Engineer Gary Davis explained that the projects had not been put out for bid yet and that the numbers were estimated based on average prices his company is seeing.

“The thing is, these are our opinions,” Davis said. “We can negotiate them down but we haven’t bid them yet. These are based on the latest, greatest actual bids.”

Bartlett & West was ready to send out all four proposals to be bid with subcontractors as early as Dec. 15, with bids due back by Jan. 7.

“The way we are going to send these bids out is we’re going to advise our sub-contractors that you may not award all of these projects,” Davis explained. “You may award zero or you may award all four. So, you are not obligated to all of them and you don’t have to do any of them.”

“Each contractor will be putting a price down for each individual project,” Project Engineer Hope Drennan added.

“At least we have some numbers to look at,” Massey said. “I don’t know how we’re going to afford them but we’ve got some numbers.”

Davis asked if there were any of the projects that should be dropped from the bidding process.

“Well, I mean you’ve got (projects) that are already starting construction,” Massey said. “I want to see some bids.”

Davis pointed out that the estimates did not include acquiring any property easements. The estimate for the water extension does not include a recent requirement for additional water to backwash the pool filter two to three times per week. The procedure will use a little over 400 gallons per minute for five minutes and that will happen three times per week.

“We just found this out,” Davis said. “I’m not sure how we will handle that. I’m not sure the pump will be able to keep up.”

Bartlett & West put together a tentative schedule for all four projects with bids awarded by Jan. 21. The Stone Gate Subdivision would be scheduled for work to begin on the sewer extension on Feb. 1 and run through March 21. The sewer and water extensions for the Osage Country Club would start on March 22 and run through June 27 followed by the sewer extension at Community Christian Church from June 22 and through mid-September.

Drennan also presented aldermen with new deadlines for the Jaegers Wastewater Project. She warned that the bids for the project needed to be awarded by April 2022 to maintain funding. 

Davis noted that the project could be put out for bid before all the easements were acquired. There are currently two easements that have not been acquired by the city of Linn. Massey has been talking to one of the landowners and believes they have found some common ground. He hopes to meet with the other property owner soon.

Final plans have been submitted to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The city can begin requesting reimbursements for the project at any time.

Bartlett & West hopes to send the project out for bid in January 2022.

Bartlett & West has submitted several projects for the city of Linn to be considered by the governor’s office for funds available from American Rescue Plan Act.

“We’ve submitted every plan we’ve ever talked about,” Davis said. “Your name is in the hat, so if there is money to throw at projects, you’re in there.”

The governor’s office projects it will have responses for those projects in January.

In other business, aldermen are considering putting in place a new ordinance that would make the property owners responsible for the water bill if it is unsafe or unsanitary for the city employees to shut off the water or to read the water meter.

“The property owner is responsible for (the water bill) if the renter doesn’t pay it,” City Clerk Carrie Grellner explained. “That’s already in the ordinance but the way we normally do it is we go and shut off the water but in some of these situations, we can’t even get in to turn off the water.”

“A lot of these buildings have four to six meters in them,” Utilities Superintendent Larry Fredrich explained. “When you are going into a home and there are three pit bulls in an apartment, it’s not safe to go in there. When the building reeks so bad and you have to have overshoes on to get to the meter, that’s not safe. When we’ve had leaky sewer pipes dripping on my head, that’s not safe. It’s not safe for the guys. It’s not safe for the renter.”

The proposed new ordinance would require that water service be put in the name of the property owner if one of the following issues were present: access to the meter is inaccessible or accessible only through the property of someone other that than the person receiving services, access to the meter is unsafe, and/or access to the metered is through “water dripping on electrical lines, debris or broken glass in the area, mold growing on the walls or ceiling, animal feces in the area or other unsafe on unsanitary conditions.”

“I understand we can’t fix it all tonight, “Fredrich said. “But this would be a step in the right direction.”

Aldermen will discuss the issue again in January.

* The city’s preliminary yearly audit report was approved and shows the net position increased by $968,833 over the previous year due to the grant for the First and Fifth Street Project. The city had a decrease in the general fund from last year of $87,826 for an ending balance of $811,894. The city also had a decrease in the park fund of $16,990 for a balance of $122,657. Both the water and sewer funds showed an increase to the funds over last year. The water fund increased $62,921 for an ending balance of $1,294,351, and the sewer fund had an increase of $276,057, for a balance of $995,117.

There were two recommendations that the auditors suggested. The first recommendation was for the city to have current accounting procedures that have already been created by City Treasurer Janelle Jaegers and approved by the aldermen at the August meeting. The other recommendation is the development of a log for all departments to be able to track fuel. While the Linn Police Department keeps fuel logs, the board agreed it was a waste of time for the maintenance department to try to keep track of how the fuel was counted towards each department. Instead, Jaegers looks at how the maintenance crew spends their time and prorates the fuel to coordinate.

“That is as close as we can get without keeping a fuel log,” Jaegers explained.

Jaegers plans on presenting an investment plan to aldermen at the January meeting.

* Aldermen approved the insurance renewal with Missouri Public Entity Risk Management Fund (MOPERM) for $56,562, which was about a 20% increase over last year’s premium and MOPERM had dropped its cyber security option. 

Massey was not pleased about the increased cost of the premium. Grellner explained that the increase was because the city was insuring additional equipment this year.

“Our equipment last year was $400,000 and this year it’s $700,000,” Grellner said. “That’s where the majority of the increase comes from.”

Aldermen also approved cyber coverage for the city with a total premium of $1,337 per year.

Aldermen also approved the newest quote for health insurance for city employees. The premium increased by about 7% and will cost the city $4,554.08 per month. The board approved a change for vision and life insurance for city employees to Principal Life and Vision for a yearly cost of $1,003.68. Linn will see a slight premium decrease but employees have increased coverage and billing and customer service are easier.

* The board approved Environmental Research Center of Missouri to conduct a cultural resource study at the Linn City Park for $1,640. The survey is necessary to continue with the Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant.

* Police Chief Michael Bickell expressed concern that the call volume into the police department is at a record high with over two weeks left in 2021. The department has had over 5,200 calls in the last year and never has had more than 4,000 calls in a year.

* Fredrich wanted to put out a big thank-you to Cable America for the use of its bucket truck to remove the damaged sign at the entrance of the city. Massey is still discussing the design of a new sign with State Tech’s graphics arts department. Alderman Bill Turner noted that the city could hold a contest for a new slogan if that fell through.

* Aldermen tabled a decision to approve the easements proposed by Ameren that would go through Maguire Park. Massey and aldermen wanted more information about whether the line was overhead or underground and how it would affect the walking trail. Fredrich will contact the company handling the easement and report back what he finds out.

* Linn lost two trees in the Dec. 18 storm, one in the City Park and another at Maguire Park. 

* Grellner was authorized to put in place a complaint policy for the city.  

* City Hall will be closed on Dec. 24 for Christmas and on Dec. 31 for New Year’s.

* The Linn License Office will be closed Dec. 24-25 for Christmas and Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 for New Year’s.

* Massey and his wife drove the city’s truck in the parade. Many commented that the parade and Christmas on Main Street were a big success again this year. Massey thanked everyone in the community for all they do to make the event happen.

* Aldermen approved outstanding bills for $148,267.71.

* The city has the following ending balances in the government fund accounts: general ($140,661.02), pool (-$5,501.30), park ($74,312.43), police training ($1,090.18), general fund-improvements and equipment ($8,646.09), park-improvement and equipment ($28,410.50), and pool-improvement and equipment ($13,985.14).

* Linn has the following ending balances in the business-type funds: water ($413,461.88), water replacement ($114,757.17), sewer ($329,006.92), sewer replacement ($79,485.30), and grants ($81,497.94).

* The city holds nine certificates of deposit for a total of $1,086,949.40.

* Linn will have a budget and planning meeting on Jan. 11 at 5 p.m., and the next regular board meeting will be held on Jan. 18 at 5 p.m.