LINN — At their April 22 meeting, Linn aldermen passed Ordinance #2025-005 and Ordinance #2025-006 changing water and sewer rates that went into effect on May 1. The new water rates will increase from $16.25 per month for a minimum of 1,000 gallons to $17 per month for both commercial and domestic accounts in the city limits. Commercial customers using more than 1,000 gallons a month will see an increase, from $.007125 to $.007875 per gallon. Domestic customers will also see an increase in usage of over 1,000 gallons, from $.00675 to $.0075 per gallon.

Out-of-city commercial and domestic customers will see a reduction in their monthly bills for customers with a minimum 1,000-gallon usage. As of May 1, the commercial and domestic out-of-city customers will pay the same rates as in-city customers, which will decrease their bills from $19.80 per month for minimum usage of 1,000 gallons. The rate per gallon over 1,000 gallons will also match that of in-city residents and commercial customers, but it will be a cost increase for out-of-city customers. The increase for commercial customers using over 1,000 gallons of water will increase from $.007125 to $.007875 per gallon and domestic customers will see an increase from $.007125 per gallon over 1,000 gallons to $.0075 per gallon.

Sewer rates also increased on May 1, with new rates for in-city commercial customers using a minimum of 1,000 gallons, from $19 to $20 per month. Domestic customers in the city limits will also see an increase for users with a minimum of 1,000 gallons, from $17.75 to $18.75 per month. Commercial in-city customers will see a price decrease for usage of over 1,000 gallons with costs going from $.008 to $.007875 per gallon and domestic in city customers seeing a decrease per gallon over 1,000 gallons of usage from $.0080 to $.0075 per gallon. The flat rate for in-city customers will increase from $35.55 to $37.54 per month.

Out-of-city limits commercial customers will see an increase in their sewer rates for minimum usage of 1,000 gallons per month, from $90 to $96 per month. Domestic out-of-city users will see an increase in the minimum charge for 1,000 gallons of usage, from $25 to $27 per month. Usage for out-of-city commercial customers over 1,000 gallons per month will increase from $.0075 to $.0085 per gallon and domestic customers will increase from $.00825 to $.00925 per gallon.

The city held a public hearing for the sewer use charge rate change and there were no comments.

In other business, Bartlett & West Project Engineer Hope Drennan said the Lee Mar Hills Regionalization Project is on hold until they can meet with the property owners.

“There are four property owners that we need to meet with,” Drennan said. “We did get all of the proposed manholes staked out, but we are kind of sitting on hold until we can meet with them.”

City Clerk Carrie Grellner said she is working with Mayor Dwight Massey to set up the meetings.

Drennan noted that the city would need to obtain easements from the property owners and that Bartlett & West engineers would like to meet with them before the project proceeds. The Cultural Resource Study is scheduled to start in the upcoming months and Drennan said that it is important to meet with the property owners before that process begins.

Manholes staked out several weeks ago may need to be re-staked for a walkthrough with property owners.

• Turner reported that construction of the new bathroom for the City Park is progressing.

“I’m not exactly pleased with the progress,” Turner said. “It’s not going as smooth as I had anticipated.”

The current total for the cost of the restroom project will be $180,170.76, including the added electrical expenses of $21,622.

“We’re close to the original budget,” Turner said. “I don’t think there will be any surprises there.”

Turner was surprised about the cost of concrete for the park sidewalks and pavilion, which Matt Lee with MOX Properties estimated at $30,000.

“I think that is awfully high,” Turner said. “For that much, I think we could do it ourselves.”

The estimate did not include tearing out the existing concrete in the pavilion. Aldermen will reach out and try to get additional estimates for the project.

Another problem with pouring new concrete for the pavilion is that the pavilion has been rented out for April 27, May 3, May 26, May 31, and June 14.

“That threw a wrinkle into things,” Turner said. “We need to get it done between May 3 and May 26. I hope we can get the concrete poured then, but I’m not sure.”

Several aldermen and city employees commented that the All-Inclusive Playground has been very popular since it opened.

The Osage County Health Department would like to coordinate its annual pool party with the grand opening of the All-Inclusive Playground.

“Last year, we had (the pool party) at State Tech because we’ve got a little too big for the City Pool, but this year, I would like to bring it back here, and my idea is to have more of a block party since you have provided such a great playground,” said Osage County Health Department Administrator Kim Sallin.

Sallin noted the event usually attracts between 175 and 200 people.

“Our pool party has always been in August, right before school starts, but we can definitely move that to coordinate with whatever works for the city,” Sallin said.

Turner hopes the restroom will be completed by Memorial Day.

“I think it will be July before we get the sidewalks done,” Turner said.

Sallin said she could be flexible with scheduling but would like to set a date before students go home from summer school.

Aldermen promised they would have a better idea for a timeline after the May meeting.

• Utilities Supervisor Aleks Rowinski reported that his crew has already had to do several repairs to the All-Inclusive Playground.

“We have been chipping away at our list on potholes and trying to get the streets swept,” Rowinski said. “The broom (for sweeping the streets) finally gave out. We were sweeping Fifth Street, and the motor went ‘kaput.’ It is one of the things that I’ve been warning you guys about, and now it has happened. This is something that needs to be looked at sooner rather than later.”

Rowinski said that he is looking for replacements that are in stock and will report back to the board.

He reported the city is experiencing a lot of sewer backups. “I don’t know if you guys put it in the budget this year, but we need a new push camera, and that’s a $7,000 expenditure,” Rowinski said. “That is something I would like to replace this year because it’s going to be like the broom. Every time we use it, we’re going to find something wrong with it. It’s worn out. It’s old. It’s time for a replacement.”

Rowinski said that they have been looking at several culverts that need to be replaced and sewer lines that need to be replaced on Lincoln Street.

“The guys are working as hard as they can, and I’ve been getting pulled away to do administrative stuff,” said Rowinski. “I’m looking at presenting ideas for our needs for next year’s budget. We need to look at new ideas and new equipment.”

• Police Chief Sam Ford asked aldermen if the city had a curfew, which they said they did not.

“We’re seeing a lot of juveniles out at night,” Ford said. “I think this is going to be an active summer for minors.”

As of right now, Ford said things are going well.

He is looking into a grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that covers up to 75% of the salary for a School Resource Officer.

• Alderman approved the April 8 election results, which showed that Ward 1 Alderman Dustin Flamm and Ward 2 Alderman Bill Turner were re-elected with 42 and 50 votes, respectively. Both were sworn into office.

• Park Board President Neil Loethen reported that following an initial inspection and bid for asbestos removal at the milk house in the City Park, ARSI Environmental and Demolition Contractors identified the asbestos and provided an estimate to remove it for $3,350.

Loethen hoped to get additional bids by the April 29 deadline.

Turner asked if it was necessary to also test the building for lead before it is torn down.

“What they said was that if we are demolishing the building and disposing of it, we did not have to test for lead,” Loethen said. “If we dump it in a landfill. If we dumped it somewhere else, we would have to have it tested for lead as well.”

He also informed aldermen of upcoming projects that he is working on, including putting mulch around trees and flowerbeds ($70), an attachment for the sprayer ($100), gravel for one of the flower beds ($616), and sealing the asphalt and painting the pickle ball court ($750). All these projects have already been approved by the board.

Loethen was hoping that when the city is removing the concrete from the pavilion they could remove several other unused concrete pads that are around the City Park.

He noted that the pavilions had previously been used for a barbecue grill and picnic table but since the park already has two smaller grill areas and one larger one at the larger pavilion, he didn’t think any others were necessary. Aldermen agreed it was a good idea to remove them if it was possible.

Loethen would also like or remove the sand volleyball court. “I don’t remember the last time I’ve seen it used for playing volleyball,” Turner said.

Aldermen agreed that the volleyball court could be removed, with grass planted in the area.

• Grellner received a notice from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) work would be done on driveways and sidewalks on May 5.

• The Christmas on Main Street Committee would like to purchase a shed and place it in the city’s commuter parking lot near the Square.

“They have acquired a lot of stuff and need somewhere to go with it,” Grellner said.

Although the parking lot is not heavily used, City Attorney Annie Willis was concerned about who would be responsible for maintaining insurance on the building and contents, and whether the organization was an official non-profit organization.

Willis and Grellner will check into the details and report back to the board.

• Willis reported that it is possible for a city to make outside wood-burning stoves illegal within the city limits. She noted that the Mid-Missouri Cities Union and Eugene have both already done so.

“I would suggest a grandfather clause for residents who already have them or a way to help them construct a chimney to a required height,” Willis said. “I suggest that you try to work with people, maybe have a public hearing to see what people think. You can do it, but you might want to think about it first.”

• Pool cleanup will be conducted on May 5 with the pool scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend.

• Justin Backes with Mid Mo Telecom conducted an inspection of City Hall, the maintence shed, city parks and the pool, and looked at options for security cameras. He suggested the city look at different options and that he could have a sales representative come to a meeting with a demonstration of how the cameras would work.

Backes will work up an estimate for the city that breaks down the project into four areas so aldermen could purchase the security stem over several budget years.

• Aldermen voted to not accept a proposal for Upahead, a company that sends out text alerts to citizens during emergencies. The proposal was $199 per month with a one-time set up fee of $999.

“I think it is pricey and I’m not sure we would use it,” said Grellner, adding it’s similar to the Smart 911 program the city already utilizes.

“I think we have better things to spend our money on,” Boeckmann agreed.

• Aldermen tabled a review of a company that would look at creating and servicing a new website for the city of Linn. The internet was down during the meeting and Grellner was unable to show the presentation.

• The board approved outstanding bills for the month for a total of $120,623.30.

• Linn had the following ending balances in their governmental fund accounts: general ($618,770.55), pool (-$41,484.52), park ($108,927.77), police training ($630.66), general fund-improvement and equipment (-$819.28), park-improvement and equipment (-$311,755.50), and pool-improvement and equipment ($1,948.24).

• The city had the following ending balances in their business-type funds: water ($513,956.18), water replacement ($119,348.36), sewer ($493,687.39), sewer replacement ($60,454.81), and grants (-$133,855.10).

The city holds nine certificates of deposit totaling $1,364,623.10.

• The next meeting will be held on May 20 at 5 p.m.