Meta aldermen at their March 11 meeting disagreed with an assertion that the new maintenance building will be constructed within the floodplain, but agreed to construct the new facility a little west of its originally intended position.

“Lawrence (Hoffman) and I went out and shot it this morning,” said Mayor Harold Libbert. “It’s just about four feet higher than the floodplain map shows. We measured from the high side of the bridge and before we even got to our stakes we were four feet higher.”

Libbert said a surveyor should come down and measure it to show exactly why current readings don’t match up with county maps.

“Here’s the problem with all of this,” said Alderman Otto Wankum. “We have this construction company coming in wanting to start doing this. I’m not going to say ‘Put it right here,’ because I have this map in my hands saying it’s in the floodplain.”

A letter from Tamara Snodgrass of Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), even if one corner of the building touches the floodplain, the entire structure must adhere to floodplain regulations, which require it be built at least one foot above the base flood elevation (BFE).

The letter also noted that the city will have to get the base flood elevation certificate from a surveyor proving that the bottom of the first floor of the building meets the BFE requirements.

“How do we know that’s in the floodplain with a four-foot difference?” Libbert asked.

“I got this right here,” said Wankum, alluding to a floodplain map. “I am not going to say put the building right here based on your measurements when I have a map from someone who’s supposed to know what they’re doing is telling me it’s in the floodplain.”

Libbert insisted it would take four feet of water “running down the street” for it to hit the building, based on measurements he and Hoffman took.

“The issue is that if we decide to build where we originally were going to build, according to them, we’re going to have to jump through all kinds of hoops in order to do it,” said Alderman Ivie Helton. “If the map is truly wrong, we need to get them to fix it before we put a building there. Otherwise, we’re going to have problems. One of the two things needs to be fixed. Which is easier? Moving the position of the building back so we know we’re safe? Or making them update the floodplain map so we have documentation saying it’s outside the floodplain?”

City Clerk Deidra Buechter noted that the city has already paid for half of the project, and breaking the contract would not be a good idea. “It would be our fault for holding up the project,” said Buechter.

Helton asked how detrimental it would be to the project to move the building back. “What are the pros and cons of a new location?”

Libbert said all materials would have to be stored in front of the building in that case.

“I’m not worried about that,” said Wankum. “What are we going to store?”

Libbert said there are currently 20 loads of gravel being stored there.

Alderman Steve Sherrell said that is certainly an issue, and a different location for storage of gravel needs to be determined.

“We’ve got six acres down there, and moving it a little farther back isn’t going to amount to a hill of beans on where you’re going to store crap,” said Wankum. “In my opinion, we have way too much crap stacked down there now.”

Helton suggested moving the building beyond the floodplain would be the best option.

“What if we go through all of this and argue with them, and they come back and say it’s right? We’ve wasted a lot of time in that case,” said Helton.

Sherrell said MRPC has been working with the city to monitor activities in the floodplain and the map should reflect that.

Helton added that it doesn’t matter what measurements are taken; the map outlines the floodplain and that is what will be used to determine the city’s adherence to regulations.

“It’s the federal government and we’re talking about flood insurance,” said Sherrell. “If we don’t abide by that, we screw up everybody’s flood insurance.”

“Yeah, we’ll get reamed for all that stuff,” Helton said.

Aldermen agreed it was best not to take any chances, and officially agreed to move the new location of the building.

In other business, Wankum asked about how to encourage Dollar General to agree to annex the business property into the city.

“We need to go down and have a conversation with whomever is in charge, and they can send it up the ladder in the organization,” said Wankum, noting that if Dollar General owns the land, he believes the issue of annexation could be put forth to voters.

“That’s a good question for the lawyer,” said Libbert.

“From what I’ve read, there’s a good possibility we could do that,” Wankum continued. “But I’d rather go down and have a good conversation about it, because I think we can sell it to them and tell them it would be to their benefit to be part of the city.”

The store is utilizing city water but the hook-up is actually within the city limits via an adjacent property.

Helton said the sales tax Dollar General would collect if annexed would then be used to make improvements. “Overall, that helps their business in the long run,” she added. “If we want people to come here, we’ll need to do that, and when they’re here, they’ll shop more.”

Wankum and Helton volunteered to kickstart the process by visiting Dollar General to have that conversation.

“Like any business, you want to feel good about the community you’re in,” said Wankum. “I know right now they’re not in the city, but they’re close. You can throw a rock and hit it.

Resident Lawrence Wansing, who was instrumental in drawing Dollar General to the Meta community, said the managers were very interested in the city, and he provided them a book outlining the city’s history.

“They were very thankful for that,” Wansing said.

“We just have to sell them the positives of the situation, and see where we can go,” said Wankum.

The only cost for annexation is a $25 business license, which Wankum said shouldn’t be an issue.

Treasurer Mary Plassmeyer said when Dollar General was building, city taxation was not an issue as the company was told by the state of Missouri that it was inside the city limits already.

Neither Meta nor Osage County had Dollar General listed within the city limits, and Buechter said it was a last-minute decision by the state to not require the company to collect sales tax.

* One response was received from letters sent to owners of dangerous property, Buechter reported to the board.

“They said they were in the process of remodeling,” Buechter added.

Helton suggested focusing on the empty properties first and give this individual an opportunity to complete repairs.

Area property owners were given an opportunity to participate in a cost-free grant to clean up the dangerous elements, and no one chose to take advantage of it.

Helton said that since this round of letters was the second chance to correct problems, there is no need to send additional notice, and it’s time to move on to the fine portion of the dangerous property ordinance.

“We have to make sure we’re recouping our cost,” Helton said, adding that if fines are not paid, they can be added as a lien on property tax payments.

The letter outlined that property owners have 120 days to comply, and after that, fines of between $25 and $500 can be assessed. The lone respondent will be notified of the compliance date and subsequent fine schedule.

Aldermen agreed to physically view the properties in question and return next month with a recommendation for the fee structure.

* Jeremy Vandergiff, the founder of the 10U baseball team called the Outcasts, asked for a decision on when the team could use the ball field.

Vandergiff said the field is a good central spot for all teams played in the league, and said he would be willing to pay to use it.

Helton said a schedule would be necessary to make sure the field is available and ready.

“We couldn’t get a schedule last year, so if we can get that up front, there’s no reason we can’t work with you,” said Helton.

The team practices two or three times a week, and has been practicing indoors due to weather, but no games are scheduled at this time for a fall season.

However, Vandergiff said he would like to expand the organization to get as many games as possible so kids can play.

The park is used for much more than ball games, Libbert said, as family gatherings and special events are often booked. Vandergiff said he understood that position, and is happy to cooperate.

Vandergiff agreed to send the schedule as soon as possible, and pay the $5 per-use fee at that time.

“There was just a lot of miscommunication last year, and if we can improve that, it will be better for everyone,” said Buechter.

* Buechter told the board it’s time to consider a change in its legal representation.

“I feel that possibly you guys aren’t getting your money’s worth out of the current lawyer,” she said of attorney David Bandre. “Probably to get the most bang for your buck, you need someone who specializes in municipal law instead of someone who has their hands in all different types of law to be the best candidate to represent the city.”

Buechter added that issues like nuisance and dangerous property can get especially hairy, and an attorney well-versed in municipal law is preferable.

Alderman Hoffman said he doesn’t have a problem with Bandre. “Anything we’ve asked of him he’s done,” he said.

Helton said she’s interested in seeing options. “If we’re going to ask a lawyer questions, I want to be sure we get the right answer,” she added.

Buechter will gather more information for review next month.

* Wankum told colleagues that performance reviews are important for decision-making with regard to salary compensation or if need be, disciplinary action. He is working on a program to set up a checklist for the board to follow.

He also suggested hiring summer help to handle weed-eating, mowing and things of that nature.

“It’s getting to be that time we go out and advertise if we choose to hire someone, and it’s my opinion that we have a long way to go to get the city cleaned up and kept clean,” said Wankum.

An overall organizational control needs to be in place, he added, to ensure that all projects the board wants to have done are done in good time and order.

Wankum wants aldermen to present ideas for projects that need to be done for discussion at the next meeting.

Loethen and Stumpe agreed that additional help would be welcome in the summer.

Helton noted projects need to be analyzed to determine whether an additional person should be hired.

“We should focus on things this person can do based on what they can do in the hours they can work,” said Wankum. “I don’t see this being a permanent full-time position. I see it as something we can do in the summer and fall to get ready for winter. We have to stay ahead of it because once you fall behind, you’re done.”

Buechter will create a list of projects based on the job description for part-time summer help, and she will compile any additions for review next month.

* Maintenance employees Kenny Loethen and Mitch Stumpe are working to replace 10 posts and top rails at the park. Libbert offered equipment to drive the posts in the ground. Fencing will be attached at the top while the bottom will be loose to allow flood water to pass through, along with most of the debris.

About two foot of water went through the area in the last flood, and a lot of debris was caught in the fence.

Aldermen approved the purchase of supplies for the repair project.

* Aldermen approved a revised records destruction list to ensure that all documents are properly disposed of as the city cleans out files.

* At this time, a city-wide clean-up is scheduled for May 13. All items must be set at the curb by 5 a.m. that day, and items need to be bagged or bundled so that one person can handle removal.

No hazardous, liquid or yard waste will be allowed, and car parts, white goods and concrete are likewise disallowed. All items in question will be left by the Republic driver, Buechter said.

Anyone with questions may call Republic Services at 573-635-8805.