BY NEAL A. Johnson

UD Editor

thor65018@yahoo.com

Meta aldermen at a special meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 14, agreed to pursue a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to develop the Meta Elementary Memorial Park at 300 W. Seventh Street near the new maintenance shed. This grant provides between $25,000 and $500,000 for qualifying projects but the city is obligated to a 50% match.

“I don’t know what we plan on spending on this project but we can make it one of our big projects for next year,” said Alderman Lawrence Hoffman in his role as Mayor Pro Tem.

Alderman Otto Wankum placed flags around the area for the purpose of initial surveying but suggested fellow aldermen take a look and provide input.

City Clerk Deidra Buechter also noted that the deed to the property will need to be changed to reflect the park portion as forever designated for public use. The deed will also need to reflect any existing easements or uses, and buildings.  

Aldermen agreed it was best to secure the assistance of Bartlett & West for engineering the park project and to obtain a cost estimate for the project.

“The only other thing we could do is draw it by hand and put it in the paper for bids,” said Hoffman.

Treasurer Mary Plassmeyer noted that she was told by Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) that the city has a better chance of obtaining the grant if the engineering study is conducted by a well-known and respected firm such as Bartlett & West.

“So, they’ll detail the project and do everything?” Hoffman asked.

“Yes,” Plassmeyer replied. “Bartlett & West will come up with a diagram and bring it back to us.”

Handicapped-accessible parking and ADA accessibility to the basketball ball court and trail will be part of the project.

Meta’s 50% match obligation can be made by city funds, donations, or in-kind work. A total of four part-time employees and five city officials will maintain the park. Hours logged by employees and equipment use will count as in-kind work.

A survey of the property will need to be submitted by Feb. 1, and the grant deadline is Feb. 16.

In other business, aldermen agreed to paint lines on the basketball/tennis court to create a pickleball court.

Hoffman added he is not opposed to creating a pickleball court at the new park once it’s developed.

At the board’s Dec. 8 meeting, aldermen addressed issues with paint peeling and other problems with the water tower.

Buechter in her role as Interim Water Operator noted the tower has been painted twice in the last three years and still there is a problem with the workmanship provided by Maguire Iron.

“The second time they spot-painted it,” she said. “We may need them to come back.”

City Attorney Nathan Nickolaus noted there is a lot of federal funding for water projects, which would include a new tower and water system. “It’s a great time to go for that federal money if you’re looking to get a new water system in the next five years,” he said.

Bartlett & West Engineer Gary Davis in an email to the city noted the firm inspected the tower at no charge. Mildew was found on the weld seams and undercoating failure areas.

Davis said the inspector suggested the entire exterior of the tank needs to be brush-blasted to remove all the coating that is barely adhered.

Aldermen agreed to check into grant opportunities.

In the meantime, Nickolaus will send a letter to Maguire Iron about the problem.

* Meta received a favorable audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, from Gerding, Korte & Chitwood, a CPA firm based in Boonville.

Aldermen approved the audit, which showed the city ended the fiscal year with a net position of $613,123, including the following fund balances: General ($258,540), Motor Fuel Tax ($60,490), Water Tower ($68,078), and Park ($44,045). General revenues for the year were $199,362 and expenditures were $255,517, with transfers of $134,074. 

* To show appreciation for the use of the lot owned by the Christian family for the Christmas tree, the city agreed to pay the electric bill for December, up to $100.

“We thank them for letting us use the lot for the tree-lighting ceremony,” said Mayor Emily Sommerer, noting funds generated during the Holiday Mart will be used to pay for the electric bill.

* Aldermen agreed to purchase safety cones for use when maintenance crews are working on a street and for events hosted in Meta. Wankum noted there were not enough cones to properly caution people during the city’s Christmas event. 

Aldermen also approved the purchase of a new battery for the city truck, and Buechter will contact Heritage Tractor in Westphalia for options on chainsaw repairs and a new unit.

* In other maintenance news, a general job description was presented for employees to solidify the expectations aldermen have for the city.