META — Meta aldermen amended the city’s tax levy for the third time last week, with a rate of $.4064 per $100 assessed valuation well below last year’s rate of $.4368.

“I don’t know if we’ll ever know the full situation regarding why the information changed three times,” said City Clerk Deidra Buechter. “Hopefully, this rate won’t change again.”

Assessed valuation for the year was listed as follows: real estate ($5,424,651), personal property ($827,470), locally-assessed RR and Utilities real estate ($1,313), locally-assessed RR and Utilities personal property ($4,460), state-assessed RR and Utilities real estate ($272,908), and state-assessed RR and Utilities personal property ($35,645), for a total AV of $6,566,447. There was no new construction listed, and personal property valuation decreased by $267,486.

In other business, aldermen modified only a couple of items regarding the Meta Elementary Memorial Park during a pre-construction meeting ahead of the regular gathering, which had been moved from the previous night.

Benches and trash cans were initially to be provided by the contractor. However, Clerk Buechter noted that five individuals or businesses in Meta donated the benches, so the city will buy trash cans so they match.

Project details that will not change include using an aggregate base, pavement for the sidewalk, a curing compound, reinforcing steel, ADA signage, a basketball goal, a pickleball net system, and a silt fence.

According to documentation provided by the city, the $226,085 contract included a notice for TB Dozing & Excavation to proceed, with a completion time of 160 calendar days. Liquidated damages will be $350 per day.

In reviewing the project outline, the following duties were acknowledged.

— Responsibility of Bartlett & West: prepare the agreement between the contractor and the city, submit and shop drawing reviews, interpret contract documents and answer questions during construction, provide monthly progress reports, complete a final walkthrough, close out the construction contract, and provide project administration and coordination.

— Meta’s responsibility: review, approval, and payment of pay requests and change orders as recommended by the consulting engineer, and coordination in returning all required forms and updates to the Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

— Responsibility of LWCF Grant Administrator: coordination and responsiveness regarding grant compliance requirements, coordination with the city on how to document in-kind work, and providing paperwork to the contractor to document payroll authorization.

— Responsibility of TB Dozing & Excavation: provide an estimated construction schedule to engineer and city and weekly construction updates by email or photos, complete the work in conformance with plans and specifications, prepare and submit RPI, change orders, and pay requests, provide original payrolls to the city and LWCF on a weekly basis (or a letter of no work completed for a given week), and provide authorization paperwork for payroll processing.

Bartlett & West will conduct project inspections in accordance with contract documents.

Aldermen authorized Mayor Ivie Helton to sign the contract once the city’s legal team approves it.

• Regarding the Drinking Water System project funding through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) State Revolving Fund (SRF), Bartlett & West told the city that the draft Intended Use Plan (IUP) has been revealed. It indicates that DNR would give Meta a $2.5 million grant, coupled with a $990,000 loan for drinking water system improvements. The final draft will be revealed in early October of this year. Bartlett & West noted that typically the IUP does not change from draft to final, but that is possible.

• Clerk Buechter reminded aldermen that Good Neighbor Week in Missouri will be observed from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4. The city plans to present a proclamation, and Buechter will add information on the back of water bills and may send out postcards.

Buechter noted that President Jimmy Carter established National Good Neighbor Day in 1978, and in 2022, Gov. Mike Parson signed legislation establishing Missouri Good Neighbor Week.

“Being a good neighbor offers tremendous health benefits, reduces crime, reduces loneliness, improves communities, and improves our quality of life,” she noted from literature provided to aldermen, which includes the fact that Neighborhoods USA selected Missouri Good Neighbor Week as the best neighboring program in the country in 2023.

Last year, over 31,000 acts of neighborliness were reported statewide, and stories of the 18 outstanding neighbors honored inspired thousands.

WATER/TRASH

Buechter reported that 637,832 gallons of water were pumped during August, with 365,080 gallons sold, 35,000 gallons flushed, 9,000 gallons used by the fire department, and 228,752 gallons (35.86%) lost or unaccounted for.

• A total of $6,297.84 in water sales was recorded, with $1,328.80 collected for trash service, $200 in late fees, and $226.79 collected in sales tax. Total charges were $8,053.43 with a previous surplus of $1,019.45, and payments received in the amount of $7,674.60, leaving a surplus of $650.62.

FINANCIAL NEWS

• In her regular monthly financial report, Treasurer Karla Buechter noted income/deposits of $46,662.31 and debits of $12,372.20 for a balance on hand as of Aug. 29 totaling $766,913.08; the money market balance was $143,270.45; and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) balance was $55.

The city’s CD totals $181,332.63, giving the city a total of $1,091,516.16 in all accounts.