Meta aldermen at last Wednesday’s meeting thanked Mayor Harold Libbert for his years of service to the community as he presided over part of his last meeting before handing the reins to Emily Sommerer, who defeated him 26-11 in the April 6 election.
Alderman Ivie Helton said she appreciated not only his efforts as mayor and alderman but also his role as water operator.
“I just want to thank you for everything you’ve done,” she added. “You know a tremendous amount of things. You always impress me.”
“Thank you,” Libbert replied. “I hope to help out the city in the future.”
His wife, Norma Jean, echoed the appreciation.
“Harold has gone beyond the call of duty with his civic leadership for the past 30 or more years,” she said. “He’s had enough trials, and with his medical condition, he went beyond even when he was fighting cancer and going through chemo.”
“We appreciate Harold and we appreciate you as well,” Helton said.
“She’s done a lot, I have to admit that,” Harold said of his wife.
Norma Jean said the last year has been particularly rough and it’s time for Harold to bow out.
Sommerer is the second woman to hold the position of mayor, the first being Helen Winkelman. She was sworn in, along with Alderman Lawrence Hoffman and Helton, who ran unopposed in the April 6 election and received 30 and 29 votes, respectively.
City Attorney Nathan Nickolaus invited all Meta elected officials to a one-day training event for board members on May 21.
In other business, Interim Water Operator Deidra Buechter said last month’s water loss showed a jump from the previous month. She reported that 475,956 gallons of water were pumped during March, with 280,288 gallons sold, 350 gallons used by the fire department, 3,000 gallons flushed, 16,500 gallons in tower overflows, and 34,500 gallons in accounted for leaks, and 141,318 gallons (29.69%) in lost or unaccounted for water.
“This has me puzzled,” said Buechter, noting that February’s loss was just 8.59%.
Flushing is used before testing, with the number of gallons estimated, along with the amount used in tower overflows, which was estimated by Flynn Drilling at 252 gallons per minute for 45 minutes.
Buechter said she added a few thousand gallons to the total for a cushion but when analyzing the meter readings, she cannot isolate a significant increase in usage.
“I’m wondering if maybe I didn’t account for enough either with the hydrant that was leaking or with the flushing,” she said.
Alderman Otto Wankum noted the hydrant was leaking quite a bit of water and agreed that perhaps the total estimate was off. “The water wasn’t coming to the surface,” said Wankum. “It was going underground and wherever.”
“When we got the hydrant fixed, the numbers went down,” Buechter noted. “I possibly didn’t account for much on the leak but I didn’t want to overestimate either and make our water loss look a whole lot better that it really was.”
“You might have underestimated the overflow at the tower too,” said Alderman Steve Sherrell.
“That’s possible,” Buechter replied.
An inspection report from Flynn Drilling indicated the flow rate is reading 25 gallons per minute high but everything else looks good.
Another possibility is the water is being counted twice because of backflow as water goes through the meter, then reverses.
“We have pretty much taken the system apart and put it back together again to see what the problem is,” said Helton. “There’s no good explanation for having a seven percent water loss one month and then a 50 percent water loss the next month, not doing anything, and then having a seven percent water loss the following month. You would think it would be consistent, and when we found it and fixed it, the problem would go away.”
Even when leaks have been found and repaired, the fluctuation makes no sense to Helton.
“There’s no rhyme or reason to it,” she added.
Meta has installed new meters throughout the city, which has helped, but the changes each month continue to baffle aldermen.
Buechter said she will check with Bartlett & West for ideas.
In related news, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Environmental Engineer Joe Stoops in response to complaints about chlorination told Buechter to maintain the level in the system per the Bilateral Compliance Agreement. Anyone with concerns may contact his office, but those who truly do not want chlorine may install a carbon filter or water softener.
“I know people are unhappy with their water but we’re doing our best to provide them with safe, bacteria-free drinking water,” said Buechter.
Mayor Sommerer suggested drafting a letter explaining everything the city has done to this point and what is required by DNR for those who are unaware of the situation.
Osage County Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin, Western District Commissioner Larry Kliethermes, Osage County 911/Emergency Management Director Ron Hoffman and Sheriff Mike Bonham sat in on the meeting and updated the board of recent happenings.
Griffin said the county is working with Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), which has received a grant for broadband internet services.
Wisper, Cable America, AT&T, RadioWire, and Wisper will discuss options in a Zoom meeting on April 20, as they work toward getting internet access for county residents. Griffin asked anyone interested in joining the Zoom meeting to contact him.
“It’s more or less in the developing stages,” said Griffin.
Griffin also apprised aldermen of the Highway 63 Alliance, which is trying to develop a four-lane highway from Thayer, Ark., to Jefferson City at a cost of $500 million. Counties are working on getting a group together and Griffin said if anyone wants to serve on the board they may contact him.
“We would like your feelings on 63 becoming a four-lane highway,” said Griffin. “Are you for it or against it? Because it could be a sales tax or property tax, so it’s something to think about.”
Currently, the group is meeting every two months, putting together by-laws, and readying for grants.
Meta is in line to receive $42,521 in America Recovery Plan funds but Griffin said he isn’t sure what the money may be used for at this time.
Kliethermes added that he and Griffin have also been attending Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) meetings to fight for projects in Osage County.
One project that has been moved up on the list is the junction of Hwy. 50 and Rt. CC, along with improvements on Hwy. 63 at Rt. E.
“We would do something similar to what we did at 133 and 63,” said Kliethermes. “It’s pretty hard on your neck coming off E trying to get on the highway.”
Wankum said the improvements at the junction of Hwy. 133 and Hwy. 63 is fantastic.
“We’ve been working with the other counties in this group as much as we can,” said Kliethermes. “When you’re competing with bigger counties for funding, it’s tough, but we keep going.”
In response to a question from Sherrell, Kliethermes said there were no plans to overlay Hwy. 133 between Meta and Westphalia.
In his role as 911 and EMA director, Hoffman said he works closely with Meta Fire Protection District Chief Kenny Helton, who provides a voice for Meta at the 911 Advisory meetings.
“Whatever we can do to make it better, let us know,” said Hoffman. “Know that as citizens, I am here for you.”
He reminded everyone that April 18-24 is Telecommunicator Week.
Sheriff Bonham said he continues to make the department’s presence known in Meta. “We’ve mapped your area and know where the hotspots are,” he said. “There’s only so much we can do because of the Constitution. Just because there are a lot of cars somewhere doesn’t mean we can kick the door in.”
Like other parts of the county, Meta has some issues but Bonham said he will continue to address those issues. One positive aspect is significant home ownership among Osage County residents, which helps reduce the number of problem areas.
“You will get saturations from time to time and we will continue to monitor the park and cemetery,” said Bonham.
Border traffic between Osage and Miller counties includes back roads, which are of concern to Bonham.
“One of the things we request is that if people see suspicious activity, call us and let us know,” said Bonham. “We don’t mind. We still make house calls.”
“I, for one, appreciate you guys getting into town,” said Wankum.
Bonham closed by saying that to date, his department has taken in about $1.3 million in grants and donated equipment since he took office.
WATER/TRASH SALES
* A total of $3,476.44 in water sales were recorded, with $1,124.28 collected for trash service, $70 in late fees, and $133.63 collected in sales tax. Total charges were $4,804.35 with a previous balance of $1,039.56, and payments received in the amount of $5,222.92, leaving a balance due of $891.
FINANCIAL NEWS
* In her regular monthly financial report, Treasurer Mary Plassmeyer noted income/deposits totaled $12,483.73 and debits of $14,314.37 for a balance on hand as of March 31 totaling $291,888.29; the money market balance was $140,160.57; the escrow account totaled $910; and two certificates of deposit totaling $53,212.56 and $124,095.34, respectively, giving the city total funds on hand of $610,266.76. Aldermen decided to renew the larger CD as it matures on April 29 for 15 months at 0.5% interest. Also, the escrow account will be closed and the funds transferred to the water account.
A total of $11,675.68 in expenses were paid in March.
* The next regular meeting of the board will be held at 6:30 p.m. May 12, and a special budget meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. May 19.
Other business from this meeting will be presented next week.