Meta aldermen last Wednesday committed to seeking a grant to address drainage issues around City Hall after a presentation by Bartlett & West Engineer Dillon Feely, who told aldermen his firm had developed four options, including doing nothing, building a cast-in-place retaining wall, erecting a modular retaining wall, or connecting existing piping to new pipes.

“We need to give the water a chance to get out,” said Feely. “I think a major component of why we’re getting water backed up is the pipe. We have a good chunk of water that’s coming off the hill that flows out of the 12-inch pipe and after a short stretch has to get back into a 12-inch pipe. That’s very difficult and when that water has to stack up and try to get into the next pipe under your driveway, I think it’s just backing up and adding to the water that’s stuck on the north side of the building.”

Feely proposed connecting the two pipes so there is no discharge at the hill above the building. “We want to keep it contained and let it go through to where it’s supposed to be going,” he added.

Surveys have not been conducted so exact measurements for pipe diameters are not available but the pipe under Hwy. 133 is 18 inches, Feely noted. He suggested using a 24-inch pipe but said that may change after a survey is completed.

“One of my questions is how much more water do you think we’ll collect with that system versus the way it is right now?” Alderman Otto Wankum asked.

“One thing with drainage we always try to do is not change the drainage path,” said Feely. “If water is going one place and you change it to somewhere else, that could create an issue in the new place you put the water. In this case, the water should be going where we’re putting it but because of the height on the north side of City Hall, it’s delaying the water from getting there. I think this is an acceptable approach but I’m not sure how much water we’ll be diverting there.”

Feely said he’s not sure who owns the easement above City Hall but noted the plan would not change where the water should be going.

Wankum noted that the ditch into which the water flows “goes nowhere,” and has to run two blocks and under the MFA building before it reaches piping.

“I’m just wondering if we’re overloading that ditch to the point it can’t handle it,” said Wankum.

Maintenance employee Kenny Loethen said the ditch hardly drains at all.

“It just sits there,” Wankum added.

Feely noted he did not explore where that ditch should be going but did look at the discharge pipe and kept that end of things the same in the proposal.

He reiterated the only change would be to the connection north of City Hall.

“Everything else is just increasing the diameter of the pipe and the capacity of the system, and making sure it gets there versus getting lost along the way,” Feely said.

In all variations, the plan is to replace the existing gravel lot at City Hall with gravel, though Feely said that could be suited to the city’s needs, should aldermen wish to create a hard-surface parking area.

“I think it looks satisfactory,” said Wankum.

Feely noted that piping on the north side of the building could be tied into the new drainage system.

This project can be completed using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds toward the total cost but aldermen agreed that pursuing a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) could be beneficial.

City Attorney Nathan Nickolaus said the administration part of both programs is about the same.

Mayor Emily Sommerer asked aldermen if they wanted to approve a plan or first look into grant options.

“Is the CDBG grant something you apply for and get or apply for and hope you get?” Wankum asked.

“That’s an ‘apply for and hope you get it’ grant,” Nickolaus said.

Alderman Lawrence Hoffman asked if the grant would require specific building materials or specifications and Nickolaus said CDBG does not get involved at that level.

“So they wouldn’t need our specific plan before we apply,” Sommerer said.

“Not for the initial application,” said Nickolaus. “They’ll need the design he’s got.”

Feely said that in discussions with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) about the retaining wall, he mentioned the exact location of the right-of-way line was unknown.

“What he told me was that if it’s on their right-of-way and we’re not changing the road hazard conditions, they’re more likely to approve it if we keep it the same, even if it’s on their right-of-way,” Feely said. “Their preference would be for us to move it but until we find out where that line is, it’s difficult to say who has it on their property. He was open to it and seemed pretty reasonable.”

Nickolaus reassured aldermen that the city has ARPA funds already allocated but the fate of a CDBG grant is unknown.

“It’s competitive,” he added. “It’s based on how much money is available. They have a pool of money they have to divide among all the cities that don’t get money from the federal government. The fact you haven’t gotten any CDBG money in a while is good and it’s a small amount. It depends on how much money they’ve got and who else has their hand out.”

In addition to ARPA and CDBG funding, Nickolaus said the city could pursue a low-interest loan through the State Revolving Fund.

Hoffman suggested proceeding with the grant applications.

Nickolaus told aldermen that the city will have to match up to a certain percentage of the funds provided through CDBG.

Alderman Steve Sherrell agreed. “I say let’s apply and just see how much we can get and go from there,” he said.

Feely noted the city will have to follow through on whatever the city decides to pursue but said the details don’t need to be known up front.

There was a question as to whether the city could use hours with Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) but City Clerk Deidra Buechter noted only a few hours remain. “They’re helping us with grant work on the park at the new maintenance building,” she said.

Part of the proposals presented by Feely includes assistance with the grant application, which aldermen agreed to use.

In other business, aldermen held a public hearing for the annexation of Dollar General into the city limits, which was conducted with no one present from the public commenting on the matter.

The next step will be to vote on an ordinance and then the paperwork will be compiled.

“This is good for the city,” said Nickolaus. “We’ll have more tax money coming in so we can do more things.”

WATER/TRASH SALES

* A total of $4,269.47 in water sales were recorded, with $1,096.52 collected for trash service, $40 in late fees, and $152.18 collected in sales tax. Total charges were $5,558.17 with a previous balance of $599.53, and payments were received in the amount of $5,862.29, leaving a balance due of $295.41. 

* Buechter reported 502,007 gallons of water were pumped during August, with 446,416 gallons sold, leaving 55,591 gallons of water lost, or 11.07%. 

FINANCIAL NEWS

* In her regular monthly financial report, Treasurer Mary Plassmeyer noted income/deposits totaled $18,676.36 and debits of $37,984.73 for a balance on hand as of Aug. 31 totaling $300,224.95; the money market balance was $140,278.11, and certificates of deposit totaling $53,547.87 and $124,709.59, giving the city total funds on hand of $618,760.52. Checks written last month totaled $35,601.03.

Note: Remaining business will be presented next week.