META — Following the completion of the Meta Elementary Memorial Park, a trail is available for use and marked for motorized use.

The operation of motorized vehicles is prohibited on any non-designated trail, except for government entities for official use, emergency services, mobility-impaired individuals using wheelchairs, and bicycles as defined by state law.

Aldermen agreed the prohibition would protect hikers, bikers, and equestrians using the trails at the park.

The penalty for the municipal infraction of driving a motorized vehicle on non-designated trails is $500 per violation. Law enforcement officers and park rangers are authorized to enforce the ordinance.

Now that the city’s project is complete, the land will be held in trust, in accordance with the Land & Water Conservation Grant award.

In other news, aldermen approved a bid from Lakewood Alarm for $2,990.86, which was well below MidMo Telacom’s offering of $10,800.

Aldermen noted the differences were as important as the price gap.

Lakewood Alarm offers monitor viewing with no internet required, repositions current cameras, adds two new panoramic cameras, and replaces the hard drive, which stores data for up to 30 days. MidMo Telacom, meanwhile, has no viewing Monitor (all remote viewing), requires internet, and would replace everything. 

• Meta’s the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) final Intended Use Plan (IUP) indicated that DNR would give a $2.5 million grant through the State Revolving Fund (SRF), coupled with a $990,000 loan, plus $510,000 planning and design loan to provide to the city for drinking water system improvements.

Bartlett & West is investigating options for the city to pursue this funding package.

Preliminary estimates suggest a new tower would be roughly $1.125 to $1.5 million in construction costs. With 37.5% in loan funding through SRF, using a total project cost of $1.4 million, the city’s share would be $525,000.

The firm continues to evaluate whether the booster pump station and PRV station would produce a lower overall project cost and help address pressure issues.

• Bartlett & West reported that TB Dozing has completed the city’s stormwater project, and final invoices are awaiting Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to clear them.

• The engineering firm also noted that Meta was awarded $50,000 in State Revolving Fund (SRF) grant money for additional funding for the Lead Service Line Inventory project.

• Outdated financial records were approved for destruction.

WATER/TRASH

Clerk Buechter reported that 451,567 gallons of water were pumped, with 296,448 gallons sold, 1,000 gallons flushed, and 297,448 gallons (34.13%) in lost or unaccounted for water.

• A total of $6,295.93 in water sales was recorded, with $1,362.02 collected for trash service, $260 in late fees, and $218.46 collected in sales tax. Total charges were $8,206.41, with a previous surplus of $1,530.34, and payments received in the amount of $7,489.80, leaving a surplus of $813.73.

FINANCIAL NEWS

• In her regular monthly financial report, Treasurer Karla Buechter noted income/deposits of $21,674.66 and debits of $60,269.18 for a balance on hand as of Nov. 30 totaling $566,993.67; the money market balance was $143,502.75, the CDBG balance was $55, and two certificates of deposit totaled $175,515.45, giving the city a total of $886,066.87 in all accounts.