Park improvements continue at Meta as aldermen approved the purchase of infield sand conditioner, chat for the current ballpark lot, and lights for the basketball and volleyball courts.

City Clerk Deidra Buechter said she had not been able to measure the ball field due to wet weather, but she will do so as soon as possible and provide the dimensions to the company for a better estimate.

In the meantime, a proposal from Sportsfields4U for up to 24 tons of sand at a cost of $3,950 was approved by aldermen to ensure the quote is honored. The hope is this amount will be enough for 2,400 square feet of infield at three inches deep. Aldermen agreed that any leftover sand can be stored near the field for use. 

“You can cover it up and still use it later,” said Buechter.

“We’ll have to cover it all the way around,” said Alderman Otto Wankum.

Winfield United submitted a price of $5,760 for the same amount of sand.

Treasurer Mary Plassmeyer estimated that the park fund will have an additional $42,000 in revenues by the end of the year.

Improvements to the park will benefit from a resolution prepared by City Attorney Nathan Nickolaus to establish a round-up program that will give residents an option to round their water bills up by any tax-deductible contribution they choose as a way to raise funds for various park projects.  

As for chat, Wankum believes two loads will be enough for the current ballpark lot but will have Charlie Wieberg of Wieberg Red-E-Mix assess the situation before placing an order. Aldermen agreed to get what is needed to take care of the lot. Chat may be necessary at the maintenance facility, but that will be addressed later.

Wankum also secured board approval to purchase concrete to fill in a ditch on Nathan Street. He estimates about three yards will be needed to keep the rocks in place and help with drainage.

Wieberg will be asked to confirm the city’s needs before making a final purchase.

Meyer Electric of Jefferson City was selected to replace four quartz fixtures at the basketball court and install four new LED floodlight fixtures, which will provide approximately 35% more light. An area floodlight will also be replaced with an LED unit. The total cost was approved, not to exceed $3,890, and will include labor.

Improvements to the volleyball court will also be made by Meyer Electric, which offered a price of up to $2,500 to replace four existing fixtures with new LED floodlight fixtures, which will provide approximately 25% more light. Labor is also included in the cost of this project.

In other business, aldermen approved a change in the due date for water bills, making it the last calendar day of the month. This comes after a suggestion by Buechter and Plassmeyer to change it from the last working day of the month to make it more of a fixed due date. Buechter said she hopes this will reduce the number of people who are late with their payments.

Wankum said he took the Gravely mower to Diamond R Equipment to get a repair estimate. He noted the mower would not start, but it did when the technician tried.

“I want them to go through it and find out what’s wrong with it,” said Wankum. “I’m guessing it’s a safety switch or something like that. It’s useable, so we can wear it out and then junk it out. We’ll see whether it’s worth fixing right now because it’s old.”

Wankum also took a chainsaw to be assessed.

Aldermen approved business licenses for Dollar General and Backroad Bites, LLC, a food-truck operation.

Buechter recommended that aldermen pursue funding through the Communities Facilities Projects Assistance.

She explained that Midwest Assistance Program, Inc. (MAP) has received funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist communities in the application process for community facility projects.

Projects like a new hospital, fire truck, community center, etc., are eligible for funding, along with street improvements.

Funding options include direct low-interest loans, grants, or a combination of the two, as well as MAP’s loan guarantee program. These may be combined with commercial financing to finance one project if all eligibility and feasibility requirements are met.

MAP has the opportunity to assist until this fall.

Buechter provided information on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for anyone seeking to build or improve property within the floodplain. She noted that floodplain permits are required before any new constructioan or major renovation begins. A new floodplain map was finalized in 2015, and nothing new has been released to date, Buechter noted.

Bartlett & West continues to assist the city with the water improvement project and has held discussions with Gilmore & Bell to set up a bond election for Aug. 2 to secure funding. The Jefferson City engineering firm is also helping with grants for park upgrades.

  The State Revolving Fund (SRF) application submitted on behalf of the city will be analyzed for funding, and Bartlett & West should receive notice on the grant/loan amount to fund the water system improvements in October.

  Nickolaus, who was not at the meeting, provided a list of property owners with nuisance complaints and their progress. Buechter said on his behalf that some will need to be reinspected with further action pending.

  Part-time maintenance employee Taylor Backes told aldermen he is pursuing an internship this summer as part of his State Tech education. Should that be approved, he will not be available to work for the city though he wants to return in the fall.

Alderman Ivie Helton told Backes he is welcome to return, and her colleagues agreed, praising his work ethic.

  During the city’s May 11 cleanup, Bob Meyer will put a trailer near the maintenance facility so that people can get rid of large materials the trash company won’t collect. 

  Alderman Steve Sherrell donated a Norway Spruce to the city for the new park.