Meta Alderman Lawrence Hoffman told colleagues at their July 10 meeting he had been contacted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding loose sediment in the creek behind the Meta Civic League Hall.

“He said the creek permit is no longer compliant,” said Hoffman. “If we want to, we could look into a bank stabilization permit, but pushing the rock up onto the bank doesn’t help because the next rain will wash it back into the creek. I was told it doesn’t matter who did what, it comes back on the city, and we need to come into compliance with our permit.”

“The problem is, when we get this much gravel, we get flooded,” said Mayor Harold Libbert.

“But if we just take it out, we’re in compliance,” said Alderman Otto Wankum.

The city’s permit allows employees to remove debris and rock for 100 feet upstream and downstream from bridges and slabs. Hoffman said the loose gravel must be removed completely, and may not be pushed up onto the bank.

“They can’t spread it around, but they can take out the loose sediment,” said Hoffman of the city’s maintenance crew.

Wankum noted there are piles of gravel north of the slab, and any time it piles up, it needs to be removed.

“We just need to watch it, and every few months, these guys need to get in there and get it out of there, because right now, that culvert is tighter than hell,” said Wankum.

Newly-appointed alderman Steve Sherrell asked about the area near Diamond Pet Foods, which also was significantly blocked by sediment.

“You go from that slab all the way down to Route B, and it’s full of gravel,” Wankum replied.

“I was told there is more gravel on the west bank than the east bank, and he knows all about it,” said Hoffman of his discussion with the Corps of Engineers.

Sherrell suggested the rep who reached out to Hoffman visit with the city at an upcoming meeting to lay out the issues, but that’s not likely to happen, Hoffman and Wankum noted.

“He needs to come down here, whether he wants to or not,” said Libbert.

“We aren’t in a position to demand anything from him,” Wankum countered.

“You know what he’d tell us?” Hoffman said. “He’d bring DNR with him, and we’d have a good old discussion.”

Wankum added that the city does not have to agree with it, but “we still have to adhere to it. We have to figure out what they want, and then we have to sit down and figure out how were going to get to that point, but I’m telling you, you can’t let that creek get too far out of hand.”

Alderman Ivie Helton said it seems to her there are two issues: correct the existing buildup of gravel, and prevent it from happening again.

Significant cleanup took place four years ago, and it made a huge difference, Wankum said, adding the city needs a regular schedule to clean out the creek or this situation will continue to be a problem.

“It’s going to cost us money, but if you don’t do it, it’s going to cost us a lot more money,” Wankum said.

Hoffman agreed. “I feel like we have a responsibility to the citizens,” he said. “I don’t know anything about bank stabilization.”

“I’d like to see what it is,” Wankum said.

To correct the first issue, maintenance employees have limited equipment, but Hoffman noted he was told that 90% of the problem is loose gravel, which can be removed with the city’s small-bucket tractor. “It may take small scoops, but it needs to be done,” he said.

There are big rocks, however, that would require larger equipment.

The creek is within city limits and therefore Meta’s responsibility, and individual ownership does not come into play.

Hoffman was asked to contact the Corps of Engineers and provide a plan of action, which comes down to the city removing the loose sediment as soon as possible.

Beyond that, aldermen agreed to look into bank stabilization, and Wankum said it wouldn’t hurt to request a presentation by the Corps of Engineers.

“But if we start arguing with him, we won’t get anywhere,” said Wankum.

Treasurer Mary Plassmeyer said in response to a suggestion that Libbert clean out the creek that he is limited to $500 per transaction or $5,000 for the year, based on state statute for city employees who serve on the board.

Sherrell asked if other contractors should bid the project, and if Libbert presented the lowest bid, it could be accepted without violating state law, even if the total exceeds the annual limit.

At the halfway point of the year, Helton noted, the city has paid Libbert $3,600, and the mayor said he spent three hours removing a large boulder from the creek.

“I’m not going to charge the city a dime for that,” Libbert said.

Aldermen agreed it was best to bid out the project, though Hoffman said the Corps of Engineers made it sound like the city should use its maintenance equipment to take care of the problem.

“This was a unique situation with the heavy rains, but maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad if we had gone in there and gotten some of the loose stuff out,” Wankum said.

“Two foot of that came in with the last rain,” Libbert said.

“I know that Harold, but it came in on top of what was already there,” Wankum replied. “When was the last time you got in there and cleaned out any gravel?”

Maintenance employee Mitch Stumpe said it was two months ago. “When you have that much rain, it’s got to go somewhere,” Stumpe said.

“He knows that,” said Hoffman. “It just can’t be pushed to the side. It’s got to come out.”

Plassmeyer planned to solicit bids by phone to remove the gravel from the banks to comply with permit requirements.

In other business, Plassmeyer said Remote Computer Services (RCS), which installed the cameras as the ball park, the cost would be between $125 and $200 to move the camera under the roof of the seating area, but because there is an open space between the current location on a pole on the first-base side, and the building, a conduit would need to be installed.

Wankum said that should be a minor process for ultimately a big gain.

“That way we could actually see something other than the back of the bleachers,” he added.

Currently, the camera is located on the concession stand that focuses on the bleachers but not more important areas of the ball park.

Plassmeyer will proceed with ordering a 10-foot piece of conduit, and having the camera moved to the new location.

* Aldermen approved an employment contract with City Clerk Deidra Buechter, effective July 1, at a rate of $14 per hour.

* The city entered a new contract with the auditing firm of Gerding, Korte and Chitwood for the 2018-19 fiscal year at a cost not to exceed $5,900.

* Aldermen also approved a new one-year engagement with Bert Doerhoff, CPA, to prepare financial information for the city, at a cost of $405 per month, which is $20 per month higher than last year.

* A revision of the 2020 budget was tabled until next month.

* Buechter told aldermen she is still waiting for information on the Purple Heart signs.

* Primacy fees will be collected annually, and with a new program the city is using, there will be less work for city staff.

Plassmeyer said these fees need to be collected now because the payment is due by the end of September.

Aldermen agreed to make the change from a monthly collection to an annual collection, rescinding a vote approved in June.

The cost to residents is $3.24 per year for those with a small meter, and Buechter said the cost increases according to size.

WATER NEWS

* Buechter’s water report indicated that for the month of May, the city had $3,126.47 in water sales, $1,057.05 for trash service, $93.88 in sales tax and $130 in late charges, giving the city total current charges of $4,407.40. With a previous balance of $1,159.59 and payments received in the amount of $4,259.82 a total of $1,307.17 was still due as of May 31.

In terms of water loss, a rate of 11% reflects a total of 393,194 gallons pumped and 348,390 gallons sold, with 44,759 gallons lost.

* Buechter requested quotes from several companies regarding digital meters that can be read electronically and tie into the existing system. One company, Midwest Meter Inv., of Edinburg, Ill., responded with a quote of $60,274.80, which would include 103 new meters, installation and 10 years of maintenance. Aldermen took no action but said the idea has promise and would like to get bids from others before making a decision.

FINANCIAL NEWS

In her regular monthly financial report, Plassmeyer noted that operating fund had a balance on hand of $347,224.91; the money market balance was $139,417.11; the escrow account totaled $910; and two certificates of deposit total $249,315.97, giving the city total funds on hand as of June 28, of $787,808.76. However, the CD balance was later amended to reflect payment for the new maintenance shed, as reported last week.

* Checks written in the month of June totaled $6,389.38.