WESTPHALIA — Jake Plassmeyer was sworn in as the newest Westphalia alderman last Tuesday night. Plassmeyer will replace Alderman Ben Holterman, who moved out of city limits and no longer met the service requirements. Plassmeyer will serve in his appointed position until the April 4, 2023, election. Plassmeyer’s seat will be up for election for a one-year term, along with the seats held by Aldermen Delbert Wieberg and Stanley Heckman, and Mayor Tammy Massman, all of which are two-year terms. Notices will be put in the Unterrified Democrat in November, and filing dates will be published in December.

In other business, aldermen approved an additional $4,200 payment to Verslues Construction Company for concrete work. Joe’s Market owner Duane Fennewald would like to widen the driveway while the concrete work on the street is being done. Verslues Construction submitted a separate bid for this work directly to Fennewald. Aldermen opted to have Verslues build a curb inlet into the sidewalk to help control drainage issues in the area. Verslues should complete the project in early November.

• Aldermen approved the revised Westphalia Driveway Repairs Assistance Program discussed at the October meeting. A drawing and description of the specifications for how a grated driveway entrance should be built were included in the document. Massman added the city’s website and the physical address so residents could email a request digitally or send one by regular mail. Aldermen changed the wording to “the property owner will have the final say on selecting from the approved bids which contractor they would like to use.” Previously, the document was worded to say that the Board of Aldermen would pick the contractor. Aldermen must approve the proposed project, and reimbursement by the city remains capped at $2,500.

• Westphalia’s annual Christmas Decorating Contest will be judged on Dec. 11. The city will offer monetary prizes for the top four winners and four honorable mentions. Aldermen will review the contest’s parameters and last year’s winners at the November meeting.

• Massman noted she hadn’t received any additional information on Christmas on Main Street since the last meeting. She plans to reach out to the event organizers in the next couple of weeks.

• There were several complaints regarding the recent fall cleanup. Two dumpsters that are part of the five-year contract with Republic Services were full before Saturday morning. 

“Stuff was already four feet above the rim,” Wieberg noted. “We either need to do it twice a year or get more dumpsters.”

Massman explained that according to the contract with Republic Services, the city could have two dumpsters once a year or one dumpster twice a year. Westphalia had tried doing the cleanup in the spring, which was less popular with city residents.

“The magnitude of people that are utilizing (the dumpsters) that are not city residents is very substantial,” Massman said. 

In past years, she confronted several non-residents dropping off trash and didn’t even live close to Westphalia.

“It is built into our five-year contract,” Massman said. “We can use it or not, but I think others, outside of city limits, using it becomes the problem.”

Wieberg had used his equipment to push the stuff down into the dumpster. Massman asked him to submit a bill so that he could be compensated.

• Wieberg noted that Westphalia Senior Housing Complex board member B.J. Rodeman approached him regarding concerns that the ditch along Linn Street was filling up. 

“Do we need to have someone come in and clean out that ditch, or is it their property, their ditch?” Wieberg asked.

Wieberg also asked about a plugged culvert in the Millard’s Funeral Home parking lot.

“Driveways are an extension of your own property,” Massman said.

Alderman discussed that driveway issues remain the responsibility of property owners. 

• Aaron Iachowicz with Mid Mo Operations said the sewer system is functioning well. He reported that fourth-quarter samples had been collected and submitted. There is one burnt-out UV bulb, but it will be pulled on Nov. 31.

“We’re not going to worry about replacing it because the disinfection season is over in three or four days, it passed the sample, and we’re not in violation,” Iachowicz explained. 

There are extra bulbs in the city’s shed, so Mid Mo Operations will replace them on April 1, 2023.

A float failed on the Massman Lift Station and will need to be replaced. Parts and labor are estimated at $100. 

Mid Mo Operations plans to finish the manhole inspections in early November.

Alderman Wieberg has concerns about the backflow preventer at the Wilde property. Wieberg hopes to coordinate with Mid Mo Operations if the pipe needs to be dug up. Iachowicz plans to use a camera to identify the problems and see if there is any debris inside the pipe or a problem with the valve.

• Alderman approved the following expenses: city ($16,334.47), sewer system ($10,371.15), and special road district ($369.40).

• Westphalia had the following receipts for the month: city ($10,059), sewer ($9,493.83), and special road district ($13,282.14).

• The city had the following account balances: city checking ($156,847.33), sewer system checking ($43,448.93), special road district checking ($30,183.32), and special road district savings ($5,113.15).

• Westphalia holds the following certificates of deposit: city ($439,832.16), sewer system ($522,410.66), and special road district ($522,624.88).

• The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 29 at 7 p.m.