WESTPHALIA — Westphalia aldermen recently learned that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is no longer concerned with the modifications for the city’s sewer system and will soon move the city’s application to the public notice phase.

“Finally, we have some good news,” Mid Mo Operations Aaron Lachowicz said at the board’s meeting on Tuesday, April 28. “Hopefully, it gets put out for public notice for 30 days, and we’ve got our permit renewed, we can stop taking weekly samples; that takes a huge burden off of us.”

The city applied for a new permit several months ago, but DNR delayed approval during Pentecostal Bridge construction when the discharge pipe was moved, and a new manhole was installed. According to an email from DNR, “This is no longer a concern,” and the process can proceed.

Aldermen took a tour of the city’s sewer plant and discussed areas of concern, including the need for a new one.

Westphalia’s sewer plant was built in 2005 and had a life expectancy of 25 years. The city is looking at raising sewer rates to start increasing funds to build a new facility.

Mayor Delbert Wieberg, who was sworn in at the beginning of the meeting, said it has been suggested that the city have an outside source do a rate study to come up with a plan for rate increases over the next several years.

“Do we want to contact someone about a rate analysis, or do we want to handle it on our own?” Wieberg asked. “I asked DNR if we needed an outside rate study, and she said we could do it ourselves.”

“My biggest concern is if we procrastinate on it, we’ll have to increase it by one big sum,” said Alderman Chris Dickneite, who was also sworn in, along with returning Aldermen Caitlin Berhorst and Dennis Peterman, who will fill the one year left on Wieberg’s term. “It’s easier for people to take small adjustments. We’ve got eight to 10 years. I don’t know what the next step is, but we’ve got to start somewhere.”

Dickneite added that he would like to see a comparison of sewer system expenses over the past six months against receipts, as well as the rates of neighboring municipalities.

City Clerk Tammy Massman reminded the board that they would have to hold a public hearing for any proposed wastewater increase.

Lachowicz estimated that a replica of the city’s current system would cost about $1.5 million to $1.75 million, if built today.

“According to my calculations, if we raise it $20 per month over the next 10 years, we’re barely going to hit a half-million dollars,” said Wieberg.

Dickneite noted that the problem was that the city had gone too long between raising rates.

“We’re not even keeping up with inflation,” Dickneite said.

Wieberg added that in 10 years, he would like to see another $500,000 saved to build the new sewer plant.

He noted the city had other options, including low-interest loans, bonds, and grants. “A lot of the conferences that I attended say that the grant money is pretty slim,” Wieberg added.

“And it’s going to get even thinner, the way everyone is talking,” Lachowicz said.

Wieberg noted that he had talked to the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) about helping the city apply for a grant, noting it would cost the city several thousand dollars just to write the grant.

“And there is no guarantee we would get it,” Wieberg said. “We’re competing against a lot of people.”

Lachowicz explained that the chances of Westphalia being approved for a grant are not likely. “The city’s sewer system is not failing, and the city’s finances count,” Lachowicz said. “A city with money in the bank won’t take precedence over a town that doesn’t have any money. Unfortunately, you’re penalized for being fiscally prudent.”

Lachowicz explained that the grant process considers all the city’s assets as well as the median household income of city residents.

“We need to look at the cost of building a plant in 10 years,” Wieberg said.

“Will the plant last that long?” Alderman Jake Plassmeyer asked.

“We can cross our fingers,” Lachowicz said.

Wieberg noted that he would like to have $1 million on hand to put toward the construction of the sewer plant and secure additional funding with loans, grants, or a bond.

“We would need to profit $130 per connection, per month over the next five years to build up $1.5 million,’ Plassmeyer said.

“That’s going to be a hard sell,” Wieberg admitted.

But with only 160 connections and little growth expected for the city, the rates would have to increase to build up enough money to build the new sewer plant.

Wieberg repeated that he believed that the city needed to save $500,000 in matching funds over the next five years for the sewer plant.

“That’s going to be hard, but we have to start somewhere,” Dickneite said.

“I know people thought I was crazy when I suggested a $20 increase per year, but that won’t even get us there,” Wieberg said.

“I think we are going to have to find a balance between what we need and what the citizens will approve,” Dickneite said. “I don’t think we are going to see a lot of growth. We have to find a balance between what we need and what people will tolerate, and hope like hell the system lasts longer.”

The city’s current sewer rate is $21 for a base rate that includes 1,000 gallons of water and $3.50 per 1,000 gallons of additional water used.

Aldermen tabled the issue until the next meeting.

In other business, the aldermen approved a bid from Verslues Construction Company for $78,300 for street repairs.

The proposed work will include a concrete gutter at #112 Bridge Avenue ($10,400), a driveway approach replacement at #107 Bridge Avenue ($9,200), a fiber internet patch on Main Street ($2,800), and Main Street curb, gutter, and sidewalk replacement ($55,900).

Stockmann Construction Company submitted a bid of $133,845, and Raithel Brothers Construction was contacted but did not submit a bid.

Wieberg also asked for permission to pursue several other street repairs since the total of the current estimate is under the $120,000 originally budgeted for street repairs for the fiscal year. Aldermen agreed to let Wieberg have Verslues Construction look at issues with the sidewalk and street in front of the Fatima school entrance.

Wieberg said that he would ask Verslues to get the city a bid for additional work.

“I get that you are trying to be prudent, but it is a hazard,” Dickneite said.

Wieberg also asked permission to work on several other projects in the city while he had individuals who needed community service hours. Projects ranged from digging ditches, cleaning out a culvert, and moving gravel away from the city building.

Wieberg would also like to get a bid for filling the cracks and resealing the streets that have most recently been worked on by the city.

“Projects like this should just be done when they come up,” Dickneite said. “Stuff like this just needs to be done and paid for out of the Special Road District.”

Massman reminded aldermen that any project over $5,000 needed to be bid out and that Wieberg needed to seek the board’s approval for any project over $500.

“We have half a million dollars in the Special Road District Account,” Dickneite said.

“The other confines that we have faced are the ability of small contractors to come in and do small projects,” Massman explained.

Wieberg also said that he would have the individuals performing community service spray all the weeds in town.

The mayor noted that he had recently received a call from Rusty Sheraton regarding water run-off causing problems on his property.

“He sent me a video, but I think it is the state’s problem,” Wieberg said, noting that the problems started when the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) did work on Hwy. 63.

Wieberg said that he would advise Sheraton to contact MoDOT about the problems.

• Lachowicz reported that the new parts have not arrived for the blower at the wastewater plant, but he is expecting them before the end of next week. He will collect quarterly samples next week, adding that the ultraviolet lights were turned on April 1.

• Aldermen approved the Westphalia Hills fireworks display for June 26.

• The board tabled a decision on the city’s insurance until aldermen could get answers to several questions about the policy, which does not need to be renewed until July 1. Massman said there was plenty of time to look at the policy and make changes, if necessary.

• Alderman approved accepting the regular $25 business license fee and forgoing late penalties for the last remaining renewal.

• The city had the following receipts: city ($9,414.49), sewer ($10,186.25), and special road district ($351.25).

• Aldermen approved the following outstanding expenses: city ($3,579.63), sewer ($6,598.36), and special road district ($974.40).

• The city had the following account balances: city checking ($153,837.80), sewer system checking ($88,872.94), special road district checking ($144,324.45), and special road district savings ($5,136.98).

• Westphalia holds the following certificates of deposit: city ($465,493.01), sewer system ($553,122.61), and special road district ($556,517.82).

• The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 26, at 6 p.m.