WESTPHALIA — Westphalia aldermen adopted a budget on March 28 that estimates the city will have revenues of $271,003 for the 2023-24 fiscal year and estimated expenses totaling $266,575, for a surplus of $4,428.

The city expects to have a slight increase in revenues from general sales tax, with last year’s general sales tax accounting for $68,031.71 and the new estimate set at $70,000. Westphalia also expects a slight increase in interest income, with last year’s revenues at $6,395.60 and the estimate for the new budget at $6,800. The city expects the Osage County Road Tax revenue to increase slightly to $22,000, compared to last year’s $21,691.86.

Aldermen also expect increased expenses for the upcoming fiscal year. They increased line items for accounting from $928 to $1,200; contract labor, from $18,885 to $20,400; legal and professional services, from $3,159.16 to $5,000; election expenses from $680.32 to $1,500; office and operating costs, from $2,077.09 to $3,250; city repairs and maintenance, from $15,000 to $25,000; sewer repairs and equipment, from $5,015.34 to $10,000; and a decrease in allocation for sidewalks, from $28,910 to $15,000.

“We are still showing a positive balance of $4,428, and that includes the money for building issues and ongoing street and sidewalk repairs,” said Mayor Tammy Massman, who will submit the budget to the state this month as soon as she has the final numbers for interest income and Osage County Road Tax.

In other business, Curtis Wheat from Mid Mo Operations reported that everything was going well with the sewer system. He noted that the soil analysis and sludge reports were approved for the city to land-apply, but the weather has not cooperated.

“Things are pretty soupy out there right now, but if we get a few nice windy days, it may dry things out,” Wheat said. The city may have to haul sludge elsewhere if the weather doesn’t clear up within the next four weeks.

Ultraviolet lights have been installed in the waste treatment plant, and one of the bolsters is out. Wheat is having one ordered and will install it as soon as it comes in, though he noted that the city is in compliance with only one bulb working.

“It’s not the end of the world, but it would be nice to get it repaired,” Wheat said.

Wheat requested the city purchase a large box of contractor-size trash bags and weedkiller for use at the wastewater facility.

“If you guys order it, you don’t have to pay sales tax, and it saves you a little bit of money,’ Wheat said.

Aldermen Delbert Wieberg and Mid Mo Operations Aaron Lachowicz have found all but one of the missing manholes. Wieberg and Lachowicz used a camera to check on the backflow device on Maurice Wilde’s property.

“It doesn’t look like it’s blocked,” Wieberg said. “But it’s not working because water keeps boiling up in Maurice’s yard. I think it needs to be dug up and physical eyes laid on it. We need to investigate why the backflow preventer ain’t working. Maurice has been pretty polite about it backing up into his yard. What would you do if it was your yard?”

Wieberg also believes that the manhole near the mill needs to be raised and the one by Dollar General repaired.

Wieberg noted that when Mike Mueller put in the manhole at Dollar General, there were problems with getting it to seal.

“When Mike put that in, there was constantly water coming in, and there was never a dry period so it could seal,” Wieberg explained.

“We checked it when it was fairly dry,” Wheat said. “It’s almost like there is a little spring there or something. It’s always wet there.”

Wieberg and Wheat believe the manhole should be dug back up and resealed.

Wheat noted that even with all the recent rain, they are not seeing a lot of inflow and infiltration at the lift stations.

“I think the system is in pretty good shape overall; if we just get a few of these things fixed, that will really help us out,” Wheat added.

Wieberg proposed getting a quote from Mueller to raise the manhole near the mill, dig up the manhole at the Wilde property, see why the backflow device isn’t working, and fix the manhole near the Dollar General store.

• Wieberg will meet with roofers to get a quote for repairs at City Hall.

• Aldermen approved the following expenses for the month: city fund ($11,543), sewer system ($7,841.45), and special road district ($1,569.40).

• Westphalia had the following receipts for the month: city ($10,830.57), sewer ($9,361.71), and special road district ($11,154.52).

• The city had the following ending account balances: city checking ($167,321.53), sewer system checking ($58,494.84), special road district checking ($58,667.87), and special road district savings ($5,114.48).

• Westphalia had the following balances in their certificates of deposit: city ($440,910.78), sewer system ($523,787.84), and special road district ($542,104.51).

• The next meeting is scheduled for April 25 at 6 p.m.