Westphalia alderman on Thursday approved a road maintenance agreement for County Road 511.

“I think this is our best attempt to serve our city and community,” Mayor Tammy Massman said.

Alderman Mike Kliethermes and Alderman Gerhard Schmitz Jr. attended a recent meeting of the Osage County Commissioners with the Westphalia City Attorney Dave Bandre.

Kliethermes noted that the only angst among the commissioners was who owns the road and why this matter has taken so long to be resolved.

“The majority of the commissioners are in favor of maintaining the road,” Kliethermes said.

The agreement states that there will need to be additional repair work done on the county road to reestablish a proper roadbed. The Osage County Road and Bridge Department estimate that they will need 16 loads of rock and about eight hours of equipment work. The work will be done on two separate occasions, and the estimated cost for the initial work is $2,355, which will be billed to the city of Westphalia.

“Carol Hackmen called me and she informed me that they have been grading the hill and have hauled in some rock,” Kliethermes said. “Their estimate is based on some time in the past when they were out there. There may be some fluctuation in that cost.”

“I will say that Ron Kempker, the supervisor for the Road and Bridge Department has already been in contact with me,” Massman said. “He indicated that he was going to maintain that contact with me, and he extended his contact information.”

Subsequently, the county agrees to maintain the portion of County Road 511 on its regular maintenance schedule for blading and grading. This may happen up to four times a year, and the city will be billed $100 for each grading. The city can request additional maintenance as needed.

The county also agreed to remove snow and treat the road as needed with cinders, and will charge the city $100 per snow removal as well as the cost of cinders.

“They estimated that that would be less than $200 per blading if they have to apply salt or cinders to that hill,” Kliethermes said. “But if the city or the residents think it is too dangerous then we might want to apply salt to it as needed regardless of what the county is doing.”

Aldermen agreed that this was a fair charge for the services from the county, especially considering the cost of contracting the work out themselves.

The agreement will be renewed automatically unless either party feels that it needs to be reevaluated. Either party must give four months notice if they wish to terminate the agreement.

This agreement does not determine ownership of the road.

“My question is why the county does not have any paperwork about the annex of the land,” Schmitz said.

“There should be some record of that in the county,” Massman said. “These are public records that we have requested and that we have not been provided with. I just would request that there is no more heel-dragging on determining ownership. I don’t think any one of us cares at this point we just want it to be determined.”

The signed agreement will be sent to Bandre and then to commissioners for approval.

In other business, Sewer Operations Manager Phil Peaks is working on reports that need to be submitted by the end of the year.

City Clerk Kerry Bax did provide some paperwork with research on the additional costs that are incurred from land-application of sludge.

The initial overview suggests that there is a $700 test required each time that the city land-applies sludge. The city started land-application in 2017. There were three land-applications for both 2018 and 2019 for a total cost of $2,100 each year just for the test that is required before land applications.

“I can tell you right now it’s not worth it,” Kliethermes said.

“Right,” Massman said. “We’re paying a lot more in testing than to be allowed to land-apply. Plus, an hourly rate for the technicians to travel here, plus their mileage.”

Aldermen will discuss the additional charges required for land application of sludge at the January meeting with Peaks.

* The city has contracted with a company to provide snow removal for the city. The city’s bobcat is still in the shop so they are using their own skid-steer to load salt but are otherwise using city equipment.

“They have maintained a great working relationship with me,” Massman said. “They have been in contact several times and kept me updated along the way. I have no complaints.”

* Winners for the Westphalia Christmas decorating contest were reported as follows: first place goes to Tyler and Brittney Plassmeyer; second place goes to Anna May Holterman; third place went to Cody and Rebecca Plassmeyer; and fourth pace were Brian and Ashley DuValeus. Honorable mentions included Mark and Judy Kempker, Leo and Mary Schaefer, Joe and Mary Rakestraw and Mike and Joan Capler.

* In financial news, aldermen approved the payment of outstanding bills, including $2,034.83 in expenses from the City Fund, Sewer System expenses totaling $4,691.41, and Special Road District expenses of $1,259.45 with an additional $90 for Boehm Trucking to haul salt from Jefferson City. The city had general receipts totaling $7,792.32, with sewer receipts totaling $6,570.81, and Special Road District had receipts totaling $6,020.94.

* The city’s account balances were reported as follows: General Fund checking ($129,345.68); Sewer System ($4,297.42), Special Road District checking ($37,965.16), and a savings account balance of $5,104.31.

* Westphalia holds a total of $432,255.75 in the General Fund certificates of deposit,  $514,323.91 in sewer system CDs, and $516,754.28 in Special Road District CDs.

*The next meeting is scheduled for January 28,2020 at 6:30 pm.