WESTPHALIA — Westphalia Alderman Delbert Wieberg noted there were some problems with burnouts at the recent car show.

“Someone came down around 9:30 p.m. who was not really associated with the car show and was making donuts,” Wieberg said. “We may need to think about not having it next year.”

Mayor Tammy Massman confirmed that it had happened while the car show was happening, and there were people in attendance.

“It was definitely of concern for public safety,” Massman said. “It was definitely not well-received. I had very many follow-up calls.” Alderman Stanley Heckman noted that there were black marks everywhere after the event.

Alderman Lori Asel suggested that a sheriff’s deputy at the event would stop these problems.

“That’s typically always requested, but there is never a guarantee that they can come and stay,” Massman explained. “The (Osage County Sheriff’s Office) has been in attendance in the past, and that has helped, but it is not completely controlled, and even if (deputies) are able to come, there is no guarantee they won’t be called out and need to respond.” Everyone agreed that the car show was a good event for the city, and no one blamed the event organizer for the burnouts.

Plassmeyer suggested that the car show could host a burnout event along with the car show so people could get it out of their system.

“I would strongly discourage that on roads we are paying to maintain,” Massman said.  “I think it is a good event if we could stop (the burnouts),” Plassmeyer said. “The only way to stop it is not to have it,” Heckman said. “There are other events that people will come to town for.”

Massman also noted that at least one vendor was selling things at the event without a temporary business license from the city of Westphalia.

In other business, aldermen approved Ordinance #09-23, which requires and regulates business licenses in Westphalia. The new ordinance replaces Ordinance #02-20 and removes the line that requires fire suppression or inspection by the fire district from the regulation. Alderman Jake Plassmeyer spearheaded making the change to the ordinance after the Westphalia Fire Protection District President Chris Luebbert addressed concerns that he had with the business license ordinance at the July meeting. Luebbert requested that the city change the language on the business license application and remove any reference to the fire protection district.

• The city will relocate the recycling bin from the Fatima R-3 parking lot to the area around the sewer plant. Massman checked with Republic Services, and they believe they have enough space in the area to pick up and drop off the recycle bin.

“(Republic Services) did not have an opposition to it,” Massman said. “They thought it was a fairly isolated spot, but city residents could still utilize it. If you guys are okay with the location, it offers us the opportunity to have the recycle bin without interrupting anyone else’s business.”

Wieberg agreed that the area was city property and had lighting.

Massman added that base rock and some chat had been added to the area about two years ago, and although it was a little overgrown, it should provide a solid base for the recycle bin.

“I feel that there is enough base rock at this point, but we can always haul in a load or two if needed,” Massman said. Aldermen also agreed to hold the citywide fall clean-up either Oct. 21-22 or Oct. 28-29.

Massman said that, as in years past, aldermen may have to assist in monitoring the dumpsters so that only city residents are using them. Massman noted that in the past, there seemed to be a lot of out-of-towners using the dumpsters. She will check the dates with Republic Services and make sure that Millard’s Funeral Home is okay with using their parking lot again this year. Flyers will be sent out to city residents once the date and location are confirmed.

• Curtis Wheat with Mid Mo Operations reported that things are going well with the city’s sewer system. The decant line has been installed and is working. The new blower has been installed and is working as well. Wheat noted that they had to pull one of the motors because they thought a bearing was going out in the treatment plant. JC Industrial Supply in Jefferson City is checking it out. Quarterly samples have been collected, and all the numbers look great. Fourth-quarter samples will be gathered in October. Wheat noted that they will pull the ultraviolet lights (UV) in November and that they plan on having the manhole inspections completed by the end of the year. “Everything seems to be doing its thing,” Wheat said.

Massman noted that the city still had money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to spend on the wastewater facility. Aldermen asked Wheat to look at the headers and diffusers to see what needed repairs and present it to the board with a cost estimate.

• Aldermen approved the following expenses: city ($32,946.68), sewer system ($8,227.02), ARPA ($4,291.61), and Special Road District ($369.40).

• The city of Westphalia had the following receipts: city ($11,014.41), sewer ($8,742.48), and Special Road District ($11,354.89).

• Westphalia had the following account balances: city checking ($150,355.12), sewer system checking ($61,867.04), Special Road District checking ($71,412.37), ARPA ($63,172.57), and Special Road District savings ($5,117.83).

• The city holds the following certificates of deposit: city ($443,303.58), sewer ($526,228.88), and Special Road District ($528,982.81).

• The next meeting will be held on Oct. 23 at 6 p.m.