WESTPHALIA — Westphalia aldermen decided to apply for the Engineering Report Grant through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) at their meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 25. DNR Clean Water Financial Chief Stacia Bax had seen an article in the Unterrified Democrat and thought that the Engineering Report Grant may be a good fit for the city of Westphalia.

“Although there are program requirements for the Engineering Report Grant, I think that you will meet them, but you will definitely need to do the application to get the full analysis and double-check on that,” Bax said. “It is a $50,000 grant with a 20% match from the city required. The grant is to help with those engineering services to figure out what may be needed on any kind of improvements or replacements.”

Bax explained that DNR would provide project managers and engineers to help the city with the application process to meet the appropriate criteria and guide aldermen through the process. Bax noted that she had reviewed the initial Request for Proposal (RFP) report and noticed a couple of things missing that would be needed if the city received the Engineering Report Grant. Bax explained that the city would need to wait three to four months after the application was submitted before the grant would be awarded.

Bax said that for the construction of the new sewer plant, DNR has grants and low-interest loans for which the city may qualify. Bax noted that she had looked at the city’s permit and affordability criteria and believes the city could possibly be eligible for an additional grant for construction.

“When I did the calculation based on current demographic information and with a wastewater project that would cost $2.15 million, that would put you within the threshold for potentially receiving a grant for construction,” Bax explained.

She added that low-interest loans are also an available option, with current interest rates at 1.5% to 1.6%.

“For the past several years, we have had enough funds (for grants), but we had a lot of influx of funds with the infrastructure funds,” Bax explained. “That’s the challenge right now; we’re coming off the cliff of fairly significant grants.”

Bax also explained that the current sewer rates for the city of Westphalia are $38.53 per month, and she calculated they may need to be raised to $108 per month.

“I’m not saying that is the rate it needs to be, but it does put you at the right rate of 2% of your median household income,” Bax said.

She also thought that the increased rate would help the city qualify for the additional construction grant. Bax said that there would be more of a chance of getting the grant for construction if the construction cost was closer to $3 million dollars.

“So does that mean we can make it out of stainless steel?” Mayor Delbert Wieberg asked, laughingly.

“If that’s what the engineering report says it needs to be,” Bax replied.

“Well, if we want to qualify, let’s crank it up and get the best,” Wieberg said.

Applications for the actual construction of the project would need to be submitted by March 1, 2028, and Bax estimated that a project could go from start to finish in three to five years.

“In regard to the rates, I don’t have any thoughts on rates really,” Bax said. “We don’t get in the middle of how the rates are being decided. When we do our evaluations, we have to ensure whatever rates collected are sufficient to satisfy the obligations for the debts. But we don’t dictate your rates.”

Missouri Assistance Program’s (MAP) Project Manager and Technical Assistance Provider Emily Peterson was also at the meeting to advise the city. Peterson also recommended the rate of 2% of the median household income, with rates going from $38 per month to $102 per month.

“A city wants to set rates to be sustainable and to keep up with day-to-day expenses and build up fund balances,” Peterson said, adding that MAP was a non-profit organization and could help advise the city free of charge.

“Is that 2% of the median household income a benchmark?” Alderman Chris Dickneite asked.

“In the past, it has been the standard for grants through the DNR and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),” Peterson said. “Typically, if you get 2%, you have enough money to pay your bills and put money away for capital projects. You are lucky you have some reserves you are able to utilize. Not all systems are that lucky.”

“The hardest part about this is selling this new rate to the public,” Dickneite said.

Wieberg asked aldermen if they wanted to raise the rates all at once or to step the rates up gradually.

“A lot of towns step up the rates gradually to ease the shock,” Peterson said.

Aldermen discussed that other municipalities in Osage County and adjoining counties had a lot higher rates than Westphalia currently has.

“We are sitting here as aldermen trying to explain what we based our decision on,” Dickneite said.

He would like to see the rates from other municipalities in Missouri for comparisons.

“Every meeting we have, we just kick the can down the road another 30 days,” Dickneite said.

Wieberg instructed aldermen to come to the September meeting with a good idea of how they would like to structure the sewer rate increases.

In other business, aldermen approved the 2026 tax levy at $.2440 per $100 of assessed valuation for the Westphalia Road & Bridge and $.1800 per $100 assessed valuation for Westphalia Special Road & Bridge districts. The 2026 assessed valuation for real estate decreased to $4,742,552 from the 2025 assessed valuation of $4,962,273. The assessed valuation for personal property increased to $1,735,273 from the 2025 valuation of $1,436,108. Total tax revenue will be $15,806 for the road and bridge and $12,065 from the special road district.

* Aldermen approved adding two new stop signs to the intersection of Bridge Avenue and Linn Street. Wieberg noted that he has had several complaints that people don’t stop as they come down Devan Lane.

The board approved removing the yield sign at the intersection and adding a stop sign at Devan Lane and Bridge Ave., making Linn Street a through street.

“We have no way to enforce it, but if an accident happens, it guides the authorities on who is to blame,” Wieberg said.

The city already has posts and stop signs in the shed.

* Aldermen approved the basic membership for the Meramec Regional Planning Committee (MRPC), which costs $500 per year and includes 15 hours of grant writing.

“Every town around here maintains memberships in MRPC,” Wieberg noted.

* The board approved the weekend of Oct. 3-4 for the annual fall cleanup with Republic Services. The city will receive two dumpsters as part of its trash contract with Republic Services. The alternative weekend is October 10-11.

City Clerk Tammy Massman will check with the Hilke Millard Funeral Home and see if the city can use the parking lot again this year. Massman will send out flyers once the details are confirmed.

* Osage County Sheriff Michael Bonham attended the board meeting and noted that he had units in the city for the first day of school. “We are not going to be able to do that for every day, but we will do what we can,” Bonham said.

He added that his department has a good working relationship with all the public and parochial schools in the county.

“The bypass (construction of Hwy. 63) is going to be quite a deal for us because they are going to shut down Hwy. 133 for a minimum of six months and up to a year,” Bonham said. “Response times may be a problem. All I am worried about is how long it’s going to be down. We’re going to have to go around, and so is the ambulance.”

Bonham said that they will need mutual aid and assistance from agencies on the other side of the bridge. “We will make a plan, and we hope the shutdown will happen in the summer months, so we don’t have to fight the county roads in the winter,” Bonham said. “We’ll deal with what we have. I just want you to know we are on top of things.”

* Mid Missouri Operations Aaron Lachowicz reported that his company has completed quarterly oil changes and will be pricing more oil to purchase for the city. The infrared

control panel has been completed and inspected, and grease has been removed from the lift station. Lachowicz planned to collect quarterly and sludge samples in the days following the meeting, and land application of sludge will be done soon.

Wieberg is planning to install two risers on two manholes on Alderman Dennis Peterman’s property. The mayor has risers and gaskets, and he and Peterman will work on it together.

* Aldermen approved the following outstanding expenses: city ($31,584.11), sewer system ($10,523.45), and Special Road District ($72,229.40).

* June receipts were as follows: city ($12,293.82), sewer ($8,514.40), and special road district ($8.63).

* Westphalia had the following ending account balances: city checking ($140,718.55), sewer system checking ($93,468.30), special road district checking ($79,976.30), and special road district savings ($5,138.90).

* The city holds the following certificates of deposit: city ($471,520.99), sewer system ($555,966.24), and Special Road District ($558,705.01).

* The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 6 p.m.