WESTPHALIA — Westphalia aldermen approved a bid for a new City Hall roof from Weathercraft of Jefferson City last Tuesday for $18,775, with tuck-pointing to be done by Frank Rustemeyer Masonry for $3,200. 

Alderman Stanley Heckman and Alderman Delbert Wieberg had been wanting to see a bid for the entire scope of work needed for the historical building that is City Hall. At the last meeting, Alderman Lori Asel, who was a big proponent of saving the building for its historical significance, had been asked to look into estimates for other projects the building would need, including heating and air conditioning, electrical upgrades, ceiling and drywall repair, and the possible addition of a bathroom.

“I didn’t get anything,” Asel said. “I was super busy with work, but we have a lot of people here tonight, and it may be beneficial to hear what they think.”

Everyone attending the meeting was in favor of saving the historic building and continuing to use it as City Hall.

Heckman and Wieberg had urged selling the old building and using the old fire station as the City Hall since they believed renovating it would be cheaper.

“I haven’t seen (the old fire station), but the other building has been vacant for 10 years or more, so it will take some time and money to get it up to snuff,” Asel said.

“Nothing has been done to (the current City Hall) for years,” said Mayor Tammy Massman. “What we have talked about is doing the work in phases.”

Massman noted she thinks Heckman’s point of getting a total estimate for the cost of the project is valid and should still be pursued.

Jim Roark of the Westphalia Fire Protection District explained he was not a city resident but had ties to the town and cared about it enough that he could do some research on grant money that might be available to help with the remodeling project.

In other business, aldermen approved the car show for Friday, Sept. 8.

Massman noted she had reviewed the guidelines for the event with the event organizer Chris Stuckenschneider. The event will be from 5-11:30 p.m. and will close Main Street from the corner of West Main and North Maries Avenue to the corner of East Main and Bridges Avenue. Mill Lane will also be closed off between the post office and the winery.

“This is not a city-sponsored event,” Massman said. “The organizer is responsible for getting it advertised, put in place, and obtaining event insurance.”

In addition, Stuckenschneider agreed to make sure there was no conflict with St. Joseph Catholic Church and Fatima R-3 School District. He must obtain permission to use the church parking lot and agree to have it partially closed off. Grassy areas need to be roped off in inclement or rainy weather. They are responsible for contacting the Osage County Sheriff’s Office for support and arranging for the rental of the port-a-potties. No burnouts are allowed, and cars must be removed from the street at 11:30.

Massman noted that if restaurants want to have outside liquor sales again this year, they will need to obtain a caterer’s license to do so.

Stuckenschneider was concerned that he was supposed to control the outdoor liquor sales. Massman assured him that it was a job for law enforcement or the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

Asel noted that event insurance always seems like an issue.

“This organizer has been very compliant with that,” Massman said. “Last year, he had t-shirt sales to pay for special event insurance.”

Massman explained that getting event insurance is a relatively easy process with most insurance carriers.

“There has not been any issue with getting event insurance for this event,” Massman added.

Alderman approved paying to rent six port-a-potties for use during the event. Last year, the board approved five port-a-potties. They estimate the cost will be between $700 and $800.

• Westphalia Fire Protection District Board President Chris Luebbert addressed several concerns he had with the city. Luebbert passed out a copy of the Westphalia Application for a City Business license and noted that there is an area titled “Occupancy Permit” that the business license says is “issued by the appropriate Fire Protection District confirming that a building has met the current fire code for the operation of the business.”

“To our knowledge, there is no fire code for the city of Westphalia or Osage County, and other than that, we don’t do inspections,” Luebbert said. “I’ve been the chief for almost 15 years, and we’ve never done a fire inspection, but we’re getting questions from businesses to do this inspection that they think is required.”

Luebbert requests that the city change the language on the business license application and remove any reference to the fire protection district.

“I wouldn’t necessarily disagree with you that it is confusing, but with any of the applicants, it has always been reviewed with them what they actually need, and if anything, we talk about how that it is typically applicable to restaurants that have fire-protection systems,” Massman said.

She added that she encourages applicants to be familiar with the fire district and gives them information if they would like to contact the fire district for membership information.

“They have never been directed to you guys to get that application, but if they are seeking it independently, I can see how it would be confusing,” Massman admitted.

“At some point, you may not be mayor, and others may not interpret it the same way,” Luebbert continued. “If it is a restaurant, who does the inspection?”

Massman explained that it is a third-party contractor like Korsmeyer Fire Protection.

“We understand this is a one-size-fits-all business license,” Luebbert said. “But it may need to say a certified fire protection contractor, so it doesn’t lead to the implication that it’s the fire marshal or the fire district.”

Luebbert also handed out a copy of a letter that was sent to Westphalia Hills from the city of Westphalia that stated that the Board of Aldermen had approved the fireworks display but “the Westphalia Fire Protection District has the final authorization to determine if conditions are safe to proceed or cancel the fireworks display.”

“The Westphalia Fire Protection District does not have the legal ability to say no you can’t do that, or yes you can,” Luebbert said. “We’ve had this request from other venues in the past, and not only do we not have the authority, but it’s also a liability if something bad would happen. We don’t inspect fireworks set-ups. We aren’t trained to inspect fireworks.”

Massman noted that this has been a standard letter that has been sent out for a long time.

“If you are requesting the city not issue a letter in that regard, would that not be a legal concern for us permitting them to have one since there is an ordinance in place preventing fireworks?” Massman asked.

“Can you prevent them from having (a fireworks show)?” Luebbert asked.

“I believe there is an existing ordinance in place prohibiting fireworks in the city limits,” Massman said. “That’s why they ask us for special consideration for the fireworks.”

“In the past, we have never said it was okay, but we’ve had an apparatus and people on standby,” Roark explained. “That’s what we’ve always done and will continue to do. We don’t want to be responsible. We don’t want to be the good guys or the bad guys. We’ll be there to help if you need it, but we don’t want to tell you if you can or can’t do it.”

Luebbert’s last concern was that the fire district occasionally gets requests for receipts for membership dues that the businesses say are at the request of the city of Westphalia.

“We don’t issue receipts,” Luebbert said. “What is the purpose of asking the business owners for a receipt?”

“It was originally just a courtesy, especially to bigger businesses, to know that protection was available,” Massman explained. “It was never a requirement.”

“One of the things that we want to bring up is that everyone has fire protection; if there is an emergency, we’re going to respond,” Luebbert said. “I just want to make sure that everyone is aware they are covered regardless of whether or not they are members.”

Luebbert explained that there was a charge for a response to an emergency if the property owner was not a fire district member, which is higher than what a yearly membership would be.

Alderman tabled making any changes until they had looked up the ordinance involving fireworks, and language changes would be made and approved at future meetings.

Luebbert noted that if there are ever questions or concerns, to contact him directly, and Massman said that if the fire district was receiving these questions regarding business licenses, to redirect them to the city clerk’s office.

• Massman reported that only half of the city’s liquor licenses have been renewed. The deadline for renewals was July 31.

• Curtis Wheat from Mid Mo Operations noted that a new blower had been installed for the sewer system. Wheat is waiting on the operation manual and warranty information for the blower. Wheat noted that the lift stations are running well. Wheat plans to contact Mid Mo Environmental to haul sludge out of the basin to make room to finish installing the decant line. Mid Mo Operations will be starting manhole inspections soon, and quarterly reports have been submitted to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

• Alderman approved the following expenses for the month: city fund ($4,394.88), sewer system ($7,592.22), American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) ($9,724), and special road district ($369.40).

• The city had the following receipts for the month: city ($11,214.79), sewer ($8,502.97), and special road district ($3.26).

• Westphalia had the following account balances: city checking ($173,435.15), sewer system checking ($60,714.78) special road district ($63,264.57), ARPA checking ($67,464.18), and special road district savings ($5,115.77).

• The city had the following certificates of deposit: city ($441,313.53), sewer system ($524,628.76), and special road district ($525,482.31).

• The next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 22 at 6 p.m.

Remaining business will be presented next week.