WESTPHALIA — At their Oct. 29 meeting, Westphalia aldermen voted to move ahead with repairs to City Hall.

Mayor Tammy Massman said that because of the building’s age, it was not possible to get estimates for the proposed repairs, but the city would be billed for time and materials. Aldermen want to have the center wall removed to provide more room for residents during bigger meetings. Alderman Jake Plassmeyer conceded that the arch he had initially proposed was not practical and that opening the room by removing the wall would be a dramatic enough change.

“They (the contractors) don’t think that it is a load-bearing wall,” Massman said. “The wall around the safe is concrete, so we can only remove the wall until the safe so the whole room won’t open up.”

The HVAC contractor was also concerned that the arch would affect airflow.

Aldermen had three choices for heating and air conditioning. They chose a single mini-split estimated to cost between $5,000 and $6,000. They did not choose a traditional system, estimated at $10,000 to $15,000, or two smaller mini-splits, one for the front and back, estimated at $3,000 to $4,000 each.

The board approved electrical upgrades that were estimated at $3,100 to $3,200.

Aldermen also choose to leave the front of the building, including the windows, as is for the time being. They approved purchasing and installing new vinyl windows ($936.07) for the other two all-aluminum windows ($3,068.77) in the building.

Additionally, aldermen approved tearing down the ceiling and then studding out the side walls so the building could be insulated and the wiring run. Massman still needs to get a bid on insulation.

“Anything we do to the inside of the building will be an upgrade,” Massman said. “They are going to try to save as much of the woodwork as possible, and they will try to save the wood floors to have them refinished if possible.”

For now, aldermen are not considering installing a bathroom and will keep the back door of City Hall as is, though they would like it cleaned up and painted.

Alderman Stanley Heckman expressed concern about damage the contractors will find when they tear down the ceiling and wall, anticipating problems from the roof leaking before it was repaired, and the age of the building.

“We won’t know until it comes down,” Massman said. “We’ll take it in stride.”

In other business, aldermen approved the Christmas Decorating Contest with judging to be held on Dec. 22 at 6 p.m. They will discuss additional details at the November meeting.

• Curtis Wheat with Mid Mo Operations reported that the lab had an error on the third-quarter reports, which was not caught in time so that samples could be re-collected and tested. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was contacted and thought things would be okay if another issue didn’t arise.

“We will watch the reports more closely from now on,” Wheat said. “The system works so well we shouldn’t have any other issues.”

Wheat reported that manhole inspections are expected to start in November. Mid Mo Operations is waiting for wet weather and cooler temperatures. Ultraviolet lights will be pulled out on the last day of October. Wheat also noted that in a few months, it will be time to start working on renewing the city’s current permit, which expires in December 2025.

Wheat thought that the work IEI had done looked good. They are finished and the city is waiting on the final bill, which will be paid out of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund.

• Heckman warned the city that stormwater is undermining a driveway on Maries Avenue and will need concrete work at some point.

“Something has to be done,” Heckman said. “The driveway would be the property owner’s responsibility, but the gutter and drain are the city’s.”

Massman agreed that it is the next area the city needs to consider for repairs.

• The city had the following receipts: city ($2,805.97), sewer ($6,825.97), and special road district ($17.10).

• Aldermen approved the following outstanding expenses: city ($14,985.90), sewer ($13,452.82), and special road district ($569.92).

• Westphalia had the following account balances: city checking ($193,980.68), sewer system checking ($77,839.58) special road district checking ($122,489.32), ARPA checking ($54,513.37), and special road district savings ($5,125.47).

• The city holds the following certificates of deposit: city ($455,625.03), sewer system ($540,509.90), and special road district ($545,943.25).

• The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 26 at 6 p.m.