Holts Summit may soon annex a 1.65 mile stretch of two roads, including County Road 4036 and part of County Road 4039, county commissioners said during a Tuesday meeting.
The county will pay a yet-to-be-determined amount of money to Holts Summit in order to offset maintenance costs.
"They want to bury a forced sewer main in the middle of the road, and they'll have to annex it because we don't want to do the maintenance," said Paul Winkelmann, head of Callaway's road and bridge department.
Callaway County Eastern District Commissioner Randy Kleindienst explained burying a forced main directly under the road will likely disrupt the road surface and cause maintenance issues.
The forced main is slated to go in more than eight-tenths of a mile of road, but Holts Summit offered to annex the additional length of road from the county.
"They would be willing to take on the rest to maintain, but they'd like compensation," Western District Commissioner Roger Fischer said.
Fischer, who met with Holts Summit representatives to discuss the annexation, called it a win-win situation.
"They'll take maintenance of that forever," Fischer said.
Normal maintenance can cost the county $4,000-5,000 per year, per mile, Winkelmann said. Chip sealing a road, which Holts Summit will likely have to do after installing the main, can cost around $20,000 per mile.
The commissioners decided to offer $17,500 to Holts Summit to defray the costs, given Holts Summit will have to pay for any subsequent maintenance. The money will likely be drawn from the contingency fund, Presiding Commissioner Gary Jungermann said, and will be paid out over one or two years.
Fischer said it's up to Holts Summit to accept the offer or issue a counter-proposal.
According to Jungermann, the city will own the road, but adjacent properties will not be automatically annexed along with it.