Committee on the horizon, lagoon coming to a close for Holts Summit

(File photo) The alderman awarded Tuesday a bid for the Choctaw Ridge Lagoon Closure project, among other decisions.
(File photo) The alderman awarded Tuesday a bid for the Choctaw Ridge Lagoon Closure project, among other decisions.

The Holts Summit Board of Aldermen discussed creating an Ad Hoc Public Safety Finance Committee - which comes in response to discussion on a public safety and law enforcement tax - at their monthly meeting Tuesday.

During comments from visitors, multiple Holts Summit residents spoke on different issues, including the highs and lows of the July 4 celebration and a neighborhood coping with flooding. Mark Tate, Street and Parks Department superintendent/building inspector, is to present possible flood solutions in the August meeting.

In new business, the aldermen passed an ordinance amending the 2021 budget on general, sewer and transportation funds. City Administrator Hanna Thomas said there were numbers skewed in the budget, so the amendment reflects the true numbers for the city's budget as well as the per diem amounts for the Wastewater Improvement Project.

Thomas mentioned in a special June meeting Wastewater Improvement Project engineers are "fairly close to completion of the project."

The alderman awarded a bid for the Choctaw Ridge Lagoon Closure project, something the board mentioned they were working on in their May meeting.

According to a 2020 public notice by the Department of Natural Resources, the lagoon - formerly used to bypass sewer system flow - hasn't received influent flow since 2014, and a closing plan was being developed and submitted. Now the bid has been approved, and the project will consist of dewatering, mixing and stabilizing sludge, earthworks, demolition of the lagoon berms and structures, stormwater piping and structure, and the crew will grade, seed and mulch the area, according to construction details.

In the May meeting, the board said the project would cost $30,000-50,000. Sewer Superintendent Keith Edwards added the lagoon would still require upkeep, but its closing would save the city up to $5,000 in maintenance and testing funds.

As a follow up from previous discussions of creating a committee on researching public safety and law enforcement tax options, the board discussed editing the language of committee requirements.

According to notes from their June special meeting, the Ad Hoc Public Safety Finance Committee would consist of Alderman Mike Harvey, Holts Summit Police Department Lt. Brandon Ruediger, Thomas, City Clerk Rachel Anderson and a fifth member who would apply for the position. During Tuesday's meeting, City Attorney David Bandre and the board recommended amending the language to limit to "no more than four Holts Summit citizens" in the committee.

HSPD Sgt. Frank Richards added having more residents who offer multiple perspectives - such as residents versus business owners - can bring the committee a more accurate picture of the city when making decisions.

"Ultimately, this comes down to a vote by the city, so we need to have a good representation of the city," Richards said.

The board voted to amend it and pass it in August.

There were also two bank-related orders of business, one being a resolution to accept Mid America Bank's bid to provide banking services for the city. Thomas said the transition to Mid America Bank would not cost the city, and offered the most interest compared to other banks.

The city's current contract with Central Bank will not end until December.