The Holts Summit Board of Aldermen had a full agenda for the September meeting.
Tuesday's 6 p.m. meeting had an agenda that included the 2022 General Municipal election, hours for selling alcoholic beverages, a failed pump and credit card transaction fees.
Visitors also brought their own concerns to the board.
Jared Peyman voiced his concerns about a shortage of law enforcement in the community. He's concerned the Holts Summit Police Department may not be able to handle the growing amount of crime moving away from St. Louis.
He also voiced his concerns about Holts Summit officers patrolling New Bloomfield. The Holts Summit Police Department has been contracted to patrol New Bloomfield since 2018, with the current contract expiring Dec. 31, 2025.
"One officer cannot protect one community," Peyman said. "Let alone multiple communities."
Dwayne Williams reported concerns about a drop on the sidewalk between Up In Smoke and Moser's Foods on West Simon Boulevard. He said his electric wheelchair fell off on one side and was partially damaged.
Before progressing into new business, the board heard presentations from the Optimist Club and Republic Services.
In previous years, the Optimist Club entered into annual contracts with the city to use a city-owned baseball field near the Civics Center on Greenway Drive at reduced costs for their baseball program. Recently, they were informed they may have to incur higher fees to use the field.
Hanna Thomas, city administrator, recommended the board to revert back to annual agreements with the Optimist Club. A resolution will be drafted for the board to vote on in October regarding the issue.
Republic Services, the sole contractor for trash services in Holts Summit, pitched a single-stream recycling service to the board. Thomas said a survey will likely be created to judge interest in the recycling program because it will greatly increase costs for all customers - including those who don't wish to recycle.
Items relating to the 2022 General Municipal election, hours for alcohol beverage sales on Sundays and accepting statements of qualifications for a new sewer project in Lake Mykee were all approved.
The board also discussed the replacement of a failed sewer pump that pumps waste to Jefferson City. Keith Edwards, sewer superintendent, said the pump is 10 years old and the average life expectancy for a pump is seven to 10 years. He recommended replacing it.
"Usually once you repair them, they say you knock down the life expectancy," he said. "Instead of the seven to 10 years, it knocks it down to three-and-a-half to six years maybe on them."
A replacement pump would be less than $50,000, more than half the repair costs on the existing pump. The board agreed to replace the pump.
The board also discussed credit card transaction fees. Customers paying with cards are charged a fee - which depends on the transaction amount - for each transaction.
The city government stopped accepting cash payments Sept. 1. Residents can still pay using a check or money order.
The next Board of Aldermen meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 12 in the Holts Summit Municipal Center at 245 S. Summit Drive.