Advance aldermen approve pay raises

The Advance Board of Aldermen met in open session on Monday, Oct. 20, 2014 to consider the previously discussed matter of pay raises for full-time city employees and to accept bids on shed repairs.

Seven full-time city employees were given raises, and one employee was moved from part-time to full-time.

Three bids were submitted for repair of the roof on the old fire shed, but only two of the bids met the requirement for liability insurance. The low bid of $6,990 was submitted by Hunter & Co. of Jackson, Mo. Aldermen approved the bid. The company will tear off the old shingles and replace with shingles that have a 30-year guarantee.

Two bids were submitted for repair of the metal roof on the machine shed. The low bid of $3,850 by TriCounty Metal was accepted and approved by all four aldermen.

Mayor Carl "Pete"Ritter indicated that the city has received complaints from resident in the Advance Assisted Living Center that some of their laundry was ruined by rusty water in that area of the city.

The mayor said that the water had been stirred up, when the cement plant put in a new plant, using a 3-inch pipe.

"Anytime the water is stirred up, we have trouble," Mayor Ritter said.

The mayor spoke with engineers Smith & Co., who said they could do another study, for a cost of $30,000, but the government might not help with the cost. Smith & Co. did not really recommend this study.

Another alternative is to change the sand in the filters, a "big job" that has not been done in 20-25 years. This action might help. The mayor will have Smith & Co. look at the sand and give the city an estimate.

"I'm not pleased with rusty water," admitted Mayor Ritter, "but the cost to upgrade the plant and replace all the pipes is estimated at $6 million. We just don't have it, and I'm not willing to ask our residents to pay double or triple on their water bills. Some people don't even have rusty water."

In other reports, aldermen approved the Advance Community Library budget of $12,500.

Aldermen also approved a request from Advance United Methodist trustee Wayne Voss and three other church members for the city to allow a sidewalk across the easement between the church and a piece of property to the north. The city will write a letter giving such permission, with the stipulation that if the sidewalk covers the sewer line, it can be dug up.

Aldermen also approved the city budget.

In the senior center report, aldermen heard that the center had received a $1,000 donation from the Advance Eagles.

City Hall will be open for trick or treating on Friday, Oct. 31 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., which is the curfew.

The next regular meeting of the Advance aldermen will be at 6 p.m., Monday, Nov. 17, 2014.