VIENNA — The April 8 Vienna city meeting began with oaths by two officials following the April 2 election.

New Alderman Freddie Shiver swore into his position first. He won an open write-in race to replace longtime Alderman Brenda Davis. Shiver took four out of the eight resolved votes, which won him the position with 50 percent of the vote. Longtime Alderman Rita Juergens also swore to continue serving the city after winning reelection unopposed.

Maries County Fair Board Vice President Shelby Jones came to the meeting to provide an update on the $500,000 grant the fair board received from the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The city is helping to administer the grant.

The fair board plans to put a permanent pavilion in the spot where it used to put up a hoop barn. The area will include space for a beer garden, ticket sales and possibly a food stand. The rest of the area will remain open for future plans.

So far, the board has spent $81,000 of the grant. It has until June 30 to spend the money.

Mayor Tim Schell asked what the board had already bought.

Jones said the fair board began by purchasing bleachers. She estimated the board had saved about $50,000 by opting for a nice set of used bleachers rather than new ones. The board is looking at other options for the money saved on seating. The additional seating will increase capacity by about 500 people.

The fair board is working to plan updates to the electricity at the fairgrounds. The arena wall will also receive new blocks to make it taller.

Jones asked if the city would be interested in installing amenities for an RV park that it could rent out and that the carnival could use while in town for the fair. Utilities Superintendent Shon Westart said the city could not put a septic system on city property.

Jones thanked city officials for their help in getting the grant to the fair board.

Also during the meeting, Westart said the city budgeted to pave streets and the city park. The cost is about $223,000, which is lower than the $229,000 allocated for the project.

Schell asked about the cost of paving at the park. Westart said it was about $98,500.

Juergens asked if the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would pay for some of the cost of paving the streets. The city and the EPA reached an agreement to repair damage to city streets caused by the heavy equipment the agency used during its cleanup of the Vienna Wells Superfund Site last year where the old hat factory resided on Chestnut Street.

Westart said the figures he provided did not include Eighth Street, Chestnut Street and Mill Street because the EPA has those covered. He is working out the details with the agency.