At the Vienna City Council’s June meeting, one of the council members gave a brief update on the upcoming Maries County Fair.

South Ward Alderwoman Brenda Davis, who is working with the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, which has formed the Maries County Fair Association, a group of volunteers committed to continuing the annual tradition of the fair. Davis said the group had questions about using the area in a portion of the walking trail, Tackett Trail, at the park as the location for the carnival company to put up the midway. The location is a better one because it is flat. However, there is not adequate electrical service there. Davis said it would be good to have electric to the area for the 2022 fair. This year’s carnival company is smaller than in years past so the carnival equipment will be located in the same place, behind and just north of the restroom building. Davis said the carnival is not that big and there is the time problem with getting the electricity to the more level area.

They also discussed the stage to be used on Thursday and Friday at the upper diamond. They would like to move it closer to the bleachers. They discussed the size of the stage and the council approved using a smaller trailer as the stage so the irrigation system in the upper diamond’s outfield will not be damaged.

In other business at the June Vienna City Council meeting:

—The council made a motion to accept the application by Larry and Rina White to place a mobile home on a city lot north and adjacent to 624 Tenth Street, which is owned by Linda Stratman. In a letter to the city, the Whites said their son, Joshua White, is the current resident at 624 Tenth Street. His is the preacher at the Vienna Church of Christ. The Whites states they recently purchased a 2004 motor home, which is in new condition. They are interested in parking it on Stratman’s property during their non-travel times. They asked the city for permission to park the motor home and will require city water, sewer and trash service for the property. They plan to erect a covered RV port, and to provide appealing landscaping such as flower beds and small trees. They plan to make improvements at a cost of $12,000 to $15,000. Their son will take care of the property.

After discussion, the council determined there already is water and sewer to the property. A public hearing is required with the city’s mobile home ordinance. Davis suggested they scheduled the public hearing before the July 12 council meeting and made the motion to accept the application, which was seconded and approved by the council.

However, the city later reported the city attorney advised the motor home is not a mobile home and the new ordinance can’t be used to guide the council is this particular situation.

—Victor Stratman, representing the Visitation Knights of Columbus, was at the meeting to request financial assistance paying for the culvert the Knights recently replaced when redoing and putting concrete on the hall’s parking area. He asked the city to share in the price of the project as they replaced culvert pipe which was collapsed. He asked for $2,400.

Utilities Superintendent Shon Westart said the city did not put in the culvert. After some discussion, the council approved paying a portion of it, $1,600, and will have the money to the Knights by July 1, 2021.

—The council agreed to financially support the Vienna Chamber of Commerce (VCOC) in its city revitalization effort using the grant program Missouri Main Street Community Empowerment Grant Program. The grant is a 60/40 match, with the chamber responsible for 40 percent of the funding, which is $12,320 they need to raise.

Mayor Tyler “TC” James, who was unable to attend the meeting due to another commitment, sent an email stating the city had funds available given to it by the Vienna Community Development Corporation (VCDC), which dissolved recently and gave its assets to the city.

The Missouri Main Street Program will provide preliminary strategic work plan, organization, implement strategies, survey work and data collection, technical service, consultation, training, networking and more. All is an effort over a two-year period to plan and implement revitalization within the community.

The council members had questions about if there are specific buildings they plan to work on and chamber presenter Kelly Barnhart said there will be an evaluation to determine this. There was a question if the old hat factory property might be part of the plan. Westart said that needs to be avoided as it is in the EPA Super Fund program and the EPA is still working on the plan for it. He said it may be 10 year or more before the city knows what the EPA will do with the PCE contaminated property.

After discussion the council approved supporting the chamber’s efforts with the Missouri Main Street Program and voted to provide $6,320 from the VCDC fund.

—The city received a letter from Max Murray, Municipal Marketing for Waste Corporation of Missouri, LLC, asking for an opportunity to bid on the city’s residential trash removal services. Currently the city has a contract with Republic Services but the council members are receptive to having better rates, if possible. After discussion Clerk Carrie Roberds was asked to stop the automatic renewal of the Republic Services contract. This will allow the trash removal services to go out to bid when the contract nears its end.