VIENNA — The Vienna Board of Aldermen approved renewing its enhanced membership with the Meramec Regional Planning Commission for the 2026-27 year at the Aug. 10 meeting.

The membership dues were $694.80 for the enhanced membership, which allows the city to receive help with applying for grants, allotted in hours.

The price is calculated on Vienna’s 2025 estimated population of 579 at 95 cents per capita for the base membership, plus 25 cents per capita for the enhanced membership.

The basic membership includes 15 hours for cities and 18 for counties. The enhanced membership includes 21 hours. If the city had joined the prime membership, it would have included 27 hours for an additional 50 cents per capita, $839.55 total.

In a letter that Executive Director Bonnie Prigge sent to member counties and cities, she said that membership dues to pay for the grant-writing hours and match funding for federal and state grants. The letter also invites county and city officials to attend monthly MRPC board meetings, which includes dinner.

Financial statement

In other business, the aldermen approved City Clerk Tracy Shiver’s financial report. She noted that she received from the Maries County Bank $12,000 for the baseball renovation project at the city park. The city also received $62,760.44 of FEMA funds for repairing the lagoons from the April 2025 floods.

She also received a loan statement U.S. Department of Agriculture for second quarter. The loan was for the city’s water distribution system.

The city paid $10,635.99 toward the principal and $1,625.01 in interest. The interest rate is 3.375 percent. The original loan balance on Nov. 7, 2012, was $967,000, and $183,925.33 is the current balance.

Blue Shield Grant

Police Chief Shannon Thompson also said that the city received $28,985 for the Missouri Blue Shield grant, which is a state program to increase safety and reduce crime.

Thompson said that the department plans to use the money for equipment, costing a little over $30,000 total. Because of the grant, the city’s cost will only be about $1,100 total.

The police department plans to purchase four portable radios, one car radio and three repeaters for car radios.

Fields and Flights

The aldermen approved becoming a premier sponsor for $1,000 for the Fields and Flights Festival on Sept. 19, at 5 p.m. The hot air balloon event will include vendors, live music, shopping and bar.

The premier sponsorship includes six free tickets, banners displayed on baskets and logos printed on commercial items.

Propane bids

The aldermen also approved a propane bid from Lock’s Mill Propane Inc. for $1.69 per gallon for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

The previous bid was $2.09 from Dickneite Oil, and their current bid was $1.599 until the fall. Alderman Kenneth Dixon suggested Lock’s Mill Propane Inc because the price would be locked in for the year, including the fall.

“With all certainty, we’ll see higher pricing,” he said.

Closed session

The aldermen met in closed session to discuss salaries. They voted unanimously to pay Jim Sandbothe, public works supervisor, part of his accrued vacation and compensatory time before he switches to part time.

Minutes approval

The board of aldermen also approved the meeting minutes for the previous meetings in June and the July 13 public hearing and meeting. While no closed session votes or motions were made during the June 8 meeting, the aldermen June 22 unanimously approved a 6 percent cost-of-living raise for full-time employees, starting in July.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article said that the aldermen approved paying Jim Sandbothe, public works supervisor, his salary before he switches to part time. But the aldermen actually approved paying part of his vacation and compensatory time. The Advocate regrets this error.