VIENNA — Two new officials sat at the table of the Vienna City Council at its April 10 meeting.

Newly elected Mayor Tim Schell and South Ward Alderman Chuck Davis took their oaths along with reelected North Ward Alderman Reva Hutchison.

A representative from MECO Engineering attended the meeting to get a signature on the contract between the company and the city to update the sewage lagoons and collections system.

“It’s getting dated,” outgoing mayor Tyler “TC” James said. He attended the meeting to inform the new officials about the engineering contract.

The city does not exceed current ammonia limits, but James said he suspected the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) would lower the limit in the future. To prepare, the sewer system needs treatment to lower its ammonia output.

James said that the city did not sign the contract prior to the April meeting because there was a misunderstanding about what the sewer project would include.

“We were thinking it was going to be more of an hourly thing,” he said. “You guys (MECO) roll through here, tell us what we need out here, then we pay them for some design work as things came up.”

Instead, the contract covers a $30,000 study. The study includes a facility plan and engineering report. It would review the sewage collection system for inflow and infiltration remediation and make plans for a treatment plant that would meet future DNR standards.

After meeting with MECO Engineering again, city officials learned that the ultraviolet water treatment system could cost about $700,000, which was much more than they expected.

The cost would cover a new structure to treat the ammonia. Ultraviolet disinfection would treat the E. coli particles coming out of the ammonia.

If the city were to build the new sewer system, it would need construction permits that would require a technical engineering report. MECO Engineering would provide the report as part of the contracted study. It would offer options for how to redo the system and estimated costs for each option.

James said that after meeting with MECO Engineering, he knew that the city would need to apply for grants if it wanted to cover the cost of the new system. Before applying for grants, the city would need to do an engineering study.

“It makes perfect sense to do this at the beginning, and once they decide on a solution, then we can start applying for those grants,” he said.

James suggested that the council consider raising sewer rates to ensure that the city would qualify for grants. If the city would pursue the project, construction would not begin for two to three years, so James recommended small increases over the next few years rather than a single large increase.

“Really, the city doesn’t have a choice,” South Ward Alderman Brenda Davis said. “We’re going to have to upgrade our sewer system. We don’t have the money, and the reason we don’t have the money is because we haven’t been charging large sewer rates. So the question is: Are you willing to give two extra bucks a month so that we can get a low-interest rate loan that is going to cost less of your tax dollars to pay the interest back?”

James said the city should have enough money available from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to cover the initial $30,000 cost of the engineering study. The council voted to approve the contract and use ARPA funds to cover the cost.

Near the end of the meeting, Brenda Davis thanked James for his service as mayor of Vienna.

“I think you did a good job,” she said. “It was good working with you.”