Meeting Minutes

REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING  (Old & New Business; Open to Citizens)

• Resolution presented for the election of TWO Trustee positions for a 2 year Term on the April 5, 2022 Ballot.  It was accepted and approved.
• A Resolution Directing the Zoning Commission to conduct a Public Hearing and make the recommendation regarding the need for a moratorium on the development of vacation rental dwellings by owner was introduced, read in full, accepted and approved.
• Fireworks Permit issued to Ben Moseley at 5557 Railroad St. on 12/31/21 to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
• The Christmas Light Decorating contest winners are as follows:  1^st Place / Walsh Family = $100;           2^nd Place /  Moseley Family = $75; and 3^rd Place / Borman Family = $50.
• The “BEST OF AUGUSTA” PHOTO CONTEST judging results for adults/teens are in.
  First Place:  “Winery Colors” photographed by Marilyn Kluesner of Marthasville.  The prize is a $25 gift certificate from Stone Ledge Antiques.       Runner Up:  “Artistic Augusta” photographed by Linda Becker of Union.  Prize donated by Quaint, Cozy & Quiet Airbnb for a $25 gift certificate to any Augusta business.  Photographs are on display at the Augusta Library, in the December 2021 Boone Country Connenction, and on the Town website under Photo Contest.       This is the last adult contest for the present.  The “Best of Augusta” Photo Contest may resume at a later date in a new format.  The KIDS’ “BEST OF AUGUSTA” PHOTO CONTEST will continue in September of 2022.
• The Town website is soliciting ideas of how to  improve.  One suggestion is to link the Facebook page with the website.  (If anyone knows how to link the two, please contact me, Gay Eskew, on the Town email of townofaugustamo@gmail.com .)  Another idea is to add a page with the latest updates.  Possible examples of photos are the winners of the house-decorating contest, the gingerbread house contest,  Christmas Walk highlights, Harvest Festival highlights, Plein Air “People’s Choice” contests, etc.

COMMITTEE  REPORTS

• Treasurer’s Report:  -Treasurer’s Report was approved.   -The resolution to accept the Actual Budget amounts from Sep 2020 thru Aug 2021 was approved.
• Collector:   -Zoning submitted 3 checks for sign permits (@ $25.00):  Augusta Homestead, Garden-to-Plate, and Botanical Tea Room.   –One business license (@ $25.00) application received for Hoffman Guest Homes at 5567 Walnut.
• Public Works:   -Tree Brothers starting work on January 6, 2022 for tree removal and cleanup.   -An asphalt repair bid was received for Webster & High St, Public & 5^Th St. and Lower St of $17,500. Bob Hofer requested an additional $2,500.00 to the already approved $15,000 for street asphalt repair.  Approved.
  –Cold patching material is on order.
• Farm:    –Crops were harvested and the Town should receive their last payment by the end of December.
• Zoning & Planning:   -The 3 sign permits were approved as presented (see Collector’s Report).   -Motion made to accept the recommendation from Zoning to NOT approve the sign permit because it is on residential property.
• Cemetery:   No updates.
• History & Museum:  No report.
• Chamber:   –39th Augusta Candlelight Christmas Walk on December 3rd was a huge success.   –House Tour was extremely successful.   –Trivia Night tickets are sold out.   –Gertie the Grinch Goat raised $372.   -Motion made by Bob Hofer that the Town of Augusta pays $480 and the Chamber pays $480 for a total of $960 for 2 Shuttles.
  Other Committees:  -Town of Augusta is in it’s 12^th year as a Tree City.

CALENDAR  EVENTS

December 10 (Friday)   5 – 10 pm — 39th Candlelight Christmas Walk

Dec. 10 — Christmas Market at the Harmonie Verein

December 11 — Christmas Trivia Night at Harmonie Verein – Sold out

December 3 -10 — Gingerbread House Contest  – Vote for your favorite house.

REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING  (Old & New Business; Open to Citizens)

• The riverboat, Miss Augusta, was christened in October 2021.
• The new Town Directory was sent out to the printer.  It is also on the Town website under Residents.
• Town & Country’s bid for snow removal was approved.  Charges include $75 / hour for snow plowing and $0.25 / pound for salt and chemicals.
• Question by a citizen:  How did the Town acquire the river bottom farm land?  Answer:  The land was acquired by accretion when the Missouri River slowly shifted its course.
• The KIDS’ “BEST OF AUGUSTA” PHOTO CONTEST judging results are in.
•           The first place winner is Logan Wheeler from the Augusta area.  His photo, “Honeycomb,” of a Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly was submitted to the Butterfly & Moths of North America for verification.  He received a $30 cash prize from the Town of Augusta.
•           The second place photo titled “Cotton Candy Skies” was taken by Nate Hartung in the Augusta area.  His prize of $25 cash was from the Town of Augusta.
•           The third place picture, “Love God,” was photographed by Mikayla Wallace of Washington.  Her cash prize of $20 was also given by the Town of Augusta.
•            All 28 photos are displayed on a traveling board at the school before moving to the Augusta Library.  Enlargements of the winning photos are at library.  The November 2021 issue of the Boone Country Connection contains black & white photos of the winners plus a press release.   Thank you to  Mrs. Sarah Bayless, Augusta Elementary Art Teacher, for spearheading the entries through her classes and thank you to Mrs. Lois Barton for organizing the judging.

COMMITTEE  REPORTS

• Treasurer’s Report:  -Treasurer’s Report was approved.   -The treasurer provided the People’s Report of Town properties, deeds, and purchase dates.
• Collector:    -September EFF collection was $54.35, effective on 10-15-21.    -Zoning submitted 3 checks for sign permits (see their report).
• Public Works:  -Tree Brothers bid $7,500 for tree removal.   -Motion was made and approved for an additional $3,000 to the tree and right-of-way project for a total of $7,000.   -A total of $16,000 for asphalt and pothole repair was approved ($11,000 was added to the previously approved $5,000.)   –Yard Waste Dumpster signs are installed.   -Mt. Pleasant drain repair is in process.  -An ordinance authorizing and directing the execution of a transportation alternative program agreement by and between the Town of Augusta and the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission was approved.
• Farm:    No report
• Zoning & Planning:   –Sign permits were approved as presented for 5543 Water St. and 225 Jackson St.        -Sign permit for 5634 High Street was NOT approved as presented because the location is on a residential property not owned by the applicant.   -Rezoning request hearings will be on November 22^nd and November 29^th.
• Cemetery:   No updates.
• History & Museum:  No report.
• Chamber:    –Halloween Open House was well attended. Thank you to the Volunteers that made food/treats and staffed the Visitors Center for the kids (Natasha Berkel, Kathleen Turner, JoAnn Milster, Anastasia Adelman, and Lynn Hofer).   –Small Business Saturday on November 27th at Augusta Gifts. Light Refreshments and Free Gift Wrapping for Items purchased  
  –39th Augusta Candlelight Christmas Walk.  The Scavenger Hunt theme is Grapes.  Dates and activites are below.
• Other Committees:  no reports

CALENDAR  EVENTS

November 14 (Sunday) 1 pm — Town Square Decorating  Meet at the Augusta Visitor Center.

November 16 (Tuesday) 6 pm — Luminary Making Party at the Town Hall.

December 3 & 10 (Fridays) 5 – 10 pm — 39th Candlelight Christmas Walk

Dec. 3 & 10 — Christmas Market at the Harmonie Verein – Still space available.

December 4 — Holiday House Tour

December 11 — Christmas Trivia Night at Harmonie Verein – Sold out

December 3 -10 — Gingerbread House Contest  – Vote for your favorite house.

7:00 pm     REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING  (Old & New Business; Open to Citizens)

• The Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Town Budget was approved.
• St. Charles County approved a hotel with certain conditions for the property between Jackson and Church Streets off Highway 94.
• Hoffman Company purchased the Katy Bike Rental in Defiance.
• Augusta Athletic Association was dissolved.  The Town is taking over the utility payments.
• Approved up to $600 for printing 250 new Town Directories.
• The Town Directory is on the Town website under Residents.
• The KIDS’ “BEST OF AUGUSTA” PHOTO CONTEST deadline was September 30.  The entries are in and being judged.  Thank you to  Mrs. Sarah Bayless, Augusta Elementary Art Teacher, for spearheading the entries through her classes.  Thank you to Lois Barton for organizing the judging.  Thanks also to the PTL and Mrs. Robertson, principal of Augusta Elementary, for their support.

COMMITTEE  REPORTS

• Treasurer’s Report:  –Sales tax for the previous year was $40,036.77.   -Treasurer’s Report was approved.
• Collector:    -August EFF collection was $76.15, effective on 9-15-21.   -Certification letter for the Tax Rate was received.   -Zoning submitted 5 checks (see their report).
• Public Works:  -Looking for bids from other tree services to cut trees and clean up debris.   -Joe Buchheit is looking for members for a Parks Committe to gather a list of projects for the Town Park and the Town Square.   –Yard Waste Dumpster sign to be installed next week.   -Checking for a solution to the greywater problem at Mt. Pleasant Winery.
• Farm:    -Bachhaus Brothers completed the corn harvest on the Augusta Farmland.
• Zoning & Planning:   -Land use permit for 276 Lower Street for $50.   -Land use permit for 215 Jackson Street for $50.   -Sign permit for Mt. Pleasant Estates for $70.   -Sign permit at 225 Jackson Street for Hoffman Gas for $20.   -Conditional Use permit for 4SCHLakes for $1,000.   -Request for rezoning on Hackman Road.  A Parcel Tax ID was given.   –Zoning Board appointees, Emily Lochirco and Kevin Schneider, were approved.    –Zoning Commissioner Bryan Cavanaugh was approved.   -A new term ending in 2025 was approved for Randall Oaks on the Board of Adjustments.
• Cemetery:   No updates.
• History & Museum:  No report.
• Chamber:    –Meeting on 10/5 to discuss the Harvest Festival with possible changes.   -Beer Fest was a success.   -Preparations are underway for the 39th Augusta Candlelight Christmas Walk.  The Scavenger Hunt theme is Grapes.   -Dates and activites are below.
• Other:  –Volunteers needed to clean up the Visitor Center’s basement.

CALENDAR  EVENTS

November 13 — Augusta Ramble  2 pm

November 14 — Town Square Decorating

November 15 — Luminary Party

December 3 & 10 — 39th Candlelight Christmas Walk

December 4 — Holiday House Tour

December 11 — Christmas Trivia Night at Harmonie Verein

December 3 -10 — Gingerbread House Contest