Kahoka’s Water System Upgrades Receive Funding

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 By Mike Scott 

Kahoka’s plans to replace it’s aging water plant in Wayland and the transmission line to Kahoka have received preliminary funding. 

“I received a letter from Mark Bross,” Kahoka Mayor Tony Anderson said at the city’s Monday, August 14 meeting. Bross is the engineer with Klingner and Associates who is overseeing the project. 

In February, Kahoka voters, by a vote of 171-66, approved borrowing up to $8,000,000 million dollars to replace the water generation plant and install a filtration system to remove iron and manganese. The 

On Monday night, Anderson revealed that the city is on track to receive a $2,584,831 low-interest loan, plus $4,205,907 in grant funding. 

“The water project will be 62 percent grant funded,” Anderson said. “Thank you to the citizens who voted for this project.” 

The funding still needs final approval from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. 

The board also reviewed the lone bid for street paving, from WL Miller. 

“We have to do the south side of the square this year,” said Alderman John Gaus. 

In 2022, the city had three sides of the square, along with a couple other short stretches repaved. 

“We stopped some of last year’s plans to do the square,” said Anderson. 

“We waited, thinking that the price would go down, but it didn’t. It went up,” said Alderman Les Billings. 

The 2023 plan includes a total 14 blocks, including West Main Street from Johnson to Jefferson, along the south side of the square. 

“If we keep cutting, we’ll get further behind,” Anderson said. 

After much discussion, and on a 3-1 vote, the board approved spending $312,941.10 on street paving this fall. Alderman Larry Young cast the only “nay” vote. 

The vote was contingent on whether the city could solicit a bid from Diamond Construction in Quincy. 

Also at Monday’s meeting, the board held a tax hearing and approved the following tax rates for the coming fiscal year. 

For the General Fund, the levy was set at 0.8041 per $100 of assessed valuation. For the Parks fund, the levy will be 0.1500, and for the Library, the rate was set at 0.2400, for a total levy of $1.1941per $100 of assessed valuation. 

In other business, the board: 

•Appointed three new members, Bonnie Brewer, Vicki Gutting and Mikie O’Bryant to to the Library Board. 

•Discussed the need to replace two lifeguard chairs at the pool, as well as some plumbing project that will need done after the season is completed. 

•Alderman Billings reported that asphalt work was being done at the ball park on Vine Street. 

•Alderman Guas asked why the dump was closed to tree contractors. In the past, trees cut out-of-town by contractors have been dumped there. 

“They’re making the money, and we have to pay to maintain the dump,” said Alderman Larry Young. 

•Aderman Gaus asked the city get priced for new chairs for the Aldermen in the Council Chamber. The current chairs are more than 20 years old. 

•Dixie Kirchner addressed the board about a storm-damaged tree in her yard, and a dangerous sidewalk. 

•Fire Chief Mick Wood reported that firefighters had received training on handling LP tank fires. 

•Police Chief Mike Newbold reported that a police car was totaled by the flash flooding. 

•Alderman Jerry Malone asked if Boy Scouts could work on a drainage project for the playground equipment in the City Park. He was asked to come back with more specific plans.