City Engineer James Kolbe of Archer-Elgin provided updates to the Owensville Board of Aldermen on the planned $500,000 First Streetl lighting project at the July 20 city meeting including a change order for additional downtown business district lights and a progress report.

Through a fully-funded Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant grant provided by the Department of Natural Resource’s Division of Energy obtained by City Administrator Randy Blaske and staff, the project aims to update lighting on First Street.

Originally, the goal was to provide updated, decorative lighting on First Street from Highway 28 to McFadden Avenue along with trenching under the pavement and running new electricity to replace the current infrastructure which has broken, damaged lines up to 100 years old in some places.

With funding remaining above and beyond costs, Kolbe advised the board they will be able to add three additional lights, providing lighting from Highway 28 to Marvin Avenue with a cost to the city of $348.

The full cost to add the additional lighting as requested in the change order from Archer Engineering is $59,288.

The style selected is a decorative rustic acorn top with black granite posts that will add a cozy feel to the downtown area, according to Blaske.

Kolbe reported that currently, concrete boring has been completed and crews working with Reinhold Electric are waiting to continue work until after the Gasconade County Fair. He believes once restarted, work will move quickly.

The motion to approve the additional spend was made by Ward 2 Alderman Denise Bohl, seconded by Ward 1 Alderman Dan Breeden and passed with all in favor with Board President and Ward 1 Alderman Dr. Cathy Lahmeyer abstaining from the vote while serving in Mayor Kevin McFadden’s absence.

Kolbe also presented several recommendations from the Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission during the July 6 board meeting. He advised that the commission recommended rezoning the Rock Island Trail District and updating the land use table as discussed over the past year. The commission also recommended updating the K-12 definition to include preschool — noting that the Gasconade County R-2 School District offers preschool, a mass rezoning of the defunct Old Town Commercial District to Old Town and updating the city’s building codes from the 2003 edition to the 2021 edition following discussions held over the last several weeks.

Kolbe said he understood New Haven and Hermann are updating their codes to the 2021 version.

City Clerk Peggy Farrell advised that there will be a process before everything is changed over with books needing to be ordered and an amended ordinance adopting the change.

With the update to building codes, new building permit rates are being considered.