HERMANN – Motorists entering Hermann on Highway 100 West will be greeted with new speed limit signs aimed at slowing motorists near the Village Market shopping center entrances.

The city’s Board of Aldermen Monday night gave first- and second-round approval to a measure sought by the Missouri Department of Transportation dropping the speed limit from 55 to 45 as motorists approach the city limits and then down to 30 further into the city.

In another traffic-related matter, the board gave final approval to a bill requiring the owner of a vehicle to show proof of registration when stopped by a policeman. The measure is in response to a court case in which the judge ruled the existing city ordinance to be unclear. The bill was granted initial approval by the board two weeks ago.

In other matters, Public Works Director Jesse Geltz reported that workers are continuing their effort to find a leak at the city swimming pool. A check of the area’s sewer system could not determine just where the pool water was entering the system. He said he hopes to learn more about the leak when a representative of the company that provided the new pool filtration system makes a stop in Hermann in the coming days.

City Administrator Patricia Heaney noted that she will be coordinating the upcoming FreedomFest Parade on July 3, the day the city celebrates this year’s Independence Day. FreedomFest is sponsored by the Hermann Area Chamber of Commerce and will include a fireworks display that night in Riverfront Park. A variety of kids activities will be offered on Saturday, July 4, at the Amphitheater. East 5th Street will be closed from Schiller to Gutenberg to allow the Kiddie Tractor Pull to take place.

In other matters taken up during Monday night’s session, the aldermen approved a bill amending the final version of the current fiscal year budget. The move allows City Hall to include the final incomes and expenses of FY26, a routine action that occurs before the start of the next fiscal year on July 1. Heaney explained that amending the current budget at the end of the year makes it easier for the firm that audits the city’s finances.

Also approved was a measure continuing the agreement between the city and the Messmer-Eitmann Senior Center, Hermann Area District Hospital and OATS transportation for another year of services. Under the agreement, the organizations each provide a share of the funding to support the bus service.

The board also adopted a measure that removes the residency requirement from the list of qualifications for the city clerk’s position. The current city code calls on the city clerk to have the same qualifications as a member of the BOA, which includes a requirement to live within the city limits. By removing that particular requirement, the city clerk — a non-elected position — can be held by someone living outside the city. A similar move was made about a year ago regarding membership on the city’s Landmarks Commission, which was having difficulty recruiting residents of the city to serve.

A measure was approved extending the agreement between the city and Peggy Brinkmann to provide blog and content writer services for the city’s Tourism Department.

Several housekeeping items were taken up Monday night, as well. The board approved the hiring of Bentley Kolks and Kennedy Schwenk as the workers in the swimming pool concession stand. According to the city administrator, the move does two things. First, it limits the number of people handling money in the stand, which makes accounting easier. Second, it eases the pressure on having enough lifeguards available for pool duty without having to spend part of their time working in the concession stand.

An update was made to the code regarding bidding and purchasing procedures by city officials. The threshold for making purchases without requiring bids was approved some time ago by the board, but the code had was not updated to reflect that change.

A second change order as part of the sidewalk project on East 4th Street was approved. The change was needed to comply with ADA standards and will add about $1,500 to the total project cost. The work is being funded through a Transportation Alternative Program grant from the state.

The city approved a contract renewal for Madden Media marketing ads for the Tourism Department. There was also a contract renewal for Madden Media Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and website maintenance and hosting, also for the Tourism Department. The contract renewals occur annually.

Conditional Use Permit renewals for guesthouses were approved for guesthouses at 210 E. 4th Street and 516 W. 8th Street sought by Ed Schmelz and a guesthouse at 215 E. 5th Street sought by Valerie Wright.

A Conditional Use Permit renewal was approved for the sale of outdoor liquor at The Fancy Pheasant at 209 Schiller Street sought by Hannah James.

A pair of Special Event Applications was approved, one for the Hermann Municipal Band for concerts at the Amphitheater on July 3 and Aug. 2 and another for the Missouri River Relief Missouri American Water MR340 canoe and kayak race for the Riverboat Park boat ramp, parking lot and pavilion for July 29-31.