Owensville City Engineer Travis Hernandez advised the Board of Aldermen on Monday that nine contractors picked up bids for the Springfield Road Extension project and six were returned.

Ward 2 Aldermen Denise Bohl motioned to accept Gruenloh Excavating Inc.’s low bid of $228,837.01, and Ward 2 Alderman Matt Kramme seconded the motion. The motion passed without opposition.

A groundbreaking for Owensville’s Springfield Road Extension and Rock Island Trail projects will occur on April 5 at 11 a.m. along with a farewell to Owensville Mayor John Kamler. Owensville City Administrator Randy Blaske recommends anyone who wants to express their gratefulness for Kamler’s service to attend the event.

Hot dogs, bratwurst, and beverages will be provided during this event and several speakers will be present including David Kelly, director of Missouri State Parks.

Also during the Monday meeting, the Board of Aldermen approved a $28,618 bid for two pickleball courts.

The low bid submitted by James Custom Flatwork, LLC includes the use of a pump truck to pour a five-inch pad, 60 by 64 feet in size, running north to south.

Ward 2 Alderman Denis Bohl made a motion to approve the bid and Ward 1 Alderman Kevin McFadden seconded the motion. It passed without opposition.

Owensville City Clerk Peggy Farrell requested the board approve the purchase of a new door for the City Hall. The current door is malfunctioning and requires regular service by a locksmith occurring as often as every couple of weeks and costing around $200 per visit. Additionally, said city staff, it is causing security issues. “It locks when we leave…but every time someone comes in or out it hangs open,” Farrell told the board. “All of sudden I’ll be walking down the hall and someone will be standing in the back hall.”

Farrell had Miller Glass of Rolla come in to look at it and they have submitted an estimate to remove the door and replace it with a new door that has a locking mechanism that is part of the door.

The price totals $6,034.22 which includes around $4,500 for the door and over $1,400 for labor. “We might get approval for that and continue to shop around,” Blaske informed the board.

He cited the reason for being unable to find many local contractors was the need for them to carry worker’s compensation insurance. McFadden made a motion to accept the bid pending searching for any other bids. Ward 1 Alderman Cathy Lahmeyer seconded the motion and it was passed without opposition.

A “meet the candidates night” is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 28, at the Owensville Lions Club Den on Krausetown Road.

Candidates for city of Owensville offices and directors of the R-2 School District’s Board of Education for the April 2 Municipal election have been invited.

City candidates scheduled to attend include Kevin McFadden (mayor), incumbent Ward 2 Alderman Denise Bohl and challenger Jeremiah Dean. R-2 candidates include Keith (Spaz) Glaser, Kari Nolting, and Jim Hackstedt.

Scheduled to address the school district’s tax proposition are Amy Estes (in support) and John Adams (against).

“This will be an open-mic format,” according to Woodrow Schlottach. “Everyone will have up to 10 minutes to introduce themselves and field questions from the floor if they like. It will not be a debate-style forum, just a meet the candidates night.”