HERMANN — More than a week after a utility pole was snapped cutting power to the Hermann area, the effects of the power outage still are being felt.

As late as last Thursday, the staff of Scenic Regional Library District’s Hermann branch were contending there was an entry-door security alarm that was inadvertently being set off by patron’s trying to leave after properly checking out items. Branch employees said the security system has been acting up since the Tuesday, Aug. 16, loss of power that reportedly was caused when a brush-cutting operation snagged a utility pole guide wire, breaking the pole.

Mayor Bruce Cox said at the Hermann Board of Aldermen meeting on Monday, Aug. 22, that the power outage was not something that occurred within the city’s power-supply system.

“The outage was unfortunate, but it was not our problem,” Cox said, explaining that it was a Central Electric pole that was snapped, even though it affected residents not only in Hermann proper, but also as far away as 10 or 12 miles southwest of the county seat community. The mayor last week also offered some advice about safety now that school is back in session. 

“I just want to remind everybody: School’s open. Kids. Buses.”

In other matters at the aldermanic session, City Administrator Patricia Heaney reported that the city’s second installment of $235,290 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money will be used as matching funds for a wastewater facility infrastructure grant.

Also, Heaney noted that the city’s Parks Board wants the administration to pursue a state grant through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Land & Water Conservation Division that would fund new lighting at the ball fields. The funding program involves a 50-50 grant, which means the local government puts up half the money.

The city administrator said staffers with Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) — the agency that will be administering the grant-request paperwork — was scheduled to be in Hermann to walk the area that would contain the new lighting. Heaney said the city has already used its allotted no-charge hours provided by MRPC and the work on the grant will cost the city about $55 an hour.

The BOA also took up several other matters during its second session of the month, including giving first-round approval to legislation cleaning up language authorizing municipalities in Gasconade County to receive a share of the revenue generated by a half-cent sales tax for law enforcement. Seeking a change in the wording to eliminate the phrase “up to” in terms of the amount of money that will be made available for distribution to the cities.

The original version of the intergovernmental agreement with county government said that up to 25 percent of the total amount of revenue would be divided among five cities, based on population. Officials in Hermann and Owensville acted in concert to obtain a more definitive amount to be divided among the cities. Owensville is expected to act on the measure — which was crafted by Owensville’s city attorney.

The cities feared the “up to” provision could result in the Gasconade County Commission in future years reducing the amount of the tax available for local distribution.

The three smaller municipalities taking part in the revenue-sharing program — Rosebud, Bland and Gasconade — all had signed and delivered their copy of the original agreement to the Commission. Gasconade County Sheriff Scott Elier delivered the new version of the agreement to the three smaller cities earlier last week. Gasconade and Bland promptly returned their agreements. Rosebud’s mayor was out of town and unavailable to sign the revised document last week, Eiler said.

The revised versions go back to the County Commission for consideration. Based on comments at Thursday’s Commission session, it appears county administrators are in agreement with the revision.