By its usual standards, the City of Weston held a relatively short Aldermen meeting Monday evening covering a variety of issues, from employee cost-of-living increases to annexation to road projects.

The meeting began with a public hearing for the voluntary annexation of almost nine acres off Highway 45 belonging to Louis and Pam Smither. Mayor C.R. Carter brought up the annexation later in the meeting when talks began with Kenny Clemens of the West Platte Fire Protection District Board of Directors. The fire district has set aside about $60,000 to build an emergency access road from the new fire station to Citadel Drive. Weston Planning and Zoning suggested a regular access road be built instead in partnership with the City. Carter suggested that once the annexation is complete, the City can consider connecting Summerset Drive to Hwy. 45 instead of Citadel, because due to elevation concerns, Citadel would require reconstruction to lower the road bed several feet.

Clemens asked the Board to set a time limit for the project, so the fire district could set an ending date to hold the money in escrow. Carter suggested a five-to-seven year timetable, but Alderman Kent Stelljes suggested the City set the deadline at five years to push the City to move faster on the project. The Board agreed.

The Board also approved the City’s 2012 budget, totaling $2.47 million. The new budget includes a flood recovery fund, a salary step increase and a three percent cost-of-living increase for City employees. Carter said he was proud of the City’s budget and ability to give employees raises during trying economic times. He noted no salary increases had been granted last year and thanked the City’s employees for their understanding and patience.

Another topic of discussion at the meeting was water — dealing with too much of it, how to manage it and who to charge for it.

To read more, see the Jan. 12, 2012 edition of the Platte County Citizen.