At its meeting Tuesday night, the Pineville City Council approved a bid for repairs to the WPA ditch on Jesse James Road that was damaged by the spring 2017 floods.

The council approved a bid for $295,000 from Granger Dirtworks of Neosho. Chad Granger, of Granger Dirtworks, said the project will take 10 to 12 months. Mayor Gregg Sweeten said FEMA has approved the project and will reimburse the city for 35 percent of putting it back the way it was before the flood, not for making any improvements.

"It's got to be put back or it's going to continue to deteriorate," Sweeten said.

He also said he will have to ask FEMA for a one-year extension on the project. Granger said it will be August before he can start work.

The council revisited the issue of a restroom for the bike park during the meeting. Council members approved a bid for $1,980 from Keck of Oklahoma. The company told Sweeten it could build the building to match the gazebo at the park.

The council heard the first reading of a resolution to do a voluntary annexation of Dubbell Properties LLC, which is on Pleasant Ridge Road. A public hearing on the issue will be held at the council's next meeting, on the second Tuesday in July, at 6 p.m. Following the hearing, the council will need to pass an ordinance to annex the property.

A topic of discussion was dump trucks tearing up Fifth Street. The council discussed possibly having the trucks take an alternate route. Sweeten said he would talk to the owner of the trucking company.

Also discussed was a retirement plan for city employees. The program is through the state of Missouri. Alderman Ann Crowder-Sanders said, if the city joins the system, each employee must participate. She said the city will be responsible for contributing 4.9 percent.

"My feeling is that, instead of a pay raise, these people need a retirement," she said.

Sweeten said, "It's definitely a benefit I think they need."

Sweeten decided to have city clerk Melissa Ziemianin poll employees to see how many are interested. Ziemianin predicted a 50/50 split. She said the uninterested half would be so because they are living paycheck to paycheck and "they need every penny to live."

The topic was tabled until the next meeting.

Sweeten said something needed to be done about the carpet at the community center. He said it should be replaced with tile or laminate. A concern about slipping was brought up regarding tile. Alderman Scott Dennis said laminate does not handle water well. It swells up, he said. Sweeten said he will price carpet tiles.

In other business, the council heard from April Hudgens about a proposed life insurance plan for employees.