VIENNA — Vienna Mayor Tim Schell asked at the Nov. 6 city meeting if there had been any update on the old hat factory site on Chestnut Street.

Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency began work to demolish the hat factory and remove and replace soil contaminated by what the agency said is “volatile organic compounds, primarily perchloroethylene (PCE).” Exposure to PCE can have both short-term and long-term health effects on people.

At the October meeting, Utilities Superintendent Shon Westart said the project had moved into the remediation stage after the demolition of the factory in March — which was followed by excavation and replacement of the soil onsite. The remediation phase will repair three contaminated drinking wells. Also at that meeting, city officials talked about wanting to see the site converted into a park after completion of the project.

During the Nov. 6 meeting, Westart said he had talked with a business partner of the owner who had told him rumors about the site being under contract were untrue. He added that it was “definitely a possibility” that the city could make an offer to acquire the site.

Westart said he was looking into an appraisal of the 7.89-acre site. EPA stipulations say that the owners of Superfund sites such as the hat factory cannot sell the land for more than fair market value following a cleanup project. Westart planned to update the aldermen when he had an idea of what might be a fair offer.

Westart said he had talked to the EPA about legal protections for the city against contamination if it were to buy the land. The hat factory site will remain subject to EPA testing for several years following the conclusion of the project. There is no water or sewer onsite. He said it would not be easy to build on the site, but it would be easy to put a park there.

Schell asked City Attorney Ross Bush if it would be possible to pursue zoning in the city.

Bush said it would not be too much for him. He did not recall the city pursuing zoning before, but he said it would not be so challenging that the city could not undertake it if it was necessary. He said he would look into it and provide city officials with a timeline.

Later in the meeting, North Ward Alderman Rita Juergens asked if the city had made any progress on finding part-time help at City Hall. At the August city meeting, aldermen approved a motion to post a part-time position assisting the city clerk. The extra person would help manage the clerk’s workload and provide someone to fill in during the clerk’s absence.

At the time of the meeting, the city had not posted the position. Juergens offered to temporarily help at City Hall until the city hired a part-time worker.

“I don’t want to do it every day,” she said. “I don’t want to do it all day long. But I’d be willing to help until we get somebody.”

During the meeting, Westart said the new wastewater lagoon permit from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources is in a public comment session through Dec. 9.

City Clerk Karen Dudenhoeffer said the city will likely have a new permit in January.

Also at the meeting, South Ward Alderman Chuck Davis asked if the phone issues at City Hall had been resolved.

Dudenhoeffer said the issues were better, but she would still work with the phone company to see if the city could get off a landline.

On Nov. 9, the city of Vienna Missouri Facebook account posted about phone issues with both City Hall and Vienna Police Department. The account updated the post later that day to say that the issue had been resolved.