Belle Community Betterment Association (BCBA) announced at the Nov. 12 meeting that they were able to purchase 10 new light pole snowflakes to replace 10 of the city’s old Christmas decorations on South Alvarado Avenue.

“At this point, we just really wanted to say we are going to move on this,” said BCBA Executive 0Director Mark McClane. “We want to give these decorations to the city. The offer is there, and we want to know whether or not you want them.”

McClane told board members they could replace their oldest decorations, and the BCBA would continue with what they are doing in trying to get more replaced next year.

The project that started with City Court Clerk and BCBA member Barb Schaller applying for a $5,000 grant through Ameren UE turned into a community funded project when Ameren said they didn’t feel comfortable awarding funds to a paying customer.

McClane and BrendaLeigh Guffey were both at the November city meeting to announce they had raised enough money from local businesses and individuals to fund the project on their own.

“We would like to discuss the light pole Christmas decorations on Main,” McClane said. “Barb was supposed to be here; she did most of the leg work on this.”

McClane explained that Schaller and Mayor Josh Seaver began thinking about replacing the old snowflakes that are between 20 and 25 years old.

“They are torn up,” he explained. “Barb had started looking at grants for decorations and found an Ameren UE grant for $2,500 and talked to the agency to find out how to navigate through this.”

It was then the city found out they could not apply for the grant on their own, but could through the BCBA.

“It got distilled down to the very end of the conversation, Ameren felt uneasy with awarding an award to a customer who is paying an electric bill,” McClane said. “They liked the project, but didn’t want to give the award to a city paying an electric bill.”

The project began in September. Schaller, who is a member of BCBA, attended the monthly meeting in October when the project was starting to fall apart.

“She asked if BCBA would match what the grant would be able to match the grant ($2,500),” Guffey said. “The approximate cost was $5,060 to get 10 snowflakes.”

The provider lowered the cost of snowflakes to $4,300 for the non-profit group.

“We now have the total amount from businesses and individuals without getting anything from Ameren,” McClane said.

Donations came from Daryl White, Gary and Barb Schaller, Shelter Insurance- Willadeen Vandegriff, Thomas Quick Stop- Sam Thomas, Mid State Pipeline- Jimmy and Wendy Zumwalt, American Realty- Kevin and Brenda Leigh Guffey, Green Meadow Apartments- Burley and Tammy Green, Maces, Mid America Bank, Maries County Bank, Harold Buddemeyer, Medley, Sinks Pharmacy, Belle Lions Club, Donald Nie, Dinner Bell- Theresa and Daniel Taylor, Sassman’s Chapel, Tri County Newspaper — Craig and Nichole Snodgrass, American Family Insurance- Hollie Dean, Legends Bank, Obermark, Craig and Mary Thierry, Steve Vogt, Brenda Leigh Guffey, and Country Belle Café — Sherry Licklider.

The board approved the donation.

“Thank you from the city,” Seaver said after the meeting. “I don’t know what to say. That is pretty cool that they could do that. I know Barb was disheartened when the grant got denied. That was a great gift.