The Marthasville Board of Aldermen approved a series of new contracts at its April 20 meeting.The city recently underwent an audit of contracts and sought bids for services. The city was looking to get new costs for things like trash pickup and workers’ compensation insurance.The biggest change relates to the city’s wastewater monitoring. Tim Flagg, a contractor for the city’s water and sewer department, was replaced as the city’s water operator by Public Works Director Brad Landwehr.Mayor David Lange said he would recommend the city do the wastewater monitoring in-house. Landwehr confirmed he had the proper licenses to be the city’s operator in charge. He said his wastewater license was “above and beyond” what the city needs.Mayor Lange said the city would see “substantial” savings by going with Landwehr. Alderman Nick Lange said the city could save nearly $15,000 by not having the work contracted.“That’s a big chunk of money that can go toward his salary as a full-time employee,” Nick Lange said.Landwehr was named the city’s public works director and promoted to a salaried position in January. His annual salary will be $40,000, making him the highest paid city employee.The board still needed someone to do the lab work and agreed to hire the low bidder, PDC Laboratories. The Florissant-based company will charge the city $138 monthly for lab work. PDC Laboratories was one of four bidders for the work. The others were Water Resources Management, Inc., ESA, Inc. and East Central Water and Sewer Authority.The board also unanimously agreed to sever ties on its current contract with ESA, effective immediately. Other ContractsThe board also approved several other contracts.The city sought unit price bidding for concrete flatwork, concrete curb and gutter, and supply excavation equipment. The city received three bids, all with different prices.Nick Lange suggested the city should lock in the bids and just go with the lowest price on a case-by-case basis. He said if the lowest bidder is unavailable, the city should go to the second-lowest bidder.The rest of the board backed Lange’s suggestion.The city will stay with Grace Hauling for disposal of residential refuse and recyclables. Grace was the lone bidder.Grace’s contract calls for it to be paid $14 a month of basic services, $13 a month for senior single residential units, and $50 per ton for removal of household appliances and other bulky goods.Yard waste pickups will be available for any resident for $13 a month. A 95-gallon cart also is available for residents to rent for an additional $1 a month.The city also will stay with the present carrier for workers’ compensation insurance at its current rate. The board agreed to stick with Missouri Rural Insurances Trust, through a bid provided by Scott Agency, Inc.Marthasville