Two projects the city has been trying to find money for are included in a "pre-wish list" which will be forwarded to U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill by the Warrenton-based Boonslick Regional Planning Commission. BRPC planner Jason Schantz met with city officials last Wednesday, Feb. 4, at a work session and informed them about the projects the local agency had selected. To be considered on the list, Schantz noted projects must have all engineering work completed and be "shovel ready" within 120 days or less should it be approved. "A little bit may get down to us, but I'm skeptical it will get down to this level," Mayor Dale Verges said. "But if it does, we have projects ready to start work on." Projects under consideration are lagoon improvements, which BRPC gave a $300,000 price tag for, and stormwater and drainage improvements. No project cost was listed to improve stormwater drainage on South Street and an area between Daniel's Trail and Tiffany Court. The city has completed engineering work on both street upgrades, but doesn't have funding available to advance the improvements. A new bridge on South Street also was briefly considered by BRPC, Schantz noted, but was deemed not as high a priority as the two selections. After months of debate, President Barack Obama's economic recovery plan took a step forward this week when the Senate passed an $838 billion bill Tuesday. Last week, the House approved an $819 billion version. Now, both sides must negotiate on a final version of the bill that still would have to meet the president's approval. But where does that leave Marthasville and other local communities? "I really don't want to see the money go to all the engineers and we don't turn one dirt clod over," Alderman Leo Tobben said. "I have a feeling what is going to happen here is the same with the banking. They didn't know where the money went." BRPC has been meeting with the various municipalities and three county governments compiling a list of projects to be promoted. While the stimulus package's passage this week provides hope, Schantz said a time line is unknown for when projects would be approved. He said BRPC's quick response to forwarding a list to state officials might help local projects gain support. Should a local project make the first cut, the city would then need to fill out a formal application. "We're just waiting to see what we can do," Schantz said. "Right now, it's just a wish list." Also during last week's work session, aldermen approved hiring additional snowplowing help. The board voted 4-0 to approve the hiring of Tim Perkins. He will be paid $15 an hour. Part-time city employee Mike Peters also snowplows for the city, but a second person was unavailable when the most recent snow hit Jan. 27.