City Hall to Lease New Postage, Envelope Stuffing Machine

It may seem trivial but a machine that folds letters and packs envelopes is  important for Arnold City Hall.

Think about having to fold, insert and seal all the sewer and property bills that are regularly mailed to the city's 20,000-plus residents and numerous businesses, Anrold Finance Director Deborah Lewis said during the City Council meeting at City Hall, 2101 Jeffco Blvd., on March 15.

"The folding machine is faster and more efficient when sending out bills," Lewis said.

Mayor Ron Counts asked Lewis to explain, to councilmen, the need for a new folding machine and a new postage meter for City Hall.

Arnold's lease ended on the postage machine and the city lacks folding machine, Lewis said.

The new lease will provide the desired machines for five years, she said.

Since Sawyer Mailing Machine, the provider, already has a contract with the State of Missouri, the City of Arnold did not need to request a bid for the machines, Lewis said.

After Ward 2 Councilman Jeff Fitter asked about the machines' higher maintenence costs, Lewis said the manufacturer only provided a one-year warranty and the city would need to pay for maintenance during the following years.

The city will lease the two machines for five years with the first year's cost at about $4,800. The costs will increase to about $6,600 annually for the remainder of the contract.

Arnold Deputy Clerk Tammy Casey, who will use the machines, said she is looking forward to using the machines for her work.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article omitted the cost of the two machines.