At its regular monthly meeting held Feb. 20, the West Plains City Council recognized Kathleen Morrissey for her award from the Missouri Arts Council for her work as an individual for her leadership in promoting the arts, the culmination of several decades of service in the area and statewide.
Morrissey made a brief presentation about her achievements as a member of West Plains Council on the Arts, and brought her award for Leadership in the Arts, a blown glass globe made by a Missouri artist.
A plan by Al Kharitonov to build 12 single-family housing units was part of the consent agenda, and was presented and approved. The housing is to be built on a tract off of Maple Street near Simpson Street, zoned residential and approved under the condition that the units, if sold, be sold together rather than individually.
A bid was accepted from Harry Cooper Supply of Springfield for brass fittings for inventory in the amount of $34,908.50. The inventory has been approved to keep the parts on hand, and in consideration of fulfilling upcoming infrastructure projects like Garner Villas.
A bid for $48,526 from Flynn Drilling Company for the purchase of a rebuilt high-service pump for the wastewater treatment plant, a pump that operates to sustain water levels in the standpipes and the treatment system during emergency operations. Flynn Drilling Company is based in Rolla and the only company in the region that provides the service needed and the only company to submit a bid, the request noted. Vehicles declared surplus were a 2008 Ford F450 from the utilities department and a 2013 Dodge Charger from the police department.
Also as part of the consent agenda, a bid from Cary Stewart Construction for $724,050 for the Garner Villas Phase I project was accepted on the recommendation of the Horner & Shifrin Engineering firm, after review. The review noted the bid came in at about a half of a percent higher than the engineer's estimate, but seemed reasonable given the scope of the project, and there were two other plan holders for the project that chose not to submit bids.
The project will include the installation of PVC water main, PVC sewer main, fire hydrants, gate valves, manholes and all other project construction costs. It will extend city water and sewer services to the senior housing project and be funded by a Community Block Development Grant, noted Utilities Director Shayne Eades, in a request the bid be accepted.
Council members accepted a bid of $29,753 for a 2024 Chevrolet Colorado two-wheel drive crew cab pickup truck from Don Brown Chevrolet for the Parks and Recreation Department, submitted by city Purchasing Agent Kristopher Bates, who noted the department had $30,000 set aside for the vehicle.
The remaining bids came in over budget, with a $30,153 bid for the same vehicle and a $33,202.20 bid for a four-wheel drive 2024 Chevrolet Colorado from Ed Morse and a $33,110 bid for a 2023 Chevrolet Colorado with two-wheel drive from Rusty Drewing Chevrolet.
It was also approved that Police Chief Stephen Monticelli look into possible funding available from the Missouri Department of Transportation Highway Safety Department to be used for traffic enforcement.
Council members also approved four reappointments to the City Tourism Board, to expire in February 2026. They are Lindsey Thompson, Haley Mitchell, Michael Hullinger and Josh Cotter.
The final item on the consent agenda was the approval of a plan for a fireworks display to be held at the Heart of the Ozarks Fairgrounds during the upcoming Eclipse West Plains: Party in the Path events. The fireworks display is sponsored by Dr. Brian Morrison and will take place beginning 8:30 p.m. April 7, following a hot air ballon glow, live music and food trucks at the location.
In new business, the second readings of two ordinances were had and passed. The first was an ordinance repealed and replaced after a state audit of the city's stormwater management code, updating it.
It was noted by Project Coordinator Michael McMahon the main difference is the removal of a stormwater utility fee/fund that had been discontinued for several years but was never removed from the code of ordinances, plus the updating of other language to achieve compliance with permit requirements. There would be no fiscal impact as a result of the change, McMahon said.
The second ordinance repealed city ordinances pertaining to six sections of municipal court codes in order to bring the codes into compliance with current state statutes and court operating rules. They were, specifically, the repealing of sections regarding security for court costs, assessment for a spinal cord injury fund, collection of additional costs for certain violations involving motorcycles and motor tricycles, and a sheriff's retirement fund. Amended sections allowed for the assessment of court costs, and a fee collected in appeals cases.
The meeting wrapped up with a first reading of a request by Justin Huddleston and Kelsie Rasor Huddleston for a section of property they own to be annexed into city limits. The property is the Rasor Chiropractic building off of Bill Virdon Boulevard, with the building, infrastructure and utilities already in place. The first reading was passed unanimously.
A final resolution was passed authorizing Mayor Mike Topliff to enter into an agreement between the city and the Howell County Health Department to provide environmental public health services including restaurant inspections. The agreement is renewed annually, City Administrator Sam Anselm noted.
