The Willow Springs City Council met Thursday for their regular monthly meeting. Part of the agenda was to approve election results and swear in Mayor Pro Tem Kim Rich and Ward II Alderman Tyler Morris, but after that happened an issue with Morris' location of residence was found.
Rich, in the absence of Mayor Brooke Fair, announced Morris had moved from Ward II to Ward I after filing to be placed on the ballot. City Administrator Beverly Hicks pointed out it is a situation Willow Springs hadn't dealt with before, but she contacted Stuart Haynes with the Missouri Municipal League and was told the city is allowed reasonable time to find a replacement for Morris, and any vote Morris makes until a replacement has been appointed is legal. Hicks said she is hopeful a replacement will be found within the next month.
Other action taken was the approval of the agenda and consent agenda, which included approval of minutes, approval of bills for payment, receipt of financial reports, and reports given regarding the YMCA and various departments and boards.
Christos House domestic violence services representatives were there to receive a signed proclamation from Rich declaring April Sexual Violence Awareness Month. Christos House staff and board members present were Christos House Executive Director Kelli Neel, Shelter Advocates A.J. Clinton and Tommi Hagen, and Shelter Supervisor Amanda Wade attended on behalf of Christos House.
Eleven Point Fire Department Chief Frank Vanhorn, representing the Howell County Fire Chief's Association, talked to council members about holding a fire engine rally in Willow Springs for the first time in 22 years.
He said it is planned for Oct. 12, with Oct. 19 as a rain date. There will be several competitive events, Vanhorn said, including a police department vs. fire department tug-of-war, local vendors, and games for children.
He requested and was granted the use of the Booster Field parking lot, and to hold a fire engine parade through town with a unanimous vote. Hicks said details regarding trash and barriers would be discussed and resolved closer to the event date.
An agenda item was tabled for later action regarding no parking areas after Hicks looked into the matter and discovered the current ordinance was outdated and inaccurate. A second reading of Ordinance No. 1613 was disregarded on Hicks' recommendation while the current ordinance was repealed and replaced with a general statement to drivers to avoid parking where no parking signs are posted.
In particular, parking in the alley between Main Street and First Street will be discussed, with the public and business owners being given a chance to weigh in on the matter in order to be fair and considerate to business owners, Hicks added.
In further new business, City Clerk Heather Tooley let council members know there are 14 businesses that have not renewed their 2024 business license and nine of them needed to provide a certificate of no tax due from the Missouri Department of Revenue. Six of the 14 are mobile vendors, Tooley added.
She further informed council members that all businesses with existing licenses were notified of the annual renewal by letters dated Oct. 2, and past due notices mailed on March 5 and April 1. Businesses that received the April 1 notice were also informed at Thursday's council meeting.
Tooley stated that in the past businesses with past due licenses were personally served with a letter giving them 14 days to renew their license and a warning a citation would possibly be issued, along with a public hearing before council members, and asked how they wished to proceed.
Council agreed to move forward with personal service giving 14 days to renew licenses and any public hearings needed will happen in May.
