There were no speakers at the West Plains City Council’s public hearing held Monday regarding the approval of the city and utility and Tax Increment Finance (TIF) 2024 fiscal year budgets, and increases to utility rates for electricity, water, sewer and sanitation.
Consent agenda items approved at the start of the regular session that followed the hearing included the acceptance of a bid from Stacey Surface Electrical for demolition of the existing electrical infrastructure of the utility, transportation, and information technology (I.T.) offices, at a rate of $42 per hour per worker, $20 per hour per worker for any other laborer, and a rate of $42 per hour per worker for the replacement of the infrastructure on the offices.
Other bids presented were by Mead Electrical Service, at $45 per hour per worker, and by SRS Electric at $50 per hour per worker.
A bid was accepted from Lou Fusz Ford of Chesterfield for a new police pursuit vehicle to replace a patrol vehicle that was struck by another vehicle in late June. The 2023 Dodge Durango Pursuit V6 will cost $40,599, with $20,652 of the cost coming from an insurance reimbursement and the remaining $19,947 from funds generated by the surplus sale of older police vehicles.
Other bids were from Corwin Motors of Springfield at $43,688 for a 2023 Dodge Durango Pursuit V8; from Behlmann CJDR at $42,389 for a 2023 Dodge Durango Pursuit V6; $39,523 for a 2023 Dodge Durango Pursuit V6 from Landmark Dodge in Independence; and $43,399 for a 2023 Dodge Durango Pursuit V8 from Lou Fusz Ford.
Other consent agenda items approved were a site development plan presented by Dexter Frost, who plans to build two single-family rent houses on a lot at 822 Missouri Ave., and site development plan submitted by the McAlister's Deli restaurant chain for a location to be built at the corner of Kentucky Avenue and Broadway at the south end of a parking lot near 10Box supermarket.
John Harris has been recommended for a two-year term on the city's tourism board, to expire Oct. 17, 2025, and Richard Silvey, Alan Ramseur, and Brad Thessing were recommended as members of the South 160 Community Improvement District Board of Directors, the terms to expire Oct. 17, 2027.
The first readings of several bills to become ordinances all passed unanimously for final approval to be voted on in November.
One of the readings concerned changes to city ordinances to allow for enforcement of rules concerning public consumption of marijuana products, either recreationally by citizens at least 21 years old or those issued a medical marijuana card, and will update city laws in light of the legalization of recreational marijuana in February. It also seeks to establish where medical and recreational marijuana dispensaries, marijuana-infused product manufacturing and marijuana cultivation can take place.
Marijuana consumption rules will largely echo laws for consumption of alcohol and will be forbidden in public places. An exception, due to possible exposure to secondhand smoke, will be the banning of consumption in vehicles or private residences in the presence of others who are not legally qualified to consume it. Additionally, anyone younger than 21 will be barred from possessing marijuana smoking devices or other accessories. Police Chief Stephen Monticelli commented to council members he has heard quite a few complaints about marijuana usage in public spaces.
Rules about the location of marijuana-related dispensaries and other facilities will follow state laws, and the location of dispensaries will also be similar to local rules governing the location of liquor stores, prohibiting such businesses from operating near schools and churches.
Parking restrictions in the area near the West Plains High School are also one step closer to becoming law, on Howell Avenue from Olden Street south to Bratton Avenue, a section of East Olden Street west of Howell Avenue and East Olden Street from Howell Avenue to Davidson Street.
The change is prompted by previous traffic congestion on those streets during events at the high school and the Jimmie Carroll Winter Sports Complex on East Olden Street that has been resolved by the creation of a parking lot owned by the city and another owned by the school district, both on East Olden Street. It was noted the parking restrictions would not be on residential sections of the streets and would not prohibit parking by those who live there.
For details on any of the ordinances, and proposed rate increases including increases to utility customers beyond residences, visit the City of West Plains website at westplains.gov, click on "City Government," then "Council agendas and meetings" on the drop-down menu. Links to ordinance details and other meeting documents will be shown in blue; click on them to link to that information.
A resolution to vacate a 20-foot-wide sewer easement needed in order to complete the expansion of Walmart was also passed unanimously.
Mayor Mike Topliff concluded the meeting by commenting on the good attendance at Saturday's Downtown West Plains Fall Block Party, and council member Jessica Nease reminded all that the Scare on the Square will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31 on Court Square.
