West Plains recognized as Missouri Art Council's 2026 Creative Community

During a regular board meeting of the West Plains City Council Downtown Coordinator Emily Edwards-Long delivered a resolution from the Missouri Arts Council naming West Plains as the 2026 Creative Community.

 

"This recognition reflects the strength and dedication of our arts community as well as the ongoing support this council provides for creative work in West Plains," Long said.

 

The remainder of the Feb 17. meeting wrapped quickly with the following items being approved:

 

- Consent Agenda consisting of the approval of minutes from January 20, 2026 regular meeting; West Plains Housing Authority Board Appointments of Barbara Butler and Patty Goss renewing a 4-year term set to expire February 2030; Industrial Development Authority Board Appointments of Lou Citro renewing a 6-year term set to expire February 2032; and Highway 160 Overpass Change Orders as follows: Change Order 10: Final Value Engineering Quantities of $77,221.62; Change Order 11: Hand Pour Requirements of $15,395.60; and Crawford, Murphy, & Tilly (CMT) Extension of $232,234.79.

 

- First reading of Resolution 2026-03-A resolution of the City of West Plains, Missouri authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with the Howell County Health Department for environmental public health services. This resolution is an annual renewal between the City of West Plains and the health department at a cost of $28,000 a year, roughly $2,300 which is bill monthly to the city.

 

- Second reading of Bill 4816 to become Ordinance 4816. An ordinance of the City of West Plains, Missouri, amending Section 28-141 of the West Plains Municipal Code relating to Lewd and Immoral Conduct. City Administrator Sam Anselm explained to the council that this cleans up some code language that was in the existing code that had sections that were problematic in terms of being able to enforce that if a complaint is received. "We just want to clean up the language as part of our process and going through our codes finding those older statutes that are really no longer applicable and updating the language and providing them for you to consider," Anselm said. 

 

- Second reading of Bill 4817 to become Ordinance 4817. An ordinance amending Article XI of Chapter 10 and Article VI of Chapter 38 by the addition of new regulations for trenchless excavations on public and private property and in the right-of-way.