Deputy Clerk appointed in W.S., city budget to be finalized in December

With a unanimous vote, the Willow Springs Board of Aldermen approved a Deputy City Clerk Thursday night at their regular monthly meeting. The Deputy City Clerk is Kim Osborn, who is already employed in city hall. City Clerk Heather Tooley is anticipating being on medical leave during candidate filing for the April municipal election. 

 

City Administrator Beverly Hicks led a discussion on the 2025 municipal budget. She intends to present a balanced $8.05 million budget for a vote in December. Highlights Hicks mentioned include: 

-Employees’ cost-of-living pay increase will be 2.5%, the rate per the Social Security Administration, 

-City Attorney Steve Privette’s compensation will increase on a three-year plan. In 2025, his salary will increase to $2,250 per month. In 2026, the increase will be $2,500 monthly, and in 2027, it will increase to $2,750 monthly. 

-The city will continue to lend financial support to the Chamber of Commerce. Increasing from $1,200 in 2024 to $1,230 in 2025. 

 

Kelly Beets from Missouri Intergovernmental Risk Management Association (MIRMA) was present to award the city with risk management grant funds in the total amount of $3,160.00. Those funds were applied to the purchase of an AED machine for the Police and Fire Departments in the amount of $1,117.00 and a sewer smoke blower for the Sewer Department in the amount of $2,043.00. Beets presented a plaque to City Administrator Beverly Hicks.

 

In other actions: 

-The aldermen passed an ordinance approving candidate filing dates for the April 2025 municipal election. Filing for mayor’s office and Aldermen Phill Knott and Aldermen Danny Bradley’s seats will open Dec. 10 and proceed until Dec. 31. See page 9 for more information on filing procedures. 

-The December meeting was rescheduled to Thursday, Dec. 12 at 5:30 p.m.

-Prior to approving the consent agenda, Hicks informed the aldermen that the city’s accounting system, gWorks, will increase in price from $15,215.00 to $30,480.00 and requested direction on how to proceed. The software is essential to the city’s function and there is not time to transition to a new product before the invoice is due. The aldermen approved the consent agenda, including the increase software cost. 

-The aldermen recognized city employee Dustin Roberts. For more, see page XXXXXX

-The aldermen withdrew into closed session for real estate 6:32 p.m. but:09 p.m. to 6:32 p.m., but took no action. 

 

In other discussion:

-Wendell Bailey was present and spoke during the public comment/question portion at the end of the meeting. Bailey said he had done some research about the now-vacant building that was built for Family Dollar. Bailey said he contacted commercial realtor Jeff Childs and learned that the owners were looking for someone to take over the ten-year lease, but did not have information on the amount. It was Bailey’s suggestion that multiple government agencies should be housed together in that building. He said he plans to speak with the Howell County Commission about this suggestion. The aldermen took no action.

-Hicks gave an update on Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA). Each of the 14 cities in MPUA are having electrical system assessments. Willow Springs has been completed, and overall is in good shape, Hicks reported. One suggestion after the assessment was to GPS, map, and inventory the entire electric distribution system. This is almost complete.