Willow Springs City Council Meeting

The Willow Springs City Council met in a regular session Thursday, May 20. Visitors Tom Pringle, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Owings, and Pat Bryan were recognized. Pringle is a listing agent for Bryan on the former KOA Campground, which has been on the market for twenty years. Susan Swift, daughter of the Owings present at the meeting, is a potential buyer and was also present by telephone. Swift and Bryan have signed a contract for sale contingent on a decision by Council to amend the Willow Springs City ordinance restricting any stay on the property to ten days. Swift has expressed intent to use the property for RV camping, tent camping, and music in the park if the restriction can be amended. Council stated concern that some restrictions stay to prevent an individual from setting up an RV for permanent residence on a property that is zoned B-2 Commercial. City Administrator Beverly Hicks suggested a permit to allow long-term stays, "such as those who travel for work purposes." City Attorney Zane Privette agreed that a permit would satisfy City Ordinances and the private owner of the property. Council directed all parties to work together to amend the ordinance, so it works for all involved, and return in the June meeting with that agreement.

The old MoDOT buildings were a topic of discussion. The city lease on the buildings expires in March 2022, and the cost of maintenance has increased. The Willow Springs School District has requested a feasibility study of the potential use of the buildings as a vocational educational facility. Administrator Hicks will present more information at the August meeting of the Council.

Beverly Hicks gave an update regarding repairs to the city swimming pool, including those that were unexpected. $167,332 has been spent to date, exceeding the amount budgeted. Hicks requested an additional $72,332 be transferred from the pool reserves to the general fund to cover the extra cost of repairs. A 4-0 vote approved that request.

The City of Willow Springs accrued a $740,000 energy bill during the bitterly cold spell in February of this year. The Missouri General Assembly has approved an interest-free loan program with a payback period of five years to cover the additional costs. Council voted to move forward to take advantage of the loan program as the best option for utility customers and the city to cover these increased energy costs. Spreading the expense over five years should keep utility rates from increasing too much.

Alderman Troy Yonker informed the Mayor of the findings of a committee that met on May 6 to consider the appointment of a Willow Springs Fire Department Chief. The multi-person committee voted unanimously to recommend Vance Farmer for the position, and Mayor Brooke Fair accepted the recommendation and asked for a motion to appoint Farmer as Fire Chief, which was done, and the motion carried 4-0.

Water & Sewer Supervisor Joe Wagner informed Council that both of the city's backhoes were becoming more costly to repair. Both need repairs, requiring transportation to Springfield and being down for several weeks. Council inquired of the benefits of buying versus leasing. Council voted to proceed with bids and directed Wagner to see what options are available.

City Clerk Heather Duddridge informed the Council of an application to sell liquor in original package by Dollar General. Family Dollar, still under construction, has expressed interest in filing an application as well. City ordinance limits the number of original package retailers to one license per 500 residents. That leaves the city with four licenses that are already taken. State statutes do not provide such limitations. Duddridge and Beverly Hicks advised Council that most cities mirror state statutes, and Council agreed to amend the Willow Springs ordinance accordingly. That amendment will be read in the June meeting.

Council was informed of an Office of State Courts Administrator (OSCA) mandate that the City of Willow Springs move its court to a paperless system known as Sho-Me Courts (SMC) by August 1 of this year. Failure to do so will require that all tickets written inside the city limits be sent to Howell County for prosecution. There being no other apparent option, it voted to proceed with resolutions and an amended city ordinance leading to inclusion in the program. One consequence will be an increase in court costs from $29.50 to 40.50 for each case with a guilty plea or conviction.

Council approved a Flood Insurance Map update. The last map was issued in 2011, and this revision is dated April 7, 2021. Property owners in the flood zone are required to obtain flood insurance. Amendment of the city ordinance is a required formality showing that the city acknowledges the new map, which was done.

The next meeting of Willow Springs City Council will be held on June 17 at 5:00 p.m.