Willow Springs City Council Supports Chamber and Hears Library Update

The Willow Springs City Council approved four contracts to support local organizations at the regular December meeting. Contracts to support the Willow Springs Public Library, the Fire Department, and Ozarks Family YMCA mirror those passed in years past. The library will receive $39,000 from the City, and the YMCA will receive $15,000. The fire department's contract defines the terms of conditions of the services the department will provide to the City. 

A new support contract was passed this year. The City will provide support to the Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce in the amount of $1,200.

Kelly Beets with Missouri Intergovernmental Risk Management Association (MIRMA) presented the City with an award totaling $9,396.93 for the acquisition of an AED machine, in-car dash cameras for police vehicles, sewer backup cameras, emergency flood lights, a manhole lid lifter, equipment beacons, and a gas detector for the Fire Department as part of various risk mitigation grants.

Donna Gossard, President of the Board at the Willow Springs Public Library, gave an overview of the library’s accomplishments and current needs. Major accomplishments include an interior remodel, installation of security cameras, acquisition of laptops and hotspots for circulation, and the digitization of all Willow Springs High School yearbooks.

Scanned copies of WSHS yearbooks will soon be available on the library’s website, and there are plans to share this resource with the school as well. 

In terms of the library’s needs, Gossard discussed the state of the parking lot. 

“We can certainly stripe it and get lights put in,” City Administrator Beverly Hicks commented. 

After the presentation, the Council thanked Gossard.

“This is the first time I have seen this information in 18 years,” commented retiring Alderman Susan Rackley. 

The Council also heard concerns from Main Street Willow Springs. See BUILDING on page XXX. 

They passed the municipal budget for 2022 as well. Details on the budget can be found on page XXX.