Key Decisions
- Approved a lease agreement for a city-owned flood buyout property at 113 Relief Street (Bill 8686, passed 6-0)
- Amended the fiscal year 2025 budget (Bill 8687, passed 6-0)
- Amended the fiscal year 2026 budget and authorized purchase of a new storm siren (Bill 8688, passed 6-0)
- Authorized the Public Bluff Fire Department to destroy antiquated records (Bill 8689, passed 6-0)
- Advanced to voting session on May 18: Amendment to bulky item pickup fees (changing from $20 for 4 items to $10 per item, with tire disposal fee increasing from $3 to $5)
- Advanced to voting session on May 18: Sale of two city-owned vacant lots — 1406 Alice Street for $500 to Priscilla Waller, and 1507 Thomas Street for $350 to Nick Saffel
- Advanced to voting session on May 18: Supplemental agreement extending the deadline for MoDOT approval on the East Pine Street pedestrian crosswalk project from March 1 to September 1, 2026
- Tabled consideration of amending the budget to fund Frisco Depot restoration after discussion with regional planning staff
Community Voices
Phyllis Baker of Grow Our Downtown announced the organization received a $40,000-plus grant from Missouri Main Street Connection to pursue downtown revitalization. Baker thanked council members who attended a recent town hall meeting and walked downtown with Missouri Main Street representatives. She also requested that the local newspaper resume publishing full meeting agendas, not just notice of meetings, to help residents know when items of interest to them are being discussed. City staff clarified they send the newspaper full agendas and packets, but what gets published is the newspaper's decision.
Watch This
- The council rescheduled its budget forum from May 21 to Thursday, June 4 at 6 p.m. at the police department, where department heads will present the budget to the public
- City auditors are conducting their annual review at City Hall this week
- The city will explore applying for a Community Development Block Grant for comprehensive Frisco Depot restoration by the July 31 deadline, which would require hiring an architect for cost estimates and holding a public hearing. The city can only submit one CDBG application, competing with potential road paving and art museum projects
Other Business
Lisa Martin of Missouri Highlands Healthcare was scheduled to request a letter of support for a federal grant to expand behavioral health and substance abuse treatment services, but did not appear at the meeting. City staff will follow up to see if plans changed.
The council discussed a potential multi-phase restoration of the Frisco Depot. Councilman Boyer presented research showing the building needs window repairs ($36,000), freight door reconstruction ($20,000), and a new HVAC system ($38,000), totaling nearly $100,000 before addressing stucco and other exterior work. Brian Rosner of Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission advised against phasing the work if pursuing grants, explaining that work completed before a grant application is submitted cannot count toward matching funds. He recommended applying for Community Development Block Grant funding for the entire project, with the State Historic Preservation Office grant as a backup option in winter. The council took no action pending further planning.
During discussion of vacant lot sales, Councilman Boyer questioned why city lots sell for only a few hundred dollars while county lots sell for $40,000. City Manager Lori Phelps explained the city acquires these properties after four years of tax defaults for about a dollar each, and they are typically marginal lots in poor condition. The city's goal is to return them to the tax rolls and stop having to mow them. The city currently owns approximately 20-25 such properties throughout the city.
Mayor Smith noted concerns about coordination between MoDOT's upcoming highway paving project and two pedestrian crossing projects — one on East Pine Street and one at the Westwood intersection where a new bicycle trail will connect. He expressed hope that MoDOT would coordinate the projects to avoid tearing up new pavement.
Mayor Smith also commented on extremely low voter turnout in the recent election, citing a newspaper article by John Stanard that reported only about 8% of registered voters participated.
Recaps are based on the official meeting recording and may contain errors or omissions. Always refer to the full recording for authoritative information.