CITY OF WILLOW SPRINGS
Regular Council Meeting
Monday, February 23, 2026
City Hall Council Chambers, 5:30 pm
Council Members Present: Mayor Adam Webb, Alderman Mike Tooley, Alderman Kim Rich, Alderman Jennifer Owens, Alderman Bryan Hogan.
City Staff Present: City Administrator Beverly Hicks, City Clerk Heather Tooley, Police Chief Wes Ellison, Assistant Police Chief Ryan Boyle, Bryan D. Hogan, Dawson Bunch, Joe Wagner.
Other Guests: Kim McCormick, Amanda Mendez, Logan Waggoner, John Bailey, Tom Young, Andy Roberts, Mary Roberts.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF QUORUM
City Clerk Heather Tooley called the roll. Mayor Adam Webb opened the meeting of the Board of Aldermen at 5:30 pm with a quorum present. Invocation was led by Alderman Mike Tooley.
AGENDA APPROVAL
Motion by Alderman Rich, second by Alderman Owens to approve the agenda. Motion carried 4-0.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Alderman Owens, second by Alderman Tooley to approve the Consent Agenda as presented which included Approval of Minutes – (RM 1/22), Approval of Bills for Payment, Receipt of Financial Reports, and YMCA, Department Head’s & Board’s Reports. Motion carried 4-0.
VISITORS
Children’s Behavioral Services: Logan Waggoner was present on behalf of Children’s Behavioral Services. Waggoner informed the Council of the intent to hold a Color Run/Walk 5k on Saturday, April 18 and requested some assistance from the Police Department for safety. A copy of the route map was provided in meeting packets.
There was no action taken by Council due to no request for street closures.
Willow Springs Chamber: Kim McCormick was present to discuss various events for the remainder of 2026, along with requesting the designation of March as Shop Local Month.
Shop Local Month Proclamation: McCormick discussed the importance of supporting local businesses and requested the declaration of March as Shop Local Month.
Motion by Alderman Rich, second by Alderman Owens to declare March as Shop Local Month. Motion carried 4-0.
Mayor Adam Webb read a proclamation declaring March as Shop Local Month. Photos were taken.
4th of July Parade: Scheduled for July 4 at 10:00 am, the route will begin at the high school and end at Booster Field.
Christmas Parade: Scheduled for Saturday, December 5 at 5:00 pm, the route will begin at the high school and end at Booster Field.
Veteran’s Day Parade: Scheduled for Saturday, November 7 at 11:00 am, the route will begin at the high school and end at Booster Field.
Bear City Fall Festival: Scheduled for Saturday, October 3 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, the Chamber requested street closures from 4:00 am to 4:00 pm on Main Street from Ferguson to Cherry, including all side streets from First to Third.
Trunk or Treat: Scheduled for October 31 from 5:30pm to 7:00 pm, the Chamber requested street closures from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Main Street from Ferguson to Walnut, along with the alleyways to the north and south of Main Street.
I Ran From the Cops 5k: Scheduled for Saturday, September 12 at 8:00 am, the Chamber discussed both a walking and running route on 10th Street, Old Springfield Road, and in the Quail Run Subdivision. There were no requests for street closures for this event.
Motion by Alderman Hogan, second by Alderman Tooley to approve all events and street closures as presented by the Chamber. Motion carried 4-0.
EXISTING BUSINESS
Airport Board Vacancies: John Bailey was present to discuss the resignations of Pat Stuart and Tom White. Bailey also provided information about Robert Godsy and introduced Tom Young as recommendations for appointments to the Board.
Motion by Alderman Owens, second by Alderman Hogan to appoint Robert Godsy and Tom Young to the airport board. Motion carried 4-0.
NEW BUSINESS
WSPD Blue Shield Grant Program: Assistant Police Chief Ryan Boyle discussed the Blue Shield Grant Program, which was started by Governor Kehoe for a safer initiative through the Department of Public Safety. The grant program is fully funded and can provide up to $50,000.00 annually toward specific training, equipment, etc. that is specifically approved by the program, which must be applied for annually. A Blue Shield Community designation can also provide the opportunity for approval of other grants.
Motion by Alderman Owens, second by Alderman Tooley to read Bill No. 112-26 as Resolution No. 26-112. Motion carried 4-0 and the clerk read Bill No. 112-26 as Resolution No. 26-112.
BILL NO. 112-26 RESOLUTION NO. 26-112
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING PUBLIC SAFETY EXCELLENCE
AND AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR
MISSOURI BLUE SHIELD COMMUNITY DESIGNATION
Motion by Alderman Owens, second by Alderman Tooley to adopt Resolution No. 26-112. A roll call vote was taken:
Ayes: Rich, Owens, Hogan, Tooley
Nays: None.
WSPD Highway Safety Grant Program: Police Chief Wes Ellison informed the Council that the Highway Safety Grant Program is a 100% funded grant through the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) for the purpose of seeking hazardous moving violations.
Motion by Alderman Rich, second by Alderman Owens to read Bill No. 113-26 as Resolution No. 26-113. Motion carried 4-0 and the clerk read Bill No. 113-26 as Resolution No. 26-113.
BILL NO. 113-26 RESOLUTION NO. 26-113
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WILLOW SPRINGS, MISSOURI TO EXECUTE AN APPLICATION TO PARTICIPATE IN MISSOURI’S HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAM
Motion by Alderman Rich, second by Alderman Owens to adopt Resolution No. 26-113. A roll call vote was taken:
Ayes: Owens, Hogan, Tooley, Rich
Nays: None.
Winter Storm Impact: City Administrator Beverly Hicks discussed the impact of Winter Storm Fern on natural gas prices and utility bills beginning January 24, 2026. Hicks further discussed the normal utility bills from Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA) are generally $130,000.00 to $250,000.00, but the bill for the month of January came in at $515,000.00. Hicks also discussed how electricity is purchased for the City through MPUA and the process for paying the bill, including potential interest rates.
No action was taken by Council.
Utility Rate Discussions: City Administrator Beverly Hicks discussed current utility rates with the Council, explaining that the issue is not the rates but the tierage. Hicks stated that an engineer suggested taking the tierages away and restructuring the classifications rather than increasing the rates. After brief discussion, it was agreed that a work session would be scheduled at a later date to include the assistance of MPUA with the restructuring of the utility rates.
No action was taken by Council.
LMI and Grant Opportunities: City Administrator Beverly Hicks discussed the low-to-moderate income (LMI) rating for the City of Willow Springs, which currently sits at 48% but needs to be at least 51% or higher to be eligible for certain grants. Hicks further discussed the process of conducting an anonymous survey similar to the census, and providing the information collected to the Department of Economic Development for a new score, which would last for 3 years.
No action was taken by Council.
PUBLIC AND MEDIA QUESTIONS
There were no questions from the public.
Amanda Mendez from Howell County News had questions regarding the Blue Shield Program and the winter storm impact, which were answered by Assistant Police Chief Ryan Boyle and City Administrator Beverly Hicks.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion by Alderman Hogan, second by Alderman Owens to move to executive session for (13) Personnel pursuant to §610.021. A roll call vote was taken:
Ayes: Hogan, Tooley, Rich, Owens
Nays: None.
The meeting moved into Executive Session at 6:45 pm.
Personnel: Discussion was held regarding a personnel matter. No action was taken.
Motion by Alderman Rich, second by Alderman Tooley to move the meeting back into open session. Motion carried 4-0.
The meeting returned to Open Session at 7:07 pm.
OPEN SESSION
Motion by Alderman Tooley, second by Alderman Owens to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 4-0.
The meeting adjourned at 7:08 pm.
