In this chapter of Local Perspectives, we spoke to the Mayor of West Plains, Mike Topliff. Conversation topics included his experiences in theater, the difficulties of his position and inflation, and even a sneak peek into his plans for Christmas later this year.
Transcript Below:
Dan:
This is Dan here with Ozark Radio News. And I’m here with Mike Topliff, the mayor of West Plains for another chapter of our local perspective series. Welcome Mike.
Mike Topliff :
Thanks Dan. Thanks for having me.
Dan:
Are you excited?
Mike Topliff :
I am very excited to be here, kind of apprehensive to see what we’re going to do, but it’ll be fun.
Dan:
Yeah. Yeah. And that’s kind of the idea. I’ve kind of given a bit of a preamble just about every time I’ve started this and this won’t be any different. So the idea behind the local perspectives is that it’s meant to be more casual and free form. We’re not going to be talking about any specific topics, it’s just a chance for people to get to know you, the man behind the mayor position.
Mike Topliff :
Okay.
Dan:
Well, I know I actually discovered this recently that you’re actually into theater and you have a background in that, and that did surprise me. I wasn’t expecting it, I’m not really sure why. The Hawaiian shirt should have given it away though, I think. But still very interesting topic. There’s more to you obviously than just your position. You have job that you run full-time as well. Man, doing the mayor position on top of a full-time job and trying to balance the theatrics, how do you juggle that well?
Mike Topliff :
This week’s been kind of rough with rehearsals every night and still study. So it’s all a matter of balancing work, life and city together. I like that Head & Shoulders commercial, never not working. So, that’s me. But yeah, it’s been I’d say at least 10 years since I’ve been on stage, but I’ve performed at the Avenue, or we like to always say off Broadway, get it. But Avenue, I’ve been Civic Center and some dinner theaters. And right now I’m currently involved with the Emerald Heist. That’ll be September 10th for the 32nd Judicial Casa. And so I’m kind of excited. It’s been a while. I’m a little rusty. But I got my ad libs together.
Dan:
Are they going to have you in a really tight costume for comedic effect?
Mike Topliff :
I do make some costume changes. So it will be interesting.
Dan:
If we notice some dischevelling, just pay it no mind.
Mike Topliff :
That’s right. Nothing to see here.
Dan:
Kind of getting towards your job a little bit, because obviously I would like to at least sort of approach some serious topics while we’re talking on here. I know we just actually got back from the Coffee With the Mayor event that went on where people get a chance to talk to you about things they like or don’t like about the city of West Plains. What would you say is probably the most common issue that is talked about?
Mike Topliff :
A lot of it is the cost, the cost of everything. You can’t go today anywhere and not see that everything’s costing more. And unfortunately the cost for the city’s gone up. Our budget, we’re running very close and budgeted so much for fuel and everything’s up over $3.
Dan:
Absolutely.
Mike Topliff :
And asphalts out of the world, but that’s falls under utilities, but just in general. And then we got to pay the people to work for the city, because that’s what keeps the city running.
Dan:
And I know the gas prices have really been breaking budgets for a lot of agencies in the area. I think a lot of people don’t realize that. And I’ve talked to a few people about this recently that sort of the effects of nationalized costs that we see due to various different things involving the pandemic or internet shopping becoming more popular, is that it really has a tendency to hurt locations like this that don’t have as high a cost of living as other places. Because essentially what we’re seeing is that our price for things is starting to reach a more average price with what those high prices are in other places of the country. To the people here who don’t have that kind of income, it becomes a struggle.
Dan:
I’m sure everybody is struggling right now, but I feel like, especially considering we live in the Ozarks, we get a special front row seat to that sort of situation. So does it tie into that? Do you think people’s wages are able to keep up with the expenditures? Do you foresee any trouble in the future?
Mike Topliff :
Not to be too pessimistic I see a little more trouble in the future. There’s a breaking point where a business owner can’t pay the wages. They need to pay to get people to work. And so I’m not sure where I would fit into that, helping that and everything, but we’re trying our best to keep our costs down. I know we had utility rates increase, but looking at that we have over 205 million worth of infrastructure that we need to upgrade. In the recent news, Mississippi right now, they have the town that now has non drinkable water. So that’s why we have to look ahead. We have to look into the future. And so we have a 30 year plan to make these changes and unfortunately we had to start making increases so that we can start paying for all that.
Mike Topliff :
That was one topic we talked about at the coffee this morning. Sam Anzeld he mentioned that in the future, we may have to put a bond issue out there to raise the funds to make some of these changes and increase. So we’re doing our best to keep the cost down, but also to plan ahead. So that 30 years from now, our children’s children are still enjoying living in West Plains.
Dan:
Right. I think that’s a huge endeavor for anybody, especially for any kind of local government, whether it’s towns, counties, even the state on some level. We see a lot of arguments about people wanting to be paid more and then the counter argument of expenses going up due to that. But I personally find that this is one of those situations where those two statements are not mutually exclusive and that it’s not always about flat values, but about ratios and that there should be a certain ratio that the public should have access to economically. And if they don’t, it’s harder to have a functioning economy because you don’t have people spending money, you don’t have the money flowing properly to the proper channels, whether that’s local businesses or local government. I’m not really a professional enough to know where that money has gone I would say. But it’s like you said, there’s how many millions of dollars worth of infrastructure that needs to be maintained and upkept. And obviously that’s an issue, but I think you guys are really trying to set things in motion to make sure that that’s steady.
Dan:
I guess we should probably take a bit of a breather from the serious topics a bit here. I’m actually kind of excited about this because it’s nice to see the cultural side of West Plains upgrading. I guess, so we’re bouncing back just a bit. What are some events that you’re really excited for in the area around West Plains?
Mike Topliff :
In November the big thing coming is the NCJAA volleyball tournament, that’s going to be a big event. That brings in several million in tourist money and everything. So, when you see the games out there, especially if the Grizzlies are playing, we need to show up in force and let them know West Plains-
Dan:
They’ve got some support.
Mike Topliff :
That’s right. We were talking about that also at Coffee With the Mayor this morning from our last time we hosted it. We’ve had people that came to the game and they liked the area so much that they pulled their kids. They’re now in school here going to school in West Plains because of the way they were treated, the whole community and the whole, how everybody treat them. It was great. They said what a community.
Dan:
And that is actually kind of interesting, despite the fact that there are a lot of pessimistic views on certain things these days that there are still a lot of people within our community and even others that are still feeling the good spirit. Still kind of enjoying themselves, staying on a kind and optimistic. Which is always a good thing to see. Kind of leads us into thinking about Christmas spirit. We’re getting into the second half of this year. So do you plan to reprise your role as the old Saint Nick?
Mike Topliff :
Short answer’s, well, yes. Yes I am. Matter of fact I’ve been hit up for some events already. And matter of fact, this morning I was talking with someone and possibly I may be going to Fort Leonard Wood to do an event there.
Dan:
Interesting.
Mike Topliff :
So that’ll be interesting. But yeah, Christmas parade December 10th is… Whoop. Did I let that leak out?
Dan:
We’ll uh, get it cut off.
Mike Topliff :
Yeah, no, that’s good. I really enjoy that. One year, I had an event I could not do, so my son took my place and it was for a daycare center. In between his appearances, he texts me, he goes, “I see why you do this now”. It’s about the kids at that point.
Dan:
Yeah, absolutely. And people really do come together whenever it comes to Christmas events, I can’t necessarily say I’m a bah humbug kind of person, but I can’t necessarily also say I’ve been a big participant of a lot of holiday events. But, even as someone who might even be a bit of an outsider to a lot of things, I do see the big change that happens in people around Christmas. So obviously sometimes there’s a little bit of bad in there. We start talking about Black Friday shopping, things of that nature. But overall I think people really enjoy getting into that sort of idea of goodness.
Mike Topliff :
Yeah. Oh yeah, for sure.
Dan:
Now, I know you’re probably pretty excited to do that. But it’s another hat to juggle I’m seeing. Are you feeling any nervousness at all?
Mike Topliff :
By December 24th ask me because I will be worn out. I’ll be so tired but then once I put that red suit on, it just gets in your blood.
Dan:
The rest of your wardrobe is stained with tears and sweat, but the Santa costume remains pristine.
Mike Topliff :
Yeah. I keep my hair bleached all year long. And so every eight weeks I have to go and get it bleached. And the reason behind that, well, first as a member of the fraternal order of real beard Santas you have to live the Santa life year long. But if I don’t do that right before Christmas, I have to get it bleached about five times to get it white. You want to talk about painful-
Dan:
That is a lot of effort to go in.
Mike Topliff :
Usually in the third bleach, I’ll be telling you where grandma hides the money.
Dan:
At least you’re not having to go through a waxing session as well. That’s not a Santa thing at least.
Mike Topliff :
Oh, thank goodness!
Dan:
Well, there you go, everybody. Thanks for listening in right here. And thanks again, Mike, for talking with us. The man of many hats himself. Maybe you’ll see Mike come in and talk to us again. Thanks again, Mike.
Mike Topliff :
Thank you Dan.
