Willow Springs, MO. – During a regular City Council meeting for the City of Willow Springs, one topic revolved around a costly bill that could cost the city up to $15,000.
On Thursday, November 21st, City Administrator Dawn Hicks appealed to the City Council regardining a decision to be made around gWorks, the City’s accounting system.
According to Hicks, while the price of the system has risen 23% in the past few years, the latest invoice doubled in price, from $15,215.00 to $30,480.00.
It is unknown how this situation will resolve, but Willow Springs, as well as other cities in the area that use this accounting system, have until December 31st to decide before the program is shut down.
The draft minutes from this past City Council meeting can be found below, unedited.
City of Willow Springs
Regular Council Meeting
Thursday, November 21, 2024
City Hall Council Chambers, 5:30 pm
Present: Mayor Brooke Fair, Alderman Danny Bradley, Alderman Kim Rich, Alderman Jennifer Owens, Alderman Phill Knott, City Administrator Beverly Hicks, City Clerk Heather Tooley, City Attorney Zane Privette, Police Chief Wes Ellison, Assistant Police Chief Alan Lewis.
Guest: Kelly Beets, Robin Lewis, Sally Helton, Lori Foster, Wendell Bailey, Kim McCormick, Nick Tooley, Shane Collins, Joe Wagner, Angela Brooks, Sam Waldron, Amanda Mendez, Dustin Roberts, John Bailey, Therese Roberts, Terry Roberts, Tucker Bunch, Brennan Bunch.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF QUORUM
City Clerk Heather Tooley called the roll.
Mayor Brooke Fair opened the meeting of the Board of Alderman at 5:30 pm with a quorum present.
AGENDA APPROVAL
Motion by Alderman Bradley, second by Alderman Owens to approve the agenda. Motion carried 4-0.
CONSENT AGENDA
City Administrator Beverly Hicks informed Council that gWorks has been the City’s accounting system for years and there had been a 23% increase in cost over the last few years. However, Hicks stated that an invoice arrived this week in the amount of $30,480.00. Last year’s invoice was $15,215.00. Hicks stated that a lot of the surrounding cities had the same incident, but if the invoice isn’t paid, gWorks can shut down the program on December 31. Hicks further stated that she sent an email to the company stating that she would be looking for an exit strategy, but does not believe it will cause the company to change their stance. Hicks concluded that she needed some direction on how to move.
Motion by Alderman Rich, second by Alderman Bradley to approve the Consent Agenda which included Approval of Minutes as amended – (RM 10/17), Approval of Bills for Payment, Receipt of Financial Reports, and YMCA, Department Head’s & Board’s Reports, and approve the payment of the gWorks invoice. Motion carried 4-0.
VISITORS
Kelly Beets – MIRMA: Kelly Beets from Missouri Intergovernmental Risk Management Association (MIRMA) was present to award the City with risk management grant funds in the total amount of $3,160.00. Those funds were applied to the purchase of an AED machine for the Police and Fire Departments in the amount of $1,117.00 and a sewer smoke blower for the Sewer Department in the amount of $2,043.00. Beets presented a plaque to City Administrator Beverly Hicks and photos were taken.
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Dustin Roberts: City Administrator Beverly Hicks informed Council that Dustin Roberts has been employed with the City for 6 years and is close to completing the Journeyman Lineman program through the Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA). The program takes 4 years to complete with testing in Columbia, plus hands-on training with the City. Electric Supervisor Nick Tooley thanked Roberts for his dependability and hard work. Tooley presented Roberts with a framed certificate and photos were taken.
EXISTING BUSINESS
2025 Budget Discussion: City Administrator Beverly Hicks informed Council that there have not been many changes since the last discussion in October. Hicks highlighted a few items and confirmed that if no changes were required, she would present the $8.05 Million budget with a proposed Ordinance for vote in December.
- The Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) per the Social Security Administration is at 2.5%.
- The City Attorney will receive a 3-year compensation increase with $2,250.00 monthly in 2025, $2,500.00 monthly in 2026, and $2,750.00 monthly in 2027.
- The Chamber of Commerce is leaving their current location. The City will continue to support the Chamber for office materials and whatever else they need with an increase from the current amount of $1,200.00 annually to $1,230 annually in 2025.
No action was taken by Council.
NEW BUSINESS
Willow Springs Electric Distribution System Field Inspection: City Administrator Beverly Hicks informed Council that the City purchases power through the Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA), but we also use MPUA for professional services and electric engineering. All 14 cities that are part of MPUA have full access to electric distribution system assessments and 3 or 4 of those have now been completed, including the City of Willow Springs. Hicks stated that overall, everything is in good shape and the suggestions they made have already been discussed by City electric crews.
One suggestion made was to GPS, map, and inventory the entire electric distribution system. Hicks told Council that this has been in the works and is almost complete. Other suggestions from MPUA included inspection of the capacitors, and lightning protection.
Hicks and Electric Supervisor Nick Tooley made additional comments about services with MPUA being 40% cheaper than hiring a contractor.
2025 Municipal Election and Candidate Filing Procedure: City Clerk Heather Tooley informed Council that City Ordinance requires the filing of an Ordinance each year outlining the dates of candidacy filing for the general municipal election that is held in April of each year. Tooley further stated that candidacy filing for the April 8, 2025 election will begin at 8:00 am on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 and end at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, December 31, 2024. Tooley added that City Hall would be closed on Tuesday, December 24 and Wednesday, December 25 in observance of the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day holidays. City Hall hours will be extended to 5:00 pm only on Tuesday, December 31, 2024 in order to be compliant with the State’s requirements for candidacy filing.
Motion by Alderman Rich, second by Alderman Bradley to read Bill No. 26-24. Motion carried 4-0 and the clerk read Bill No. 26-24.
BILL NO. 26-24 ORDINANCE NO. 1626
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING, ESTABLISHING AND PROVIDING
FOR THE ELECTION PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED FOR THE
GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD APRIL 8, 2025,
IN THE CITY OF WILLOW SPRINGS, MISSOURI
Motion by Alderman Rich, second by Alderman Bradley to read Bill No. 26-24 as Ordinance No. 1626. Motion carried 4-0 and the clerk read Ordinance No. 1626.
BILL NO. 26-24 ORDINANCE NO. 1626
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING, ESTABLISHING AND PROVIDING
FOR THE ELECTION PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED FOR THE
GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD APRIL 8, 2025,
IN THE CITY OF WILLOW SPRINGS, MISSOURI
Motion by Alderman Rich, second by Alderman Bradley to adopt Ordinance No. 1626. A roll call vote was taken:
Ayes: Bradley, Rich, Owens, Knott
Nays: None.
Appointment of Deputy City Clerk: City Administrator Beverly Hicks informed Council that a Deputy City Clerk needed to be appointed to assist City Clerk Heather Tooley during an upcoming medical leave occurring at the end of December, which also falls during municipal election candidate filing. Hicks recommended Kim Osborn be appointed as Deputy City Clerk since she is already at the front counter and can sign off on all candidate declarations during Tooley’s time out of the office.
Motion by Alderman Rich, second by Alderman Owens to appoint Kim Osborn as Deputy City Clerk. Motion carried 4-0.
Reschedule December Meeting: After brief discussion, the meeting was rescheduled to Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 5:30 pm.
Public and Media Questions: Wendell Bailey was present and requested permission from the Mayor to give a brief update, which was granted. Bailey informed Council that he contacted commercial realtor Jeff Childs about the former Family Dollar building. Bailey received information that the owners were looking for someone to take over the 10-year lease, but did not have information on the amount. Bailey suggested that it would be good for multiple government agencies to go in together and section the building off. He has plans to visit with the County Commission regarding this suggestion. The Council thanked him for the update and did not take any action.
There were no other comments or questions from the public.
Amanda Mendez with Howell County News was present and requested clarification on the amount of the gWorks invoice. City Administrator Beverly Hicks stated the 2023 invoice was $15,215.00 and the 2024 invoice was $30,480.00.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion by Alderman Rich, second by Alderman Owens to move to executive session for (2) Real Estate pursuant to §610.021. A roll call vote was taken:
Ayes: Rich, Owens, Knott, Bradley
Nays: None.
The meeting moved into Executive Session at 6:09 pm and adjourned at 6:32 pm with no action taken.
Motion by Alderman Rich, second by Alderman Owens to return to open session at 6:32 pm.
OPEN SESSION
Motion by Alderman Rich, second by Alderman Owens to adjourn the meeting at 6:33pm. Motion carried 4-0.
