WP Mayor Topliff Delivers State of the City Address; Monticelli’s Service and Retirement Honored

From the City of West Plains:

 

At last night’s City Council meeting, Mayor Mike Topliff delivered the 2025 State of the City Address, outlining the accomplishments of the past year and the vision for West Plains moving forward. The full transcript is posted below Following the address, Mayor Topliff and City Administrator Sam Anselm presented retiring Police Chief Stephen Monticelli with a plaque honoring his years of dedicated service to the City of West Plains. We thank Chief Monticelli for his leadership and commitment to keeping our community safe.

 

2025 State of the City Address transcript

 

The West Plains City Charter Section 4.4.b states:

“The Mayor, during the first quarter of the City’s fiscal year, shall present to the Council information as to the affairs of the City and any recommendations of the mayor.”

Tonight, I am honored to share a look back at our city’s accomplishments in 2024, provide an update on ongoing projects, and discuss what lies ahead for West Plains in 2025.

 

Financial Update

Managing our city’s finances responsibly is one of the most critical duties of this administration. Your elected officials—myself and the members of the city council—continue to work closely with the finance department and city administration to ensure the city’s budget remains strong and sustainable.

· General sales tax revenues were up $535K and use tax revenues were up $38K from 2023.

· Capital sales taxes were up $102K compared to 2023.

· Transportation sales taxes were up $101K compared to 2023.

· In 2023, voters approved a city sales tax on retail marijuana transactions. This tax became effective in January 2024, with the first deposit of marijuana sales tax revenues received during the first week of March. Since the city has a limited number of retail marijuana locations, exact figures cannot be disclosed. However, we can report that marijuana sales tax revenues exceeded $200,000 in 2024.

These increases allow us to continue investing in critical infrastructure, public safety, and community development while maintaining a balanced budget.

 

2024: A Year of Progress

Last year, West Plains made significant strides in infrastructure, economic development, and quality-of-life projects. Here are just a few highlights:

1. Stormwater Detention Basins: A Major Success In 2019, the City of West Plains secured funding through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to construct stormwater detention basins at North Fork of Howell Creek and Galloway Creek. After their completion early last year, these basins underwent their first major test during the November flood event. The results were clear: they worked. These basins reduced peak water flows by up to 33%, and observations confirmed that most flooding issues in town were due to stormwater drainage rather than creek overflows. This is proof that these projects are making a difference for our community.

2. Downtown Revitalization & Pocket Parks In 2024, street closures were approved downtown to allow for the creation of pocket parks and safer pedestrian pathways connecting parking lots to storefronts. These changes are part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing downtown for business owners, residents, and visitors alike. Building on this momentum, we are excited to welcome a Downtown Coordinator this year—someone who will work closely with downtown organizations and city crews to continue growing and improving the downtown experience.

3. Independence Overpass: A Step Toward Completion Late last year, we held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the U.S. Highway 160/Independence Overpass, with Missouri Governor Mike Parson in attendance. Shortly after, detours were established to reroute traffic around the construction site. As we move into 2025, you will continue to see construction progress on this long-awaited project, with completion expected by late 2025.

4. Total Solar Eclipse: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience.

Where were you on April 6, 2024? For many of us, we were experiencing the Total Solar Eclipse in West Plains with our families, friends, or perhaps one of the 8,000 visitors to the city. The West Plains tourism department put together four days of activities built around the rare celestial event, and everyone came together to experience three minutes of darkness that afternoon and make one very unique memory. From this event has spawned the annual Balloon Glow, which will return on April 12 at the Fairgrounds.

 

Looking Ahead to 2025

This year, we will build on the successes of 2024 and continue to push forward with major projects and initiatives:

· Continued Overpass Construction: Work will remain steady on the Independence Overpass, bringing us closer to alleviating one of our city’s most significant traffic bottlenecks.

· Downtown Development: With a Downtown Coordinator in place, we will focus on activating downtown spaces, attracting new businesses, and expanding community events.

· Public Safety Enhancements: Investments in police, fire, and emergency services will continue to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents.

· Infrastructure & Roadway Improvements: We will continue working on key roadway and infrastructure projects, maintaining and upgrading the city’s streets and utilities.

· Economic Growth: Efforts to attract and retain businesses remain a priority, and we hope to announce new developments that will positively impact West Plains’ future.

 

Final Thoughts

West Plains had a productive and successful 2024, and we are entering 2025 with momentum and optimism. None of this would be possible without the dedication of city council members, our hardworking city staff, and, most importantly, the residents who make this community what it is.

It is an honor to serve as the 27th Mayor of the great city of West Plains. This city’s history is undeniable, and our future has never looked brighter.