With mayor out of town, Council speeds through agenda

It took less than five minutes Monday for Webb City Council members to conduct their business.

That’s less time than Mayor Lynn Ragsdale normally devotes to his opening message. Leading the regular meeting in his absence was Jerry Fisher, mayor pro tem.

Fisher’s passions are sales tax collections (when they’re increasing) and street paving.

He briefly noted that sales tax collections are roughly 7% ahead of last year’s at this point, and the (online) use tax collections are 42% above what they were last year.

City Administrator Carl Francis reported the first round of summer street paving should begin soon. Added to the list of streets to be paved is Fountain Road from the railroad tracks east to Hall Street.

Two motions were approved for:

• The Core and Main firm to insert a new 6-inch valve in the water line at 15th and Oronogo streets at a cost of $8,550. This will allow public works to replace old valves in that area that have been causing problems without affecting a larger number of customers.

• Welhener H.B. Wall Awning, of Ozark, to install an aluminum canopy over the front door of the Webb City Fire Department at a cost of $6,962. Fire Chief Andrew Roughton said he had wanted the entrance covered for some time but until now could not find the right product.

Francis reported electrical problems with Well No. 15 (the revived one below the water tower) have been fixed, allowing the city to cut way back on the amount of water it buys from Missouri American.