Webb City Police Chief Don Melton introduced two officers at the beginning of the City Council meeting on Monday.
Johnathan Berg is being promoted to patrol corporal. He is a 2010 graduate of Webb City High School. In 2021, he graduated from the Missouri Southern State University Police Academy and joined the Webb City Police Department. He was pinned by his mother, Carla Williams.
Garrett Fultz becomes the department’s newest patrol officer. He graduated from Carthage High School in 2019 and has been a full-time dispatcher for the past year while he was finishing his training at the police academy. He graduated in December. His fiance, Annie Sullivan, pinned him.
Melton told the council that he now has three vacant patrol positions.
Bob Foos
It was announced at the Webb City Council meeting on Monday that April Cloyd is returning to manage the Webb City Senior Citizens Center as a part-time employee of the city.
Until April 10, Cloyd was working full-time for the Area Agency on Aging Region X as the center director. She lost that job when the Area Agency quit serving meals at the center and evacuated its belongings.
City Administrator Carl Francis and Mayor Lynn Ragsdale continue to heap praise on the Webb City Cafe for stepping up to deliver meals daily to the center.
Those meals are being supplemented by volunteers who bring covered dishes and also help serve. Managing the volunteers will be part of Cloyd’s assignment.
Word is getting around that the meals are good. Participation began with less than 20 meals served each day. Francis reported there were 60 meals served Friday, and he expects that number to climb.
The center advisory board has dipped into its reserve funds to help pay Cloyd’s salary, at least until the start of the city’s next fiscal year on Nov. 1.
Jerry Fisher (3rd Ward) asked how much the annual payroll cost will be. When Francis answered $14,000, Fisher said, “That’s well worth it.”
The council approved Ragsdale’s appointment of the senior citizens center advisory board members: Kenneth Spencer, president; Julie Matchell, vice president; Lloyd Woollen, treasurer; Ann Foos, secretary; Pat Coleman, Vicki Hendry, Leslie Brown, John Joines and Geri Chapman.
Other appointment approved were for the:
• Center Creek 201 Wastewater Treatment Board of Directors: Rod Surber, Ed Sumpter and Aaron Rice (reappointments). The board is also made up of members from Carterville and Oronogo.
• Library Board: Aiden Chambers and Jedidiah Moody. They are both new to the board.
• Planning and Zoning Commission: Rick Utter and Chris Taylor (reappointments).
Francis also reported that the annual street paving project is underway.
An ordinance granting a special use permit for Taylor Kubicek to operate an art gallery and coffee shop at 903 W. Daugherty St. received final approval (second reading).
The routine disposal of outdated records was passed by motion.
In an unusual situation, it was voted that the homeowner at 1202 Stadium Drive can remove the sidewalk on the Oak Street side of his property, as long as he maintains the easement. It’s unusual because the sidewalk does not continue to lots on the south. Another for allowing it is that there is a complete sidewalk on the other side of Oak Street.