The Webb City Council on Monday approved the selection of Olsson Engineering as the firm to complete the design and administer construction of a storm water detention basin to alleviate flooding in the northwest section of the city.

The site of the proposed detention basin is on the south side of Highway 171, where storm water often rushes under the highway to the west side of Powell Drive and floods areas to the north, including subdivisions along Sunset Creek.

Olsson, selected through a request for proposals process, will be paid $202,926 for its services from the design stage until construction is complete.

City Administrator Carl Francis issued a report stating that funds received from the American Recovery Plan are available to pay for the project’s engineering and construction costs.

An initial study was funded with an 80% grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Short-term rental issue goes back to P&Z

Francis reported that options for a new ordinance to regulate short-term rentals have been sent to members of the Planning and Zoning Commission, in advance of their meeting at 5:45 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19.

Hopefully, Francis wrote, a consensus among the P&Z members can be reached to formulate a new proposed ordinance to send to the council.

The council voted 8-0 against the first proposed ordinance for a number of reasons.

Online ticket sales for Polar Bear Express this year

It was announced that tickets for the popular Polar Bear Express rides in December will be sold online this year. That will avoid parents and grandparents from having to stand in line at City Hall.

Ticket sales will begin Saturday, Nov. 5.

New recycling center almost done

Establishing internet and installing security cameras are all that’s left to be done before the city recycling center is moved to within the sewage treatment plant gate on North Madison Street.

The main improvement is that someone will be present as recyclables are put in the proper bins or limbs are brought in to be composted.

The current recycling center site, at Tom and First streets, is plagued with improper sorting and non-recyclables being dropped off.

“Our recycling center is not a recycling center,” lamented Mayor Lynn Ragsdale. “It’s a dumping location.”

He added that other cities’ recycling efforts also amount to nothing more than trash dumps – if they are not monitored.

The gate will be open for recycling and limb dropoff from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

Francis said part-time city workers who want more hours have said they will man the recycling booth.

Chamber awards banquet set for Oct. 13

LeeAnn Crider, executive director of the Webb City Area Chamber of Commerce, presented the chamber’s annual report to the council. She has been promoted to succeed Gwen Allen, who has resigned to join the operation of her family’s businesses.

Sydney Crider is the new marketing and membership director.

The chamber’s annual awards celebration will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at Adaline Acres, 27889 Locust Road. Tickets are available online.

One thing mentioned in the report is that a record number of visitors have signed in at the Route 66 Tourist Information Center, which doubles as the chamber office.

There were 238 visitors during the last six months, including travelers from several foreign countries.

In other action, the council:

• Approved second reading of a special use permit for Tom Harter to operate a short-term rental at 520 S. Ball