Bob Foos
Jerry Fisher, a 24-year member of the Webb City Council has died. Mayor Lynn Ragsdale made that announcement on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
“It is with a heavy heart that I have to announce that our friend and leader on the City Council, Jerry Fisher, went to his heavenly home this morning. We will miss him greatly and count it a bountiful blessing to have served with him and to know him. Jerry was a fixture in our city and in many ways provided a sense of groundedness for us.
“We are the city we are today because of the men like Jerry Fisher. And we celebrate 24 years of faithful service with him as a council member.”
Fisher represented the 3rd Ward and was perennially elected as mayor pro tem by acclamation. He was especially known for his attention to finances and street maintenance.
Knowing that his illness was terminal, Fisher attempted to resign from the city council on Aug. 24. However, his fellow council members rejected his resignation letter.
Until the meeting this week, he was attending meetings and voting on matters by phone.
Fisher was also a leader in the Ministerial Alliance. He sang with a combined choir during the annual Thanksgiving Community Service. He will be missed as a “commander” of the day food collected by schools is brought to Emmanuel Baptist Church and sorted for distribution by churches and organizations as part of the annual Christmas Basket program.
In his message at the start of the regular Webb City Council meeting on Monday, Mayor Lynn Ragsdale noted there was no item on the agenda addressing the planned regulation of data centers.
At this time, he said there is no critical need for regulations. He said Wes Burnam, the new city attorney is researching the matter, and it’s important to take the time to do it right.
The fee to pick up a dog (or other animal) impounded at the Joplin Humane Society will increase after the first of the year.
The current charge of $63.70 plus a per-day charge of $9.10 will be increased to $71.05, regardless of how long the dog was impounded.
Mayor Lynn Ragsdale was authorized to sign a new agreement with the Joplin Humane Society. The estimated annual cost to the city is expected to be $15,000. (A copy of the agreement is below.)
The Webb City Council on Monday accepted a council bill on first reading to amend the current section of the code that specifies residents reclaiming a dog will pay the humane society. The fee is currently paid at city hall.
It was mentioned that a new holding shelter is being set up behind the police station. The holding shelter gives owners a chance to pick up their dog before it is taken to the humane society. It also helps when the humane shelter occasionally runs out of room.
In other action:
• Completion of the new entrance to King Jack Park from the west was praised. It is on Dawson Drive between the Praying Hands and the Stan and Jeanne Newby property.
The project also included the removal of the former entrance on the south side of the Newbys. It was a problem because it was so steep as it crossed the streetcar tracks. The street department prepared the entrance for pavement, but it was the park department that got credit for coming up with the idea of how to improve the entrance on that side of the park.
• It was noted that The W Club was recently host to its largest event yet, a volleyball tournament that was held last weekend. Also, volleyball league play is starting. The deadline to sign up for basketball teams is Nov. 16.
• The budgeted purchase of five hydro chlorine analyzers for water wells was approved at a cost of $27,500 from the area distributor, Hawkins Inc.
• The council voted to accept a bid of $8,612 from Fabick CAT for a thumb work tool to be used with the backhoe to help pick up brush and debris that might otherwise fall out of the bucket.
• The council approved a bid of $8,700 from Tyler’s Carpet of Neosho to supply and install new carpet and vinyl flooring at the public works building on North Madison Street.
• Police Chief Don Melton was allowed to continue his department’s vehicle rotation program by purchasing three 2027 Ford Police Interceptor all-wheel drive vehicles from Superior Automotive Group, of Fayetteville, Ark. Four other bids were received.
The vehicles cost $45,949 each for a total of $139,847. Deducting the total trade-in value of $10,347 leaves the final bill at $127,347. The purchase was budgeted at $151,588.
