Bob Foos
Tyler Burgess joined the Webb City Council on Monday to represent the 1st Ward.
His appointment by Mayor Lynn Ragsdale, with council approval, was preceded by acceptance of Ray Edwards’ letter of resignation.
Edwards has been on the council for 19 years, beginning with his appointment to succeed Tom Reeder, who resigned to become the parks and recreation director.
Edwards missed the Dec. 8 meeting because of illness, and he cited health reasons in his resignation letter.
Ragsdale said Edwards had attempted to resign on several occasions because he doubted his usefulness. “I reminded him of our need for his common sense” and access to opinions at the coffee shop, Ragsdale said.
Burgess, a financial adviser, took the oath office from City Clerk Peggy England. He was among the candidates filing to be on the April 7 election ballot before the Dec. 30 deadline.
It’s a near certainty that he will be elected because he and the other council members whose terms will be ending in April are unopposed for reelection.
Candidates on the April 7 ballot will be:
In other action:
• An ordinance was accepted on first reading to authorize special tax assessments (tax liens) on 13 properties for reimbursement of costs paid by the city.
Most charges are for mowing, which costs $150 each time and add up to $600 in a couple of instances.
At 1215 W. Austin St. the city is trying to recoup the $5,100 cost for demolition, in addition to a $450 for tax assessment for mowing and a $60 filing fee.
• The police department was authorized to replace three network switches at a cost of $5,632 from Stronghold Dada, the city’s internet technology contractor.
• The fire department was allowed to renew its lease for two Zoll cardiac monitors and accessories at a total cost of $14,526.
A pre-construction meeting for the redevelopment of the old Wal-Con Plaza was held at Webb City Public Works Tuesday.
City Administrator Carl Francis said city staff members had no issues with the basic concept (no design plans yet) to update the shopping complex.
According to Francis, Kaleb Marti, of the Multifamily Cartel, the new owner, plans to build a small event center and a car lot.
It was called Wal-Con because when it was new in the 1980s Walmart was on the north end and Consumers was on the south end. A NAPA store and warehouse now occupy the Consumers space. While the Walmart space has been empty since Atwoods moved to its new store on East Street.
City staff also met with Tuesday with Tee Time owners Jonathan Johnson and Kellen Grantham about their plan to add a miniature golf course and upgrade the kitchen.