Several pieces of property owned by Webb City are actually within Carterville’s city limits – but likely not much longer.

The Webb City Council on Monday accepted first reading of a council bill to accept the properties within Webb City as they are de-annexed by the Carterville City Council.

City Administrator Carl Francis said he was taken off guard recently when talking to a prospective developer interested part of the property to realize it wasn’t in Webb City.

The properties are south of the former Webb City sewage lagoon in the northeast corner of the city. The EPA filled the lagoon with mine waste, capped it with top soil and leveled it to be suitable for athletic fields. The Sky Kings R/C (remote control) Club has its airfield there.

There are five tracts totaling approximately 70 acres included in the council bill. They are on the west side of the railroad tracks that curves to the northeast. Sharon Drive splits the property, with most of it to the north.

The Webb City-owned property surrounds a small tract on Sharon Drive where Carterville’s sewage lift station is located.

On another matter that could expand the city limits, a public hearing was held regarding the voluntary annexation of 1.73 acres at 1007 Stadium Drive. On the north side of Stadium Drive, it is the second lot west of the intersection with Madison Street. Wilfanite 2 is the owner of the property.

No one spoke, either for or against, at the hearing.

UPGRADED RETIREMENT SYSTEM APPROVED

Now that the 45-day public comment period has ended, the council passed by resolution to upgrade the city’s retirement plan to provide better benefits for employees.

Webb City offers its retirement plan through the Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System, commonly referred to as LAGERS.

The improved benefits will take effect at the start of the new fiscal year on Nov. 1.

In other action:

• The special use permit for Hustle & Flow to operate its cycling apparel business out of the old Elders Shirt Factory at Second and Webb streets was approved.

• First reading of a council bill to rezone a tract at the southwest corner of Centennial and Tracy street from single-family (R-1) to multi-family (R-3) was accepted on first reading. Burns Investments plans to build a three-story building with 12 one-bedroom apartments. The Planning and Zoning Commission held a hearing on the request on Sept. 20 and voted to advance it to the city council.

• Another Burns Investment request, first heard by P&Z, was accepted on first reading. It would vacate the 300-foot north-south alley on the southwest corner of the roundabout. The purpose is to make the property more suitable for commercial development. A sewer line in the alley dead ends at the highway so its closure won’t affect any other properties.

• It was mentioned that the tennis courts in King Jack Park have been resurfaced and new nets have been installed.