Week of 9/24/12

• The Planning and Zoning Commission met Thursday, September 20th. On the agenda was a public hearing for a draft sign ordinance and a request to vacate East Dixon Street and the alley that runs between Dixon Street and the rail road tracks.
• A couple of citizens spoke about the sign ordinance, but we are allowing 30 days for additional comments before another public hearing will be held. THIS IS IMPORTANT! We want all citizens input, this could potentially affect your business in the city limits of West Plains. Contact Mallory Thompson or Dustin Harrison at 256-7176 for additional information or to see a copy of the draft ordinance.
• A development plan for Breckenridge Apartments was approved and the request to vacate.
• Monday, September 24th was the monthly City Council meeting.
• Andy Marmouget with Davis, Lynn & Moots, gave the audit report and the City had a great report.
• An ordinance was approved for the vacate of East Dixon Street and the alley.
• David M. Gohn and Josh Cotter were reappointed to the Civic Center Board for 3 year terms.
• October City Council meeting was moved to October 22nd.
• Councilman Lou Citro was appointed Mayor Pro-Tem by the City Council.
• Letters of interest have been taken for the vacate City Council seat. City Council will evaluate those letters and do interviews with a selected group.
• October 20th will be the annual Haunting in the Hollows event at Galloway Park. New playground equipment that has been made possible by the Rotary Club and should be ready by the October 20th event.
• The Street Department is continuing work on Luna Drive on the storm drain. Luna Drive is closed from Lisa to Good Hard until further notice.
• Tractors on the Square will be Saturday, September 29th from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Traffic will be closed around the square. Please come visit local businesses that will be open during this time and see the antique tractors! This event is free to the public.
• Be watching our Facebook page, this blog, and the newspaper for information on Fire Prevention Week, October 7-13.  

Have a great week!

“MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY”….Fire Drill 9/18/12

I had the opportunity to attend one of the monthly fire drill’s at Fire Station #1 Tuesday, September 18th. Wow! I learned so much and was so proud to see all firefighters working together.
Full-time, part-time, and paid-on-call firefighters were all in attendance. They started the evening in the training room going over questions on how to properly call out a “MAYDAY” during a fire. Lieutenant Wayne Cormier lead the discussion and questions and everyone participated.
After class discussion all firefighters put on their turnout gear and got ready for drill.
Now for the real fun…The firefighters were broke up into teams and had to go into a dark room and either find a dummy, another firefighter, call “MAYDAY” the proper way, or even a few other things. The firemen have worked hard on a make-shift house that was built in this room to educate firefighters on hallways, stairwells, small rooms, floors falling in, etc.
All teams did a great job. They learned that calling a “MAYDAY” is not something that happens often, but is something important you need to know when the time comes and you have to call it.
I’m proud to say that everyday heroes live and work in West Plains. These men and women put their life at risk every time they take a fire call. Be thankful for what we have, it’s good, and thank a firefighter today!
Reminder: Fire Prevention Week is October 7-13. For more information visit the West Plains Fire Department website.

What's Happening? September 14, 2012

• The Planning and Zoning Commission will meet Thursday, September 20th at 5:30 p.m. A public hearing will begin the meeting with the topic of the sign ordinance draft and a vacate request of Dixon Street and the alley that runs between Dixon Street and the railroad tracks.
• PLEASE come and give your input on the sign ordinance. We will not act on anything this month but are looking for great input.
• Last Thursday the Fire Department, along with the Water & Sewer Departments all were in class for hazardous chlorine. It is very important for all of our departments to continue their education with different courses that pertain to their field.
• Smoke testing should be finishing up this week. Weather permitting Tuesday crews should wrap everything up south of Broadway Street.
• The Timbers Booster Station is online and seems to be working well. We will keep close tabs on this to make sure it continues this way.
• September 20th the City of West Plains, Missouri Forest Products Association, and Missouri Enterprise will host a workshop on Growing Profits for Missouri's Wood Industries. The workshop will take place at the West Plains Civic Center and the cost is $25 and includes lunch. To register visit www.missourienterprise.org or call 573-308-7581. This will be a great opportunity for all in the forestry product field.
• The Street Department has been busy patching several spots on different water and sewer openings across town. They will also begin work on the storm drain for Luna Drive. Luna Drive will be closed from Good Hard Drive to Elizabeth with local traffic only beginning Monday 9/17. Crews will be digging out the low water crossing and will put in a box culvert to get rid of the crossing.
• A reminder for citizens...THANK YOU for your support in the renewal of the Capital Improvement Tax. We began working on new improvements as soon as the election was over. We will be sending out request for proposals soon for the different parks to be updated; Butler, Wayhaven, Kelly and Lofton. We also have committed to a sidewalk on Preacher Roe that will run from Harlin Drive to Worley Drive. Plans are in the works and we are always excited to show you the finished product!

Have a great week!

City Happenings 9/10/12

What's happening within the City of West Plains this week? Let's see...


The Fire Department is seeking people interested in becoming paid-on-call firefighters. Applications for this can be picked up at City Hall or Fire Station #1. Tryouts are Wednesday, September 12th at 6 p.m., therefore we ask you get your application in as soon as possible!

The Fire Department, along with other emergency personnel are wanting to remind business owners and citizens that your place of residence/business should have your address properly placed on your structure. This makes it easier for emergency personnel to respond to calls with a visible address on the building. We appreciate your help in making this happen!

Saturday, September 15th will be the annual City Employee sponsored golf tournament. Tee time is 8:30 a.m., 3-man scramble, and $90 per team. Please call the golf course at 256-9824 to sign up. Teams can sign up the day of. We will have a hole-in-one prize sponsored by West Plains Marine, several door prizes, and cash payback to the winners. Please come and play, it will be a great day at the West Plains Municipal Golf Course!

September 20th will be the next Planning and Zoning meeting at City Hall beginning at 5:30 p.m. This is a very important meeting where a public hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m. on our new draft sign ordinance. We are urging all citizens who own a business and USE temporary signage to please come and give your input. There will be a better definition of temporary signage within this ordinance. All citizens invited and we hope you attend!

Today, September 10th, is the initial start up for the Timbers Booster Station. Residents in the Timbers Subdivision will experience an increase in water pressure beginning this morning. If you should have any questions please contact the City Hall at 256-7176.

On the topic of water, we have asked citizens to be good stewards of the city's water system and to conserve water the best they can. In a result of this we are seeing that water is being conserved at 1/2 million gallons a day. Thank you, West Plains!

With the recent rain we've had watch out for mosquitoes and spots where they enjoy hanging out. This means dump all buckets with water in them, change outside pet water bowls daily, and if you had a pool this summer either drain it or keep the pump running. Mosquitoes enjoy stagnant water so dump whatever you have around your yard! Rain also makes the grass grow...7 inches is the limit for your grass!

Power outages...if you experience a power outage after City Hall closes (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) contact the West Plains Police Department at 256-2244. They will contact the electric department who will then begin work on your power. We appreciate your calls and want all to know this is correct protocol for power outages.

The engineering construction crew will be back on West Main this week working on the sidewalk in front of what will be Gohn Hall. What has been completed so far looks great! Watch out for our workers in that area as you drive by.

Anne Drive from Gleghorn to Anne Street will be closed today and Jackson Street from Thornburgh to Davis will be closed until Thursday. Please find alternate routes during this time and know we appreciate your cooperation!

September 14th is the deadline to turn in letters of interest for the vacant city council seat. This term will expire in 2016 (Jack Pahlmann's council term). Mayor Pahlmann was appointed August 28, 2012 to the Mayor seat to fill the unexpired term of Mayor Joe Paul Evans who recently passed away.

And always, for updates on daily happenings in the city, look us up on Facebook!

Introducing West Plains!

This is the first post for the City of West Plains blog. Please let me introduce myself and the city that I love. My name is Mallory Thompson and I work for the City of West Plains as City Clerk and Public Relations Director. I have been with the city for four years and am proud to say I am from West Plains. You may contact myself anytime for questions relating to West Plains by calling City Hall at 417-256-7176 or emailing at cityclerk@westplains.net.

If you are new to the area or interested in West Plains, let me start off telling you about this great place nestled deep in the Ozarks.

West Plains has a population of 11,986. We are a growing community and the largest community between Jonesboro, AR and Springfield, MO.

West Plains has great school systems, West Plains R-7 Schools (Home of the Zizzers!) and then five rural schools that are kindergarten through 8th grade all feed into West Plains High School. Fairview, Howell Valley, Glenwood, Richards, and Junction Hill are the five rural schools. Choosing a school for your child is an important decision and West Plains makes it easier with the 6 different districts.

West Plains is home to many businesses to fit the need for all of our citizens. West Plains holds a rich history and driving through our downtown district that is quite evident.

We have a great city government system that strives to meet the needs for all citizens in the City of West Plains.

 

Jack Pahlmann is our Mayor and we currently have three other council people, Lou Citro, Bob Burtrum and Brenda Smith. We are currently seeking letters of interest for Jack Pahlmann's unexpired council seat. Seat will expire in 2016. Jack Pahlmann was appointed to Mayor on August 28, 2012 after the passing of our previous Mayor, Joe Paul Evans.

 

Please visit our website, www.westplains.net for more information. Stop in and see our beautiful building sometime!

Our mission is to provide city services efficiently and economically and our vision is to be the model city of the Ozarks. We hope you will stop in and see us!

 

Please visit this blog each week for weekly updates of what is happening within the City of West Plains!