Monett City Council advances projects

The Monett City Council advanced a variety of plans during its meetings in September. 
Following up on an earlier request by the First United Methodist Church, council members approved creating the North Methodist Rolling Acres minor subdivision. The action divided the church’s approximately 70 acres into four sections, positioning a possible sale of land. 
Another request, made by Great Dave’s coffee shop at 404 E. Broadway, was introduced at the regular meeting and approved at the council’s work session on Sept. 4. Owner Dave Saunders received permission to have designated parking for curbside service, limited to business hours and early afternoon. Saunders also wanted to place three tables and nine chairs outdoors, under his awning, to serve customers outdoors without blocking foot traffic during seasonal weather. 
 
 
SMCOG’s Ray recognized
At the monthly meeting, City Administrator Mickey Ary reported the city planned to present Jason Ray with the Southwest Missouri Council of Governments (SMCOG) with a plaque of appreciation for his efforts developing the city’s comprehensive plan. The presentation was made during a Monett Economic Development Committee meeting. 
 
MPD gets new vests
Ary reported the Monett Police Department, through the Blue Shield funding program, secured protective vests for the city’s two new K-9 officers. Police Chief Dennis Camp observed the vests were tailor-made for each dog. Thomas Towing was donating a training vehicle for the K-9 officers to help them overcome the smell of vehicle exhaust, which could distract their concentration. 
 
Monett Main Street tops $50k in grants
During the work session on Sept. 24, Bob Berger spoke as vice president for Monett Main Street. He spoke about the façade grants Main Street began awarding in 2012, offering to fund up to $2,000 per project on downtown properties if the owners wanted to improve the exterior of their buildings. Grants have been awarded after work is completed. Over the history of the undertaking, Berger said Main Street had awarded more than $50,000, doing around five projects a year. 
Berger requested permission to use up to $10,000 of the $25,000 the city awarded to Main Street on these grants. He reported Main Street hired Borealis Consulting, which helped Aurora planners, and secured $1,000 grant for flower pots downtown. Action was deferred to the Oct. monthly meeting. 
 
Flag pole moved
Council members approved a resolution relocating the flagpole from the former American Legion Home at 717 E. Broadway to the nearby new Freedom Park on Front Street. The Legion requested that the city find a way to repurpose the flagpole. Ary said it would be located at a new veterans memorial in the Freedom Park. City crews would move it. 
During reports, Ary indicated SMCOG’s transportation advisory committee selected improvements on Hwy. 60, proposed by Barry, Lawrence and Christian counties, as a top priority. They sent their recommendation to the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for review in November. 
 
1 million gallons daily from Stockton Lake 
Utilities Superintendent Skip Schaller reported Monett has received approval from the US Army Corps of Engineers for an allocation of water from Stockton Lake, guaranteeing future water supplies of 1 million gallons a day, projected for 25 years in the future and beyond should deep water wells prove inadequate over time. He noted the Missouri Department of Natural Resources agreed to pick up half the cost of the necessary connections through a multipurpose fund.