Emily Gibson

The special session of the Council addressed two main agenda items requiring council action. The first item concerned the approval of construction services for the Provalus Project, which proceeded after one council member recused themselves. The second item involved the bid for Fire Station #3 Post Remediation Reconstruction, which was awarded to Koon Construction for an amount of $35,949.13.

The meeting commenced with the approval of the Consent Agenda, which included the minutes from the January 20, 2026, Regular Meeting and several board appointments for the West Plains Housing Authority Board and the Industrial Development Authority Board. The Council also approved change orders for the Highway 160 Overpass project, totaling significant amounts for value engineering and contractor extensions. A guest presentation highlighted the Downtown Revitalization report, noting West Plains' recognition as the 2025 Creative Community by the Missouri Arts Council. In resolutions, the Council authorized an agreement with the Howell County Health Department for environmental public health services. Two ordinances received a second reading and subsequent approval: one amending the Municipal Code regarding Lewd and Immoral Conduct, and another adding new regulations for trenchless excavations on public and private property.

The meeting began with an agenda rearrangement to address Council Action B first, which involved approving the bid for fire station number three post remediation reconstruction. The approved bid was $35,949.13, awarded to the low bidder to cover tear-out, mold removal, and upgrades to prevent recurrence. Subsequently, the council addressed construction services for the Provalis project (601 Washington building), approving the low and responsive bid of $5,166,612 from Springfield Bidder Builders Incorporated. Discussions centered on funding the project, noting a current gap of approximately $900,000, and exploring options like utilizing state and federal funds primarily for the first floor, value engineering, and potential interfund loans to bridge the funding deficit until later revenues materialize.

The meeting commenced with an invocation and the pledge of allegiance. The consent agenda involved approval of minutes from the December 15, 2025 meeting, a bid for a mini excavator ($56,000), and an HVAC bid for fire station number three ($29,170). Additionally, several two-year term renewals for the Tourism Advisory Board were addressed, as were Tourism Community Development Grant Awards to entities including Ozair and West Plains Downtown Revitalization. Discussions followed regarding the justification for selecting the mini excavator bid based on customer service and equipment availability guarantees. The council also discussed and subsequently approved resolutions related to granting concession rights to Mandy's Mobile Foods LLC for the 2026 parks and recreation season, and formally adopting the Vision Zero Transportation Safety Action Plan to demonstrate commitment for future grant applications. Finally, two ordinances were introduced: Bill 4816, amending language regarding 'loot and immoral conduct' in the municipal code for improved enforcement, and Bill 4817, adding regulations for trenchless excavations in coordination with Missouri 811. The city administrator updated the council on upcoming events, including National Reading Day and a volunteer fair, and preparation for expected inclement weather requiring street pre-treating.

The meeting commenced with a roll call confirming a quorum, followed by an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. The initial agenda item was the consent agenda, which included the approval of minutes from the January 20, 2026 regular meeting, appointments to the West Plains Housing Authority Board and the Industrial Development Authority Board, and approval of change orders related to the Highway 160 overpass project. Following a guest presentation by the downtown coordinator regarding revitalization efforts and West Plains being recognized as the Missouri Arts Council's 2026 creative community, the council addressed resolutions. Resolution 2026-03, authorizing an agreement with the Howell County Health Department for environmental public health services, was discussed and approved on the first reading. The second reading of ordinances included Bill 4816 (Ordinance 4816) to amend municipal code language regarding Lewd, Lascivious, and Immoral Conduct, including an exception for public breastfeeding. Ordinance 4817 was also presented for a second reading, introducing new regulations for trenchless excavations on public and private property to ensure utility marking compliance and safety. The City Administrator provided a brief report, mentioning the completion of snow removal operations and promoting an upcoming library book bingo event.