The City Council held a special meeting to address three primary items of business:
Tax Rate Calculation Agreement
The Council approved authorizing the mayor to sign an agreement with Sikage to prepare the 2026 tax rate calculations for the cost of $1650. A public hearing for this matter is tentatively planned for September 17th, prior to the regular board meeting.
Board members questioned the cost of the service and why a specific company needs to be hired in addition to the current accountants. The board discussed asking the city’s current accountants at KEB if they are able to prepare the calculations for next year.
City Attorney Vacancy
Mayor Kel Ward discussed the vacancy created by the former city attorney’s resignation and said there had not been sufficient time to consult the Board before obtaining replacement counsel. The mayor cited Missouri Revised Statute §79.280 as authority for temporarily appointing an attorney to fill the vacancy until the next regular Board meeting. He said an ordinance would be presented at the September meeting to formally appoint the attorney on an interim basis while the City conducts a Request for Proposals (RFP) process for a permanent city attorney.
Attorney Gillespie said she is currently serving on an interim basis and performing the work pro bono. She explained that the temporary appointment lasts until the next regular Board meeting and stated that legal counsel was needed for the Board to conduct its meetings.
An alderman questioned why counsel would need to be present at the September meeting at which the Board would consider her interim appointment and raised concerns that the Board had not been consulted before the initial appointment. Attorney Gillespie responded that the mayor had considered the vacancy an emergency and therefore did not need to convene the Board before making the temporary appointment.
The discussion then turned to the broader question of communication between the mayor and Board. One alderman said that, even if prior Board approval was not required for the temporary appointment, they would have preferred that the mayor inform the aldermen before taking action. Another alderman said the Board does not need to be consulted regarding every emergency decision and encouraged the Board to accept the mayor’s actions in good faith, characterizing the dispute as “a mountain being made out of a molehill.”
Another alderman clarified that the former city attorney had provided several weeks’ notice before his resignation.
Board Communication: The conversation subsequently broadened into discussion of how information is shared with aldermen, including expectations surrounding the use and regular monitoring of city-issued email accounts.
Alderman Resignation
The Council acknowledged the resignation of Alderman Derek Graham, effective August 21, 2026. The mayor noted that he will eventually bring a nomination to the board to fill this vacancy, adhering to the required selection process.