West Plains approves electric, sanitation rate increases

The West Plains City Council approved electric and sanitation rate increases during the Monday, Nov. 17 regular meeting.

 

Ordinance 4809, passed last week, increases electric rates for city utility customers by 5%. The flat rate for citizens will increase by $1.00, and however much is used by the citizens will increase by 5%. The city noted they were looking at having to increase the rate by 7%, but were able to keep that increase down to just 5%.

 

Bill/Ordinance 4810 was approved increasing the sanitation rates by 4% above current rates. The increase was needed due to operational increases overall, not by any major projects for the city.

 

The remainder of the meeting included:

- Approved consent agenda, including minutes from the October 20 regular meeting and work session

- Approved the following surplus property/equipment, including a 2020 Dodge Durango, a 1996 Honda/Fourtrax 300 4x4, and a Vermeer RTX550, a 2011 Case Loader Backhoe.

- Approved fleet fuel cards, gasoline, and diesel fuel bid awarded to West Plains Propane

- Approved site plan for West Plains Bank remote ATM at the location of the former Skateland

- Approved Resolution 2025-23, a resolution of the City of West Plains, Missouri adopting the 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan. This plan covers five years, 2027-2030, and is an outline of how money is spent in the future for the City of West Plains.

- Approved second reading of Bill 4807 to become Ordinance 4807, an ordinance of the City of West Plains approving the adoption of the budget for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026.

- Approved second reading of Bill 4808 to become Ordinance 4808, an ordinance approving the adoption of the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) #2 budget for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026.

- Approved second reading of bill 4811 to become Ordinance 4811, an ordinance approving the adoption of a fee schedule for certain city services and approvals by the City of West Plains, Missouri. This fee schedule is published online.

- Approved second reading of Bill 4812 to become Ordinance 4812, an ordinance of the City of West Plains, Missouri, amending Chapter 2, Article II, Division 1, Section 2-34(c) of the City of West Plains Municipal Code relating to Public Addresses to Council.

- Approved first reading of Bill 4813, an ordinance approving the adoption of amended budgets for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2025.

- Approved first reading of Bill 4814, an ordinance vacating a 20-foot alley located between West

First Street and West Second Street and further reserving a utility easement within the area to be vacated. This was presented November 6 at a planning and zoning meeting by the Horn family. This would be vacating the center parcel for continued cleanup and improvement to the area.

- Approved first reading of Bill 4815, n ordinance amending several chapters and sections of the Municipal Code to no longer require business licenses, for most business types, merely for the privilege of conducting business within the city of West Plains. According to City Administrator Sam Anselm, the city will review these changes after six months to see if they are working. The fiscal impact, the removal of general business license requirements will result in the elimination of revenue previously collected from annual business license fees. No refunds will be issued for business license fees paid prior to the ordinance effective date, avoiding unplanned revenue loss. The shift may reduce administrative burden and streamline city operations, potentially resulting in modest long-term cost savings through reduced processing, clerical work and enforcement tied specifically to business license compliance. Liquor licensing, specialty permits, and certifications will continue to provide targeted regulatory revenue where justified. Overall, the ordinance is expected to have a moderate reduction in revenue (approximately $70,000), but minimal additional cost with increased operational efficiencies.