In
City Council news, Butler Mayor Don Malan will be the Council’s
representative at upcoming Community Betterment meetings. Lee Anna
Schowengerdt and Casey Koehn, co-directors of our Community Betterment
program, had sent a letter from our Chamber of Commerce, asking that our
various local clubs and organizations be more active in that program.It may interest you to know that this statewide program of Community Betterment is now 50 years old in Missouri, and Butler has been in it from the start. In fact, four Butlerites were called to Washington, D.C. in 1966, to receive an award which Butler had earned for its overall improvements. The four were Charlie Babcock, President of the then Butler State Bank, R.A. Ellis, Editor of the then Bates County Democrat newspaper, along
with businessman Ed Robertson, and Bill Thornton of KMAM. As you see the redbud trees in Butler, think of a tree-planting project that was part of Bill Thornton’s year as CB Chairman.
The Council discussed the Christmas decorating contest held this year they were appreciative of its success, and of course said it will continue next year.
This coming summer’s Aquatic Center admission prices were discussed briefly, but will be studied more for the Council’s next meeting January 21st.
Butler’s water plant and its state regulations have been discussed by Public Works Director Trent Diehl, along with City Clerk Casey Koehn and Laura Myers. However, Butler is in compliance on all counts at this time, so no decisions were necessary.
Butler’s transportation needs were discussed with Elizabeth Ogg, KBRPC’S representative for Butler, so more will come from that in the future. Things were discussed of which we’re already aware…things like the need for a walkway at the Highway 52 underpass and sidewalks to Butler West.
And the state of Missouri still wants a one cent sales tax that would finance transportation needs in our communities, which would include such things as jogger and bike trails. However, no definite plans have been given for what these millions would actually go for. Needless to say, Missouri cities are against it.
And closing on a good note…Butler’s new fire truck is on its way to us, and is expected by the end of the week.
Courtesy of FM.92.1 Newsroom
