Planning commission OK’s smaller homes, now it’s up to council

 The Butler Planning Commission met Tuesday night regarding allowing smaller homes within city limits.

Their recommendation to city council is to allow them on any residential zoned property, but they can be no smaller than 600 square feet in size and must adhere to construction standards parallel to larger homes.

The commission also recommended that container type homes should not be allowed.

Now, the Butler city council will review the recommendations and make a final decision to approve or modify in the upcoming council session on April 1st.

The following is clarification from Mayor Henry regarding definitions:

1. The International Residential Code states a Tiny Home is under 400 Sq. ft. The homes in question are not  "tiny homes" or "small homes', they are as defined in our code "Single-family residences". Current ordinance states they must be not less than 800 Sq. ft. The amendment will lower that requirement to 600 Sq. ft.  2. Container homes are not allowed in the City of Butler at this time. That is not to say that they never will be. It was the opinion at the meeting that the proposed ordinance needed some clarification, so this will in all probability come up in the near future.

Scattered showers today, severe weather to return Saturday night

Reminder: Jim Platt to be honored this Friday

Weekly report from the Bates County Commission

March 17, 2025 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner John Gray and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present.

There were no scheduled meetings.

Johnson Controls Contract was signed for fire protection for the Administration building till April 2028.

March 19, 2025 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner John Gray and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present.

Josh Framel with Clearway came in for his scheduled visit. The meeting discussed the Swan Solar Project, a 600-650 MW development in the north part of the county. Key points included the interconnection study by the Southwest Power Pool, expected to be completed by fall, and the need for a customer, likely Evergy. The project involves 4-5 landowners and 4,000 acres. Tax implications were detailed, with a potential revenue of $2 million in the first year. Legislative bills in Missouri, such as Senate Bill 213 and House Bill 440, could impact taxation. The project aims for completion by 2028, with a focus on minimizing environmental impact and community engagement. Clearway is an owner operator that prefers to keep ownership of their projects instead of selling them off after build.

Frank Sedem with NextEra rescheduled for April 9th.

Work in progress

Policy Regarding Indigent Cremations given 8/25/2023

Rattlesnake Hill Roads 11/06/2023

Policy Regarding Computer, E-Mail, Devices and Social Media given 2/14/2024

Telephone Contracts 3/11/2024

Severe weather a possibility over the next few days

SO WE NEED TO BE WEATHER AWARE tonight and tomorrow, but I believe the brunt of the activity probably misses us.

CAN'T RULE OUT a small but powerful cell - or, more likely in my opinion, a passing shower & some wind gusts, both tonight and tomorrow.

SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE is on the way out overnight, and you can see with the incoming pressure gradient that I look for winds to pick up out of the southwest tomorrow: So, it'll feel like "storm weather" and bring an end to our calm conditions.

CHANCES WILL CONTINUE on and off like this until probably Sunday night.

WHILE THERE'S STILL a lot of uncertainty in the weekend's severe weather track & location, I'm more concerned about Saturday night & Sunday, and I'll be focusing on that in tomorrow's livestream for sure.

-Greg@660weather

Obituary - Fred Bisby

Graveside service and interment for Fred Bisby of Butler, Missouri will be 11 a.m. Saturday, March 29, 2025 at the Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler, Missouri.  Visitation prior to services 10 - 11 a.m. Saturday at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler.  Contributions to Kamp Keirsey.  Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

John Fredrick “Fred” Bisby, age 89 of Butler, Missouri died Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at the Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler.  He was born April 19, 1935 to William Leslie and Mildred May Ecton Bisby in Prathersville, Missouri.

Fred is survived by three children,  Kevin Bisby and Deborah Gray both of Independence, Missouri,  Brenda Binger and husband Daniel of Butler, Missouri; a stepson, Howard Crepeau and wife Karla of Butler, Missouri; 11 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.   He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Louise Bisby on August 18, 2023.

Obituary - Robert "Bob" Flint

Funeral services for Robert "Bob" Flint of Butler, Missouri will be 2 p.m. Friday, March 28, 2025 at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri.  Visitation prior to services 1 - 2 p.m. Friday at the Schowengerdt Chapel.  Burial in Dayton Cemetery near Garden City, Missouri.  Contributions to Living Word Adventist Fellowship in Butler.  Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.

Robert “Bob” Jayson Flint, age 81 of Butler, Missouri died Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at the Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler.  He was born February 28, 1944 to Leslie Jayson and Minnie Marie Dant Flint in Stoughton, Wisconsin. 

Bob is survived by his wife of 56 years, Virginia Lee Flint of Butler, Missouri; three children, Jayson L. Flint and wife Peggy of Sedalia, Missouri, Dorothy M. Paxton and husband Thomas and Jonathan M. Flint all of Butler, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Isaac (Stephanie) Flint of Holt, Michigan, Eleni (Jerad) of Neosho, Missouri, James Paxton and Scott Paxton both of Butler, Missouri, Samuel Tyner and Marshal Tyner both of Belton, Missouri and Rozzeta (Brandon) Calahan of Butler, Missouri; two great-grandchildren, Sophia and Corelee; a brother, David W. Flint and wife Judy of Bolivar, Missouri; and numerous nephews and nieces.  He was preceded in death by his parents; two granddaughters, D’artagnan Alexander Flint and Vanessa Grey Flint; and a nephew, Burel Koester.

Obituary - Larry Wade Flatt

Larry Wade Flatt, 82, of Lenexa, Kansas, passed away peacefully at home on March 22, 2025, surrounded by family. 

Born on August 23, 1942, in Wichita Falls, Texas, Larry was the son of Wade and Sidney Flatt. He grew up in Wichita Falls, where he played on the 1958 State Champion Football team and graduated from high school in 1960. He went on to attend Texas Tech University, and in the summer of 1964, while working for the City of Kansas City, Missouri, he met the love of his life, Betty Robey. The two were married on June 1, 1965, and together they built a life filled with love, faith, and purpose. 

 

Larry and Betty raised their family in Overland Park, Kansas, where Larry dedicated over 25 years of service to the City, first as the Parks and Recreation Director and later as the Community Development Director. Following his public service career, Larry combined his professional skills with his passion for golf, founding a golf course design and consulting firm that served communities throughout the Midwest. 

 

In retirement, Larry devoted much of his time to serving others. He was an active volunteer at his church in Archie, Missouri, and also served as a volunteer chaplain at Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler, Missouri - roles that reflected his deep compassion and unwavering faith. 

 

Golf was one of Larry’s great joys - he could often be found on the course on Saturday mornings or practicing his short game on his lunch break. But above all, Larry’s faith was the cornerstone of his life. As he once wrote, “I accepted Jesus' offer of salvation when I was 13 years old and attending Faith Baptist Church in Wichita Falls, TX. When I was 23, I determined to follow Him closer and allow Him to be Lord of my life as well as Savior. He has never disappointed me and I enjoyed an amazingly blessed life under His leadership and love." 

 

Larry lived a life marked by integrity, faith, and love. He served his Lord, his family, and his friends with steadfast devotion, offering his gifts of leadership, planning, and encouragement to those around him. 

 

He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 60 years, Betty; his children, Dave Flatt of 

Cleveland, Missouri, and Ellen Breth (John) of Overland Park, Kansas; and his treasured granddaughters, Hannah and Chloe Breth. He is also survived by his sister, Dianne Walker of Nebraska, and brother, Gary “Cotton” Flatt of Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wade and Sidney Flatt. 

 

A celebration of Larry’s life will be held at Fellowship Church in Archie, MO on Friday, April 11th with a visitation at 10am, followed by the service at 11am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Community Hospice or the Alzheimer’s Association.