Warrenton department heads report 2024 accomplishments; MoDOT I‑70 open houses announced

City administrators and department heads presented 2024 accomplishments and recent operational updates at the Warrenton Board of Aldermen meeting on Jan. 21, 2025.

City Administrator Brandy Walters summarized administrative work including the sale of a house on Willow Road, the start of demolition at a dangerous building on Walton, an ongoing effort to scan employee HR files, and that human resources completed 82 interviews and hired 37 new employees in 2024. Walters also presented the aquatics report: 469 memberships sold in 2024 (63 more than 2023), 331 insurance memberships (60 more than 2023), 1,816 group swim lesson participants and 437 private lessons.

Walters announced two MoDOT public open houses on the I‑70 improvement project: Feb. 3, 5–7 p.m. at Warrenton High School and Feb. 6, 5–7 p.m. at Progress Park Recreation Center. She said both meetings will be open‑house format with the same materials and a later, more detailed meeting planned closer to construction.

Director of Operations John Strukoff reported IT and security upgrades including a new firewall and expanded camera coverage at city facilities connected to the city’s fiber network; he also noted year‑end surplus sales on govdeals. Strukoff presented a change order for the Booneslick Road water main project (approved by the board) and discussed acceptance of a sewer easement that will allow future connections in a newly developed subdivision in Truesdale.

Finance Officer Megan Welder described the department’s 2024 accomplishments, including implementation of BS&A financial software, scanning of utility billing files, hiring a new utility billing technician, issuance of 315 business licenses and 37 liquor licenses, and processing payroll for 156 employees. Welder noted the finance department received a Government Finance Officers Association certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting. She also explained the proposed water and sewer rate changes (each described as a 4% increase overall with additional adjustments for sewer per thousand gallons) and presented the request to write off $110,244.88 in uncollectible utility accounts to reconcile records back to 2001; staff said a policy introduced in April 2024 limits collection to seven years going forward.

Building Commissioner Mike Cross reported 57 homes built in 2024, issuance of approximately 758 permits, and commercial activity including a new tire center and the Oakley baseball training facility. Police Lieutenant Justin Under summarized police accomplishments, including completion of CALEA reaccreditation activities, grants from MoDOT Highway Safety Division totaling $24,400 for mobile data terminals and a separate $3,000 DWI enforcement grant, a $1,678.98 grant for ballistic vests, the creation of an officer incentive program, a successful “Shop with a Cop” partnership raising more than $14,000 for families at Christmas, the designation of Officer Alex Stevenson as the department’s drone pilot, and implementation of a new crash-reporting system (“Lehi 5”) and a new records management system (CIS) to align with county dispatch systems.

Director of Planning and Development Tim Burks summarized 2024 planning activity: 25 new businesses opened in 2024, four new developments (including Westwood Farms subdivision, Parkview Estate Apartments, Mann’s Apartments and Forestdale subdivision), and the renewal of his drone license. Burks also presented the Warrenton Tobacco and Vape site plan later considered by the board.

Walters noted a presentation by a loggers’ representative is scheduled for Feb. 11 and asked staff to post meeting information and project renderings on the city website when available.