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Kirksville council approves landmark status for multiple downtown and neighborhood properties
Summary
The Kirksville City Council approved historic landmark designations for six buildings — including the Rieger Armory and Willard School — moving each ordinance through first and second readings at the meeting.
The Kirksville City Council approved landmark designation ordinances for six properties, including 101 West Washington (known in the meeting as Polly Eyes), the Rieger Armory at 500 South Elson Street, Willard School at 707 North Centennial Street and several residential properties, advancing each bill through both first and second readings and enacting historic zoning overlays.
City staff planner Sarah Knight told the council the Kirksville Historic Preservation Commission unanimously recommended several of the nominations after reviewing them on Feb. 12, and that the Planning and Zoning Commission forwarded recommendations in May. “We recommend that it moves forward,” Knight said during the staff reports.
The council moved each ordinance in sequence. For example, the ordinance for 101 West Washington (Bill 2025-20) was moved on first reading by Councilor Walters with a second from Council Member Steele and later approved on second reading. The Rieger Armory ordinance (Bill 2025-22) and the Willard School ordinance (Bill 2025-24) likewise received unanimous or near‑unanimous recommendations from earlier commissions and were approved by the council on both readings.
Members discussed the local significance of several properties. One council member said it was “exciting” to see buildings from across the community nominated; another described attending a preservation tour and meeting property owners who supported designation. During public comment on Willard School, Maggie Snarr, a former student, said, “When I heard about Willard School, it made me cry,” describing her personal connection to the building.
The ordinances use the designation criteria found in section 2-259(c)(1) of the Kirksville City Code; staff reported which specific criteria each property met (for example, some properties met nearly the full list of subcriteria in that code section). The council also appointed Cody Weichheld to the Historic Preservation Commission for a partial term ending February 2028.
The approvals add historic overlays to current zoning for the designated addresses; the council did not adopt additional regulatory text during the meeting beyond those ordinances. Staff said the designations follow the commission and planning recommendations and thanked property owners and commission members for their participation.
The council completed all preservation-related votes during the same meeting block and moved on to other agenda items after the final second readings were approved.
