Legacy contractor closure leaves Commercial Street sidewalk unfinished; city to pursue next low bidder

City staff told the Smithville Board of Aldermen on Aug. 5 that the contractor for the Commercial Street Sidewalk Project has closed and will not finish the work, and staff outlined next steps.

Mayra Toothman, assistant to the public works director, said the city received both a call and a letter indicating the contractor (Legacy) is closing. She said she met with Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) staff and will meet again with MoDOT representatives and the contractor to determine next steps. Toothman said she has requested the contractor complete work in front of the high school if possible.

Toothman explained staff would offer the remaining work to the next low bidder, Amino Brothers; if Amino accepts, the bond company would make up the difference between bids. She said the project received federal funding from the Federal Highway Administration, with MoDOT administering the grant and the Mid‑America Regional Council (MARC) handling the application process to select projects.

Assistant City Administrator Gina Pate also reported the downtown parking lot project at Mill Street and West Meadow Street is nearly complete and will add approximately 46–47 public parking spaces, with striping planned next week weather permitting. Pate announced hiring updates: Alex Fischer will begin as a plant operator at the water plant on Monday; Jack Cooley was hired as a police recruit and will start academy training in the coming weeks.

City staff said they will keep the board informed as meetings with MoDOT and bonding representatives proceed.