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Richmond officials praise snow response; administrator reports water-plant updates and utility payment
Summary
At its Jan. 14 meeting Richmond officials credited Public Works and Public Safety for coordinated snow response after about 12 inches fell. City Administrator Tonya Willim also reported attached Water Treatment Plant rehabilitation field reports, an Evergy payment to the Electric Franchise Tax line and completion of year-end audit entries.
Mayor Mike Wright opened Richmond's Jan. 14, 2025 City Council meeting and praised city workers for their response to a winter storm that dropped about 12 inches of snow, saying he had received "a lot of positive comments" about how public works and public safety handled clearing and treating roadways.
City Administrator Tonya Willim told council members that City Hall was closed Jan. 6 to allow crews to clear roads safely and that interdepartmental communication and material inventory worked well during the event. She said there were "some minor issues with sanders" that staff are addressing but that overall the response "went as smooth as could be."
Willim also highlighted several items in her written report: attached Water Treatment Plant rehabilitation field reports for council review; a payment received from Evergy that staff will record in the general fund under the Electric Franchise Tax line; and completion of year-end audit entries, with auditors from Westbrook expected to return in a few weeks. Finance Director Misti Holloway received special acknowledgement for her work preparing documents for the audit.
During the report Willim relayed clarification from Public Works Director Dale Shipp about recent Environmental Protection Agency and Missouri Department of Natural Resources guidance on lead-service-line replacement: when lead is confirmed between the water meter and the main the city is responsible to replace the meter-to-main portion and city guidance is to replace meter-to-main and the meter-to-house side at the same time to avoid disturbing pipes multiple times; if lead is confirmed on the homeowner's side of the meter the homeowner is responsible for replacement. Willim said the city submitted the required inventory of lines connected to the city system to MDNR in November 2024 and will send additional notification letters to affected homeowners.
Why it matters: the lead-service-line guidance determines whether the city or individual homeowners pay for replacements and triggers required notifications; the water-plant reports and the Evergy payment have direct budget and service-delivery implications.
The City Administrator's full report, including the water-plant field reports and the Evergy memo, was included in the council packet.
