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Smithville to use on-site QR-code signs for development updates, hires officers and delays fireworks renewal after resident concerns
Summary
City Administrator Cynthia Wagner announced a new on-site sign-and-QR-code approach for development notices and said two experienced officers will start June 1; the Board directed staff to delay renewal of White Iron Ridge’s fireworks permit after resident concerns about notification and policy clarity.
City Administrator Cynthia Wagner told the Smithville Board of Aldermen on May 19 that the city will place signs on properties where development, rezoning or planning actions are proposed; each sign will include a QR code linking to the city website with detailed, up-to-date project information intended to improve communication with residents.
Wagner said the change responds to citizen-survey feedback calling for clearer communication about development. She said the signs will aim to create a consistent flow of information during planning and construction phases.
Wagner also reported progress in police recruitment: two officers, Frank Bayless and Eli Dorsey, are scheduled to begin June 1 with 17 and 15 years of law-enforcement experience respectively, and a new recruit, Kyle Wade, will enter the police academy later in June. Wagner tied recruitment success to the Public Safety Sales Tax, updated collective bargaining agreements, and compensation improvements that have strengthened Smithville’s competitiveness for candidates.
On fireworks policy, Wagner said staff identified White Iron Ridge’s annual fireworks permit on the planning calendar and requested Board direction on whether to review the policy before renewal. The Board agreed it may be beneficial to delay the renewal and asked staff to contact White Iron Ridge, inform them of the delay, and prepare additional information for a future work session. The Board emphasized improving communication and ensuring affected parties are informed.
During public comment, resident Brittany Johnston-Colle urged clearer fireworks rules and broader notice to residents, including posting notices at the library a month in advance and using mail or door hangers; she also said she did not believe fireworks were necessary for private events such as weddings. Another resident, Austin Armstrong, expressed privacy concerns about automated ‘‘flock’’ cameras, saying they would not reliably identify drivers and calling them an "invasion of privacy." No formal action on the cameras was recorded.
The Board’s instruction to delay and review the White Iron Ridge fireworks renewal sets the item up for additional staff work and a future discussion; the fireworks renewal will return to the Board following the requested staff outreach and work-session briefing.
