City administrator reviews FY25 priorities: staffing, services, and capital projects

City Administrator Sheila told the board she would "share a status update on the city's progress that has been made year to date on the mayor and board of alderman's priorities for fiscal year 2025." She summarized four overarching priorities adopted last year and detailed staffing and benefit changes aimed at retention; "At this time, we currently have only 3 vacant full time positions out of a total of 65 full time positions," she said, and described a consolidated salary plan and expanded benefits designed to improve recruitment and retention.

Sheila then reviewed department-level metrics and capital timelines: the city issued 47 permits, performed 210 inspections and issued 12,060 utility bills in the first quarter; water operations produced 63,000,000 gallons, purchased 26,000,000 gallons from Kansas City and performed 9,024 water quality tests. She outlined near-term capital work including repainting the water plant's primary basin (expected in October), a 1,000,000-gallon tower with materials due in November and a South Clark waterline replacement slated for spring. For sewer, she noted an anti-degradation study expected in November and plans to expand plant capacity as needed.