Community members being sought to join committee

By Jessica Breger  cassvilleads@outlook.com

The Monett city council spent time in January to take a look at the roles officials play in running the city.

Discussions during City Council and Planning and Zoning meetings centered around the role of City Administrator and development of a new Comprehensive Plan for the city.

During the Jan. 8 meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission, Interim City Administrator Jeff Hancock presented a proposal for the commission to take steps in developing a new City Comprehensive Plan.

“I want to talk about probably one of the most important projects the city of Monett can be involved in,” Hancock said.

Hancock reported that under state statutes, in order to have zoning, a city must have a planning commission and a City Comprehensive Plan. The last plan for the city of Monett was developed in 1996.

Hancock said the importance of having an up to date comprehensive plan, noting that having one in place prevents confusion or disagreements when areas need to be re-zoned.

To form a new City Comprehensive Plan, Hancock said the next step is for the Council to form a Comprehensive Planning Committee (CPC). 

This committee should have 12-15 members including two Planning and Zoning Commissioners, as well as individuals from different sectors of the community. 

It was also noted that for a third-class city such as Monett, the Mayor or a City Council member may be on the Planning and Zoning Commission, but are not required.

Hancock collaborated with the Southwest Missouri Council of Governments (SMCOG) to direct commissioners on the next steps in developing the new plan.

With the CPC in place, the next steps would be to conduct a current land use inventory, compile demographic and economic data, and draft a community survey. 

The current goal is to have the first meeting of the Comprehensive Planning Committee in February or March.

“It’s very important that the public knows about this process,” Hancock said.

Addressing City Council during its Jan. 14 meeting, Hancock reiterated the importance of the project.

“This is important not only from a standpoint of getting the community involved because it’s the plan for the future, but there are legal implications,” he said. “You need to have a good City Comprehensive Plan before you zone.”

Council held further discussion on forming the committee during a Jan. 28 work session, where 12 names were submitted for the committee for review at the Feb. 13 regular council meeting.

Mayor Randy Burke expressed that he would like to be seated on the committee so that he may be better informed on the comprehensive plan. He said that he feels doing so would lead to better informed decisions by the City Council.

Commissioner Ken Gaspar took an opposing stance, however stating that having any City Council member on the committee may make other committee members feel as though the Council is trying to influence others.

“I am just stating a wish that we would all not serve on this committee and allow additional community members to sit on the committee,” Gaspar said.

The Council is still hoping for additional community members to volunteer for the committee. Those interested can contact Mike Gervais, the city’s communication specialist, to be considered. 

Hancock also addressed the process of placing a permanent city administrator, the position he currently hold as interim. 

The Council was presented with a resolution for consideration outlining the role of city administrator in overseeing the operations of the city and directly supervising department heads and city staff.

While serving as interim city administrator, Hancock said it can sometimes be confusing in regards to chain of command. 

He said this is due to the fact that Monett has a city commission form of government, but since approximately 2007, the city has acted under a city administrator.

The resolution states city administrator shall be chief administrator assistant to the mayor and city council and shall coordinate the general supervision and operation of city departments.

“I think it’s very important that whoever comes understands their role in their position and what they’re responsible for and my suggestion is that you pass this resolution so that there is a clear understanding,” Hancock said.

Gaspar questioned if the described role of city administrator would interfere with the city commission form of government. 

Hancock clarified for Council that the city administrator would manage the city departments but report to City Council so there is a more defined chain of command when handling multiple city departments.

Gaspar suggested further discussion on the matter before a decision is made. He said that he would like for Council to confer with lawyers and also consider presenting the proposal as an ordinance, rather than a resolution, once the position is clarified.

“Just stating it a resolution doesn’t give it the weight I believe that position should have,” Gaspar said.

Regular Monett City Council Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Monett School District Board Room, with video available on the city’s website the following day.