HOLTS SUMMIT - Holts Summit's new city administrator was introduced at a reception before Monday evening's council meeting - but his job wasn't official until halfway through the agenda.
An ordinance authorizing Mayor Landon Oxley to execute an employment agreement with Rick Hess was approved, after which Oxley told Hess he was stuck with them.
Hess laughed, "You're stuck with me."
Hess started his position July 5, coming from a similar position in Battlefield, near Springfield. He previously spent 17 1/2 years in the military, and he and his wife, Virginia, recently purchased a home in their new town.
Holts Summit resident Penni Sneller was one of several people who addressed members of the City Council. She said she previously had talked to city officials about installing a splash park and wanted an update. "It's just sad as parents; there is nothing for kids to do," she said. "I see kids hanging out at gas stations with their bicycles."
Mayor Landon Oxley said he looked into her request.
"It's a great idea - the main thing is where to put it in a safe area," he said. "It's also a cost issue."
Oxley said he talked to Fulton city officials about the splash park at Memorial Park in Fulton and learned a splash park is probably a better option than a municipal swimming pool.
"Insurance is so high, from what I was told," he said about a swimming pool. He said installing a splash park would cost about $250,000.
"Bear with us," Oxley told Sneller. "We have a lot of other stuff going on."
The city does have two parks available daily for public use. Hibernia Station Park is behind the municipal complex with a playground, basketball courts, a walking trail and other amenities. Greenway Park is a 55-acre park with two ball fields, a civic center, volleyball court, fishing pond and concession stands. Oxley and City Trustee Jason Glenn told Sneller the splash park idea isn't dead.
"We feel just as strongly as anybody the future of Holts Summit is a high priority," Glenn said. "Believe us, we've been talking about it and we are looking at it. It's just not moving fast."
Chad Sayer, of Allstate Consultants, involved in a sewer expansion project to the village of Lake Mykee, said that project will include getting about 180 utility easements, and about 140 property owners have agreed thus far. About 130 families that live in Lake Mykee have an out-of-date sewage lagoon system. Annexation by the city of Holts Summit and providing those residents with sewer services will eliminate the cost of $1.5 million to get the lagoon into compliance. Lake Mykee residents will also have access to Holts Summit emergency services. Gov. Jay Nixon approved the annexation on June 17.
City trustees also approved a resolution thanking the Holts Summit Optimist Club for a $2,000 donation toward the purchase of ball field lights. They discussed amping up electrical outlets at Greenway Park in advance of the Sept. 24 Country Fried Fun Fest.