Board of Aldermen Meeting Minutes

LOWRY CITY BOARD OF ALDERMEN

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 6:00 pm

 Draft Minutes

Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance:

            Mayor Patricia Landes called the regular session of the Lowry City Board of Aldermen to order at 6 p.m. in the council room at city hall. Board members attending included East Ward Aldermen Charles Cone and Jackie Cutler, West Ward Aldermen Sean Langston and Shirley Edmunds. City Clerk John Farrell, Fire Chief Justin Norris and several others from the community were also in attendance. Notice of the meeting was given pursuant to RSMo. 610.020. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Landes.

Approval of Minutes:

The board reviewed the regular session minutes from December 16, 2026. Cutler moved and Langston seconded to approve the minutes. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Bills:

                A list of bills from December 17, 2025 through January 20, 2026 was presented for approval. Cone questioned a $ 1,440 check that was paid to Empire Electric Services for a phase monitor. Farrell noted he spoke with Wastewater Superintendent Josh Muller about the check paid and was advised it was for services performed at well #2. There was discussion regarding what the invoice included. It was noted Farrell will research the matter and present findings at next month’s meeting. Langston moved and Edmunds seconded the motion to approve the bills presented. The motion passed unanimously.
            Farrell requested city hall be able to pay several reoccurring bills as they are received or automatically. Bills to pay automatically include-Evergy (electric), Brightspeed (phones that call public works), Conexon (Phone and internet), The Health Plan (city employee health plans) and Aflac (firefighter coverage). On a motion from Langston and second from Edmunds the matter was approved unanimously.
Financial reports:
            A financial statement summary of fund balances for July 2025-December 2025 was presented. Farrell noted the report was published in January 14 St. Clair County Courier as required by RSMo 77.110. The report is also available online on the city’s website www.lowrycitymo.gov.
            Financial reports for the month ending December 31, 2025 were presented and reviewed. Cone moved and Cutler seconded to accept the financial reports. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Old or unfinished business-
            Public works applications- Farrell noted four applications have been received for a possible open position in public works. It was noted the matter is scheduled to be discussed further in closed session. After some discussion Langston made a motion to table hiring for the position for two months. Edmunds seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

New business:

Great River Engineering (GRE)-Jacob Dean, an engineer with GRE attended the meeting to discuss the process to gain funding for possible sewage lift station project. A resolution authorizing filing application with DNR to fund engineering of a sewage lift station project was also presented. No action was taken by the board at this time.

 Mike Clark-consultant for public works department-Alderman Cutler discussed hiring Clark to be a consultant for public works department for hourly wage instead of 1099 contractor. She explained he has years on knowledge about the different areas of the city’s public works. Following discussion, it was noted the mayor will discuss the matter with Clark further.

 Citizen input: Kevin Snyder Jr. questioned why the city would hire Clark and not train someone new. Langston explained the city is heading in that direction however Clark’s knowledge of the city public works is very essential. Snyder stated the city had someone working for them who had knowledge and was learning, but was not treated well.

            Schaelyn Bell questioned how the city got to where employees are not trained to do their job. She stated it seems as though “no one knows how to do their jobs.” Bell offered her advice on who should be hired and how the structure of the training of employees should work.
Department and group reports/updates:

City Hall: Farrell noted the Lowry City Community Betterment will host an Easter egg hunt and candy drop April 4 at 2 p.m.

            Farrell reported candidates certified for April 7 Municipal Election include Kevin Snyder Jr., Cecil Shehorn and Incumbent Jackie Cutler for east ward alderman, Clark Patterson and Incumbent Shirley Edmunds for west ward alderman and Incumbent Patricia Landes and Greg BeVelle for the mayor’s seat. Farrell noted official write-in candidates must file with the county clerk by the second Friday prior to the election.

 Police Department: Police Chief Charles Hodges was absent due to illness. There was no report submitted.
Fire Department: Fire Chief Norris reported the department has been steady with calls for service. He noted the department’s new brush truck is almost ready for service. He said lights and lettering are complete. He mentioned appreciation to Pursuit Specialties, Clinton, for donating a light bar for the truck.

            Norris asked for approval to purchase new tires for the truck. Norris said the tires on the truck were mismatched, two were highway and two were all-terrain. Several sizes and prices were discussed.  Langston made a motion to purchase four tires from Stinnett Sales & Services, Lowry City, for $1,240. Edmunds seconded the motion and it passed with Langston and Edmunds voting in favor and Cutler and Cone voting against. Landes broke the tie and voted in favor of making the purchase. Norris noted they will either use or sell the old tires. He also discussed possibly placing the old truck, a 1985 square body Chevrolet, on Purple Wave, an online auction service, with a reserve price.

            Norris reported the department had their annual elections. He noted he was elected fire chief. Harold Blevins is captain, Bill Barnett is lieutenant and Josh Bell is secretary. Norris reported the department has 19 members.

    Public Works: Muller was absent from the meeting due to illness. He left a report for the board. The report stated he, Clark and city worker Kenneth Walker installed water meters for Ronnie Knight. The report noted Walker has been picking up brush and trash along the road side and in ditches.
            Muller reported the auto dialer at the water tower went out and has been replaced. A quote was received from J&A Traffic Products for replacement of several street signs. Farrell noted due to the monetary amount the matter will have to be placed out for bids. It was determined Farrell will gather other bids for the signs and present at a later meeting.

            Muller reported the main water line behind the fire department had to be dug up due to excessive water leaking out. A clamp was discovered leaking and the overflow from the water sales saturated the ground around it. Other items completed included maintenance on city trucks, and maintenance on fire hydrants. A water loss of 31% was reported due to fires and fire hydrant flushing. Muller also stated he is getting proposals for lift station upgrades and loans to acquire it. It will be discussed at a later date.

Mayor’s notes: Landes had nothing to add.

Adjourn to closed session:

            Langston moved and Edmunds seconded to adjourn to closed session pursuant to 610.021. Hiring, firing, promoting or discipline of a specific employee (3). The motion passed unanimously by a roll call vote.
Adjournment of regular open session:
            Following the closed session, Edmunds moved to adjourn the regular meeting. Langston seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

LOWRY CITY BOARD OF ALDERMEN

Closed Session

Tuesday January 20, 2026 

Draft Minutes

Call to order

On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the Lowry City Board of Aldermen held a closed session meeting following the regular meeting. The closed session was held pursuant to 610.021.(3) Hiring, firing, promoting or discipline of a specific employee. Notice of the meeting was given by posting the notice on the bulletin board located at city hall and it was sent by email to the St. Clair County Courier.

Mayor Patricia Landes called the meeting to order. Those in attendance were West Ward Aldermen Sean Langston and Shirley Edmunds and East Ward Aldermen Charles Cone and Jackie Cutler. City Clerk John Farrell was asked to stay for part of the meeting.

Following discussion, on a motion from Cone and a second from Edmunds the board voted unanimously to dismiss Public Works Supervisor Josh Muller and hire Mike Clark part-time at $25 per hour.

Adjourn:

Langston move to adjourn the closed session and enter open session. Cone seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved by a roll call vote.