Board of Aldermen Meeting Minutes

LOWRY CITY BOARD OF ALDERMEN

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Tuesday, July 21, 2026 6:00 pm

Draft Minutes

Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance:
Mayor Greg BeVelle 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 Cecil Shehorn and West Ward Aldermen Sean Langston. West Ward Aldermen Clark Patterson was absent. City Clerk John Farrell, Temporary Water Sewer Superintendent Mike Clark were in attendance along with several people from the community. Notice of the meeting was given pursuant to RSMo. 610.020.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Bevelle.
Approval of Minutes:
The board reviewed the budget meeting minutes from June 15, 2026. Langston moved and Shehorn seconded to approve the minutes. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
The board reviewed the regular session minutes from June 16, 2026. Langston moved and Shehorn seconded to approve the minutes. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
The board reviewed the closed session minutes from June 16, 2026. Langston moved and Shehorn seconded to approve the minutes. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
The board reviewed the special meeting from July 2, 2026. Cone moved and Shehorn seconded to approve the minutes. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Bills:   
A list of bills from June 16, 2026 through July 20, 2026 was presented for approval. Langston moved and Shehorn seconded the motion to approve the bills presented. The motion passed unanimously.
Financial reports:
Financial reports for the month ending June 30, 2026 were presented and reviewed. The mayor noted total income was at 115.4 percent and total expenses are at 115.7 percent of budgeted amount for fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. Farrell presented a financial statement summary he prepared for FY 2025-2026 that was submitted the Missouri State Auditor and will run in the newspaper as required by law. The reports were unanimously approved on a motion from Langston and a second from Shehorn.
Old or unfinished business-
Zoning ordinances related to mobile homes in the city limits-
Following discussion, Langston moved to have the city clerk contact the city’s attorney and look into possible consequences the city would face if they “did away with” the zoning ordinances and report back to the board next month. Shehorn seconded motion and it was approved unanimously.
Civic Center-Installing new locks, increasing rental fee and deposit amount:
Following discussion on the matters, Langston moved and Shehorn seconded to have the clerk research the city’s records to see if there is an ordinance that sets the rates of rental of the building. The vote was unanimous.  
New business_
A-1 Disposal formal request for rate increase
Michelle Parmalee, appeared with A-1 Disposal Owner Barbara Tabor to discuss a rate increase for trash service. Parmalee read a letter explaining A-1 Disposal rates for residential customers will increase $2 per month beginning August 1, 2026. The letter noted increases in costs to provide services as reasons for the increase. On a motion from Langston and a second from Shehorn the board voted unanimously in favor to authorize the increase. It was noted trash service will be up for bids in 2027. Bids will be due prior to the meeting in June when the board approves the budget.    
Discuss advertising for audit of the city’s financials
It was noted the last audit was completed on July 30, 2024 by DSWA for FY 2020-2021. After discussion, Langston moved to have the clerk run advertisement for two weeks in newspapers in Clinton and Nevada seeking bids for an audit of the city’s financial records. Shehorn seconded and the vote was unanimous in favor.   
John Welch-Ordinance violation complaints
Lowry City Resident John Welch voiced his concerns with the condition of some properties in the city limits. His concerns also included unregistered vehicles and trash cans being left out all week. Welch noted he has counted over 120 unregistered vehicles “stashed” in the city limits. The mayor spoke and explained there are limitation on what can be done about certain issues. Langston noted the city would need more police to be able to fully enforce those types of concerns.
Lowry City Resident Jackie Cutller spoke concerning cars extending onto city property in areas that needs to be mowed. She suggested the mayor go to these residents and ask them to move their vehicles.
Larry Wills-Request to discuss Temporary Water/Sewer Superintendent Mike Clark contract: Larry Wills requested to be on the agenda to discuss Mike Clark’s “contract.” He was informed prior to the meeting; Clark did not have a contract and a part-time city employee.
Wills appeared at the meeting and stated his wife was going to talk for him. He proceeded to explain he has no problem with Clark and understood he is an employee. Wills instead spoke of a recent visit to city hall where he and Farrell had an altercation. Wills explained he was escorted out of the building by the city police.
Wills’ wife also spoke of the incident explaining how the city clerk was unprofessional in dealing with her husband. She stated she heard expletives used while Farrell was explaining that Clark is not contracted to work for the city and is a city employee.
The mayor explained the clerk contacted him immediately after the incident and he explained to Wills the matter had been delt with.
Set a date for the tax levy public hearing-
On a motion from Langston and a second from Shehorn the board unanimopulsy agreed to hold the annual tax levy hearing on Aug. 18 at 5:45pm prior to regular meeting of the board. Farrell noted the information has not been received as of yet.
Public input:
JR Leiber, Lowry City Branch Manager of St. Clair County State Bank, introduced his daughter, Rylee Kneller, who a candidate running for St. Clair County Treasurer. Kneller spoke to those in attendance and introduced herself as a candidate.
Langston asked if the trees on 7^th Street had been trimmed as requested by Tyler Knight at last month’s meeting Clark responded Gary Eaton, Gary’s All-Around Tree Trimming, is going to assist with the project when he comes to take down the tree in the cemetery. Norris stated there is another in need of trimming back on 5^th and Mahan Street. Clark noted he will add the matter to the list.
Parmalee, now representing the Lowry City Community Betterment (LCCB), spoke to the board in reference to a project the group has been working on. She announced the LCCB was awarded a $7,580 grant for playground equipment. Parmalee noted the LCCB hopes to raise $30,000 to complete the project. She requested a donation and support of the project from the city. Shehorn moved and Langston seconded to allow the project. The vote was 3-1 with Cone voting in opposition. In a separate motion from Langston and a second from Shehorn the board voted unanimously to donate $1,000 from the city’s general fund to be used to toward the purchase of playground equipment.
Lowry City Resident Travis Hill asked questions in reference to ground not being filled in by Brightspeed employees while crews were upgrading the area with fiber lines. He was advised to call Brightspeed in reference to the matter. He did compliment city crews on how well the cemetery looked during Memorial Day. 
Department and group reports/updates:”
City Hall: -Farrell reported a member of the city maintenance crew damaged a headstone at the cemetery while mowing. On a motion from Langston and a second from Shehorn the bard unanimously agreed to pay Wommack Monument Company $1,897 to replace the headstone.
Farrell noted $1,51.90 was received for donations toward paying for the fireworks display.
Police Department: There was no police report. Farrell noted he has run advertisement in the local newspaper as well as Clinton’s newspaper and has had no response. He noted the search will continue.
Fire Department: Fire Chief Justin Norris spoke to the board concerning new fire hose nozzles. After discussion, Langston moved to purchase two nozzles at a total cost of $2,350. Cone seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor. Norris reported firefighters have been busy. During the past month, the firefighters responded to 16 calls for service including six medical calls, three structure fires, three motor vehicle accidents, one natural cover fire, one vehicle fire, one propane smell investigation and one weather spotting all. In total over the month, 110 hours and three minutes of man hours were logged, The chief noted 60 mutual aid manhours were also logged along with 72 hours of training.
Public Works: Clark explained Water Sewer Superintendent Trainee Deryk Meyer was absent due to attending drinking water certification classes.
Clark noted the city is having issues with Well #2. He said it was pumping at half the normal capacity. He said crews will be here Friday to pull the pump, Clark noted it has been 10 years since the pump has been replaced. He also said he thinks there is a whole in the pipe. The mayor stated he thinks it may be time to look into a rate increase and asked it be added to the August agenda.
Mayor’s notes: 
BeVelle reported receiving complaints regarding the condition of the cemetery. He noted he went out to verify and found several with grass in between the headstones. Bevelle said the matter has been discussed with city crews and will be resolved.
Adjournment of regular open session:
Langston moved and Shehorn seconded to adjourn the regular meeting. The vote was unanimous and the meeting adjourned.