Warrensburg City Council Amends Maguire Street Overlay Project
By Katherine Hamilton
UCM Student & Townsquare Intern
The Warrensburg City Council met on Monday, July 27th to discuss town happenings and hear from community members. Every topic brought up for discussion at the meeting was either approved or adopted by the council.
Attending council members approved amending Amendment 27, establishing the Maguire Street corridor overlay project. This was proposed by Barbara Carroll, AICP, Director of Community Development.
“At your meeting two weeks ago you had a first reading to public comment and had a first reading of this ordinance creating the Maguire Street Corridor Overlay District. After that meeting staff has not received any additional public comment,” stated Carroll. “And so we have placed it on your agenda for a second reading. The majority of the information concerning the overlay district is in the council packet."
A map of the corridor was included. The ordinance was unanimously approved.
Another Ordinance discussed at this week’s meeting was “An Ordinance adding section 2-546 directing that certain charitable trust funds be utilized to the maximum benefit for their intended purpose. This was presented by Jody L. Schnieder, City Clerk.
“This ordinance this proposed ordinance is being brought to you this evening In addition to it, it is proposed to add the Chrissy and Brown trust funds into a recently adopted Stevenson fund grant policy with a grant application period and grant awards um by council in a collaborative amount,” explained Schnieder. “Each fund would be separate but would be a part of a collaborative amount for awards. Each fund is noted there in the background has separate um restrictions that go along with it.” After further discussion this motion was approved by all attending council members.
The council also discussed the Public Comment Policy. A draft of the policy was presented at the meeting and will be presented to the city council counselor for further guidance on free speech. The policy addresses scheduled public hearings, comments regarding agenda items, and comments regarding matters that are not on the agenda. Speakers will have three minutes to address the council.
During this meeting, the council heard from representatives from Warrensburg Mainstreet, Jamie DeBacker. DeBacker discussed what Warrensburg Mainstreet has accomplished this year.
“Although the city is nearing the end of its physical year, we are celebrating reaching a halfway point in Warrensburg main street. In just six months alone, we've hosted 31 event days and promotion days, welcomed more than 10,000 visitors to the Warrensburg Farmers Market, recorded 2,400 volunteer hours valued at $80,000, and generated 825,000 in in private investment in downtown Warrensburg. We've also welcomed four new businesses in downtown Warrensburg,” explained DeBacker.
She notes that continued investment is important to “leverage volunteers, attract private investment, recruit businesses, preserve our historic downtown, and create experiences that people can choose downtown Warrensburg.”
The Warrensburg City Council meets the second and fourth Mondays of every month at 7 p.m. Their next meeting will be August 10th at the Municipal Building in downtown Warrensburg. These meetings are open to the public. Speakers must sign up to speak on agenda issues and limit comments to three minutes.
