Joplin City Council Meeting - September 15, 2025

The Joplin City Council held its regular meeting on September 15, 2025, with seven members present (two absent). The meeting featured quarterly updates from the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Joplin Alliance, a proclamation honoring the late Coach John Ware, a mid-alley lighting update, and a citizen complaint about harassment by a council member. Key actions included passage of MODOT agreements for 7th Street improvements, failure of the Ewert Park splash park project to pass on emergency (5-2), and dissolution of four inactive boards/commissions.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was finalized and approved unanimously (7-0 with two absent). No specific items were listed for discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Josh Long spoke on behalf of his wife, a local business owner, alleging that a council member has persistently harassed her on social media with hateful comments, false business reviews, and personal tags. He requested that the council member stop contacting her entirely. Councilman Jackson responded that he had not received any email from Mr. Long and suggested contacting the city clerk for communication. The council did not take further action on the complaint.

Discussion Items

• Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Update (Doug Hunt, Amy Kaufman):
  • Population in 2024: 53,095; labor force participation rate 61%; unemployment rate 4.6%; average salary approximately $60,000.
  • Population growth of 16.6% from top counties (McDonald, Ottawa OK, Benton AR).
  • Marketing engagement: January–July 2025 saw 1,679 active users (up from 745 in 2024) and 2,316 user sessions. Top pages viewed: parks and trails, cost of living calculator, newcomers.
  • Social media: 72,542 impressions on livability content, 7,027 engagements, 2,120 link clicks.
  • Joseph Newman Innovation Center added 5 new full-time jobs since last year, with an additional 20 from one tenant (KSS cleaning). Three new tenants, two graduates (bookkeeping companies). Over 70 full-time jobs created in the incubator in the last five years.
  • Missouri Technology Corporation approved $54,000 in facilities grants for improvements.
  • Amy Kaufman reported four RFIs from the state (none submitted) and five organic business development leads. Active project: Project Level, a family-owned company from Indiana, will locate in Jasper County, hiring 40-50 people at average salary $105,000. Data center operation under contract.
  • Workforce development summit planned for September 26, 2025, with Senator Jill Carter as keynote.
• Downtown Joplin Alliance Quarterly Update (Lori Hahn):
  • Holcroft Building condos: two sold, two months from completion.
  • Mostograph Building: first new construction on Main Street in decades, now occupied.
  • US Bank building sold at auction.
  • New businesses: Boutique Marketplace, Briley's Ice Cream, KM Guru, Midwestern Built Health. Upcoming: Starry Eyed Girl (French-themed) and Speed Dealer (motorcycle boutique).
  • Fall promotion: “Fall in Love with Local” becomes restaurant week (11 days, 18 participating locations).
  • Empire Market: daily averages nearly 1,000 visitors in July, up significantly. Live musicians funded by Missouri Arts Council grant.
  • Organization recognized at state conference; new events coordinator hired; strategic planning underway.
• Proclamation for Coach John Ware: Council recognized the life and legacy of Coach John Ware, former MSSU football coach, who died in 2005. Coach Atiba Bradley accepted the proclamation, noting Ware’s impact on student-athletes and his advocacy for AEDs in athletic facilities.
• Mid-Alley Lights Update (Mr. Robin):
  • Staff revised the metrics table, reducing threshold from 70% to 60%, combining factors, and weighting crime more heavily. Cost reduced significantly.
  • Options: solar/battery motion sensor, hardwired dusk-to-dawn, and basic motion sensor lights. All require 51% neighbor approval.
• Council Bill 2025-615 (Ewert Park Splash Park):
  • Project includes splash park, ice ribbon, covered basketball court, amphitheater, playground, and interpretive signage. Budget $8.9 million; final GMP from Branco Enterprises at $8,935,365 (under budget).
  • Funding: parks and stormwater sales tax plus use tax beautification funds (because original budget was exceeded). Councilman Jackson opposed, arguing the project should be funded solely by the parks department. Motion to approve on emergency failed 5-2 (two absent). The bill will proceed to second and third readings at the next meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Amended Resolution 2025-009 (Charter Review Commission) passed unanimously (7-0).
• Resolution 2025-010 (CDBG amendment for HOME grant) passed unanimously.
• Council Bill 2025-139 (MODOT agreement for 7th Street from Maiden Lane to Main, $5,299,446.43) passed on emergency (7-0).
• Council Bill 2025-140 (MODOT agreement for 7th Street from Main to St. Louis, $692,936.19) passed on emergency (7-0) after a map error listing a property as Rick Newberry's was acknowledged and will be corrected.
• Council Bill 2025-615 (Ewert Park splash park) failed on emergency (5-2); will return for second and third readings.
• Council Bills 2025-007, 008, 009, 010 (dissolving Personnel Board, Building Trades Board, Board of Health, and Solid Waste Advisory Commission) passed on first reading with advanced second and third (7-0).
• Council Bills 2025-136, 137, 141, 277, 532, 533, 534, 618 (wastewater improvements, truck purchase, planning funds, property sale, employee insurance benefits, software support) all passed on first reading with advanced second and third (7-0).
• Council Bill 2025-616 (festival and celebration support for FY2026) passed on second and third reading (6-1, with one opposed).
• Closed session motion passed (7-0) to discuss personnel matters.