Board of Aldermen Meeting Minutes

LOWRY CITY BOARD OF ALDERMEN

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Tuesday, August 18, 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 and Clark Patterson. City Clerk John Farrell and Water/Sewer Superintendent Deryk Meyer 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 regular session minutes from July 21 2026. Langston noted a correction of the amount received in donations for fireworks was needed. The correct amount received is $1,521.90. Cone moved and Shehorn seconded to approve the minutes. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Bills:   
              A list of bills from July 20, 2026 through August 18, 2026 was presented for approval. Langston moved and Cone seconded the motion to approve the bills presented. The motion passed unanimously.

Financial reports:
              Financial reports for the month ending July 31, 2026 were presented and reviewed. The mayor noted total income is at 6.7 percent and total expenses at 9.8 percent of budgeted amount for fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. The reports were unanimously approved on a motion from Shehorn and a second from Clark.

Old or unfinished business:

Zoning ordinances-At last month’s meeting Alderman Langston asked the clerk to contact the city attorney in reference to what could happen if the board decided to do away with zoning ordinances all together.
              Farrell noted City Attorney Race Lieber was contacted regarding the matter and he prepared an opinion for the board. Leiber recommended to leave the zoning ordinances intact and offered several reasons. The attorney explained the city has the authority to eliminate the ordinances but noted there is a “rather extensive” ordinance regarding land use, as well as additional accompanying addendums. He noted eliminating the entirety of the ordinance would allow for completely unrestricted land use within city limits, which could result in unwanted repercussions. Leiber stated he would only recommend that the city repeal what’s

been deemed its “zoning ordinance” if a comprehensive replacement was to be enacted immediately thereafter in its place, thus preventing any unrestricted land use that would likely follow if repealed entirely.
              The mayor stated his recommendation is to leave the ordinances as is and take each request on an individual basis. Langston stated his approval with the process. No action was taken,.

Civic Center- Increasing rental fee/deposit amount was discussed. The board packet included minutes from a meeting in September 2011 when the board set the procedures for the community building. The rental rate was set at $75 and the deposit at $100.

              BeVelle entertained a motion to increase the rental rate to $100 and leave the deposit the same as currently. On a motion from Patterson and a second from Shehorn the board unanimously agreed to the increase.

Update on advertising for audit of the city’s financials-Farrell noted there was no response to the advertising for an auditor. He noted reaching out to DSWA (the auditor who previously completed the city’s audit) and is awaiting a call back.
New business:

Bill 2026-03- Set Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Levies 2026-The bill was presented for approval. Langston moved to have the first reading of Bill 2026-03 setting real estate and personal property tax levies for 2026. Cone seconded and it was passed unanimously.

              Langston read the bill in its entirety. Cone moved to accept the first reading of the bill. Shehorn seconded and it passed unanimously.
Cone moved to have the second reading of the bill by title only. Langston seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Langston read the bill by title only. Shehorn moved to accept the second reading of the bill. Patterson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Langston moved to adopt the bill as Ordinance 2026-03. Shehorn seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with Shehorn, Cone, Patterson and Langston all voting in favor.

Rhonda Elliott-Elliott was scheduled to present a plan to place a 2014 16x80 mobile home on property located at 7th Street. Elliot did appear at the meeting.

Discuss Narcan box being placed on side of community building

The mayor explained clerk was contacted by a representative working in coordination with “Breathe for Bre” wanting to place a Narcan box in Lowry City. The representative stated a discreet place was needed for the box that affixes to a wall on the outside of a building and the company keeps everything stocked. It was noted Appleton City and El Dorado Springs has boxes in place. BeVelle stated the clerk spoke to the police chief who advised a possible location could be on side of Civic Center. Discussion followed with Police Chief Charles Hodges and Fire Chief Justin Norris explaining Narcan is used in situations related to opiate drug overdoses. Norris stated he has a supply at the fire station and it’s carried on each truck.

               Cone moved and Shehorn seconded to table the matter to look into further. The motion passed unanimously. Farrell questioned who was to look into the matter further and explained there was nothing more to look into. He stated the board either wants the box or they don’t. Cone moved to not have the Narcan box at the Civic Center. Langston seconded and the vote was tie with Cone and Langston voting to not have the box and Shehorn and Patterson to have the box. The mayor broke the tie and voted to not have the box at the Civic Center.

Discuss increase in water rates
               Mayor BeVelle explained an increase to the city’s water rates is needed. He noted reasons including old infrastructure and a recent $20,000 repair to one of the city’s pumps. The water is currently $21.36 and sewer is $16.02. Tax is $ .43 and the DNR Prim Fee is $ .27 for a total of $38.08 per 2,000 gallons. The mayor suggested to increase the minimum bill to $50 per month total for 2,000 gallons. After discussion on how to split the increase, Langston moved to table the matter until the September 22 meeting when a revised ordinance can be presented. Shehorn seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

John Welch and public input:

John Welch to discuss identification of city properties- Welsh complained houses that have overgrown weeds and the address numbers on the homes either can’t be read or they have no address numbers on them. He also mentioned several different kinds of wildlife coming from property near 7th and Mahan that neighbors his property. He stated the homes need to be destroyed. Welsh asked if all the unused vehicles in the city are being taxed. It was suggested the county assessor may have answers on that. Shehorn noted a signed complaint is needed to begin the process. Cone suggested towing all the unlicensed vehicles on city streets.

              Jackie Cutler mentioned city crews cannot maintain right-aways when vehicles are parked in them. Welsh noted he is on the board of the Lowry City Special Road District and street repairs cannot be done when vehicles are there.

Department and group reports/updates:
City Hall: -Farrell said he had nothing to report.

Police Department: Hodges thanked the board for allowing him to serve as the chief for the past year and-a-half. The board also thanked Hodges for his service.

Fire Department: Norris reported firefighters responded to six calls for service during the past month. In total, nine hours and 17 minutes of man hours were logged. The chief noted 42 total hours of training.

              Norris asked for approval to have pumps on the trucks certified. He presented quotes from Jon’s Mid America, $1,420 and Fire Master, $1,235. On a motion from Langston and a second from Shehorn the board unanimously agreed to have Fire Master complete the work. The chief also presented a $1,888.84 quote to have annual flow test of the SCBAs and a $1,324 quote to test and service the Cascade system from Conrad Fire Equipment. On a motion from Langston and a second from Shehorn, the board unanimously approved the maintenance items.

              Norris noted several items of maintenance will be coming up and mentioned the department will be participating in the annual September 11 parade in Adrian.

Public Works: Water Sewer Superintendent Deryk Meyer reported he completed his water distribution classes and is awaiting taking his certification test.
              Meyer noted there was an issue with one of the city’s wells. He said the well pump was pulled and the pump and pipe replaced. Scott and Sons Well Drilling, Macks Creek, completed the work. He also reported there have been issues with the pump at the south lift station and a technician from Gormann Rupp Company is scheduled.
              Meyer said a manhole on Tindall and 7th was repaired after a large truck damaged it. He reported he has started mapping the city’s sewer and water lines on the computer and spoke of recent discussions held regarding expectations of the condition at the cemetery.

Mayor’s notes: 
BeVelle had nothing to add.
Prior to adjourning, Cone praised a clean-up of property at 5th and Main.  

Adjourn to closed session – Langston moved and Cone seconded to adjourn the regular meeting and move to closed session pursuant to 610.021.3 Hiring, firing, promoting or discipline of a specific employee. A roll call vote was taken with Shehorn, Cone, Patterson and Langston all voting in favor.

Re-convene to open session:

Adjournment of regular open session:

Langston moved and Cone seconded to adjourn the regular meeting and the vote was unanimous and the meeting adjourned.

LOWRY CITY BOARD OF ALDERMEN

Closed Session

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Draft Minutes

Call to order

On Tuesday, August 18, 2026 the Lowy City Board of Aldermen held a closed session meeting following the regular meeting. The closed session was held session 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 Greg BeVelle called the meeting to order. Board members attending included East Ward Aldermen Charles Cone and Cecil Shehorn, West Ward Aldermen Sean Langston and Clark Patterson. City Clerk John Farrell was requested to stay in the closed meeting.

Police Chief Applicant

On a motion from Langston and a second from Cone, the board unanimously agreed to hire Michael Dawes as police chief starting immediately at a pay rate of $25 per hour.

Adjournment

Langston moved and Patterson seconded to adjourn the closed session and enter open session. A roll call vote was taken with Shehorn, Cone, Patterson and Langston all voting in favor.

 

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