Carthage City Council adopts supplemental budget adjustment; Ray West resigns effective August 1
The Carthage City Council adopted Resolution 2125, a supplemental budget adjustment affecting four city funds, on a 9-0 vote at its July 14 meeting. The council also accepted a $3,030,788.13 claims report covering multiple city funds and approved the sale of a larger road grader and purchase of a smaller grader. Council member Ray West submitted his resignation, effective August 1.
City Council
The council approved several personnel actions. The Assistant Parks and Recreation Director's salary grade was changed from L to M, and the Assistant Public Works Director's salary grade was changed from L to M with the employee placed on step 5. Both motions carried.
Ordinance 26-43, amending open-burning rules, passed 9-0. The council authorized the mayor to sign a letter of support for the Myers Park Villas II project. No vote was required for West's resignation.
Public Works Committee
On July 7, the committee approved the sale of the current road grader and purchase of a smaller, newer model, an action the City Council later ratified. The committee forwarded an overhead electric easement agreement to the City Council and forwarded a senior housing permit fee waiver request to the Council contingent on more information.
Budget Ways & Means
On July 13, the committee voted 4-0 to forward FY 2025-2026 budget adjustment resolutions to the City Council. Members also discussed transitioning to a priority-based budgeting model and requested research on how other cities implement it.
Planning, Zoning & Historic Preservation Committee
On July 6, the committee approved a blight declaration for 103 E 3rd Street on a 3-0 vote with one abstention. A facade restoration request for 116-118 W 4th Street was tabled 2-1 until the next meeting. Members also reviewed and adjusted the Historic District Guidelines matrix.
Tree Board
The Tree Board approved its previous meeting minutes 3-0 on July 7. Discussion covered potential headstones for Liberty Tree locations, ash tree removal projects, and a volunteer offer for Central Park. No action was taken on a Fair Acres memorial donation request. The ash tree removal project remains pending follow-up with the Parks Director.
Agendas only (minutes not yet published)
The Carthage Public Library Board met July 14 to consider revising bylaws on gifts of corporate stock, approving an invoice from Randy Dubry Construction, and a resolution regarding political subdivision election changes. The Library Gardens received a Carthage in Bloom 1st place award for best business gardens.
The Insurance/Audit and Claims Committee met July 14 to consider changes to section 2-160 on resignation or discharge, a salary change for the Assistant Parks and Recreation Director, and a job description for the Assistant Public Works Director.
The Carthage Water & Electric Board met July 16 with disbursements totaling $6,506,911.81 on the agenda, along with bids for on-call excavation services, completion of the Economic Development Park Access Road, and Resolution 2026.08 authorizing a loan to the CEDC.
Coming up
- **July 20 — Public Safety Committee:** Will consider a request to partially close 2nd Street between Grant Street and Howard Street on October 1, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for a McCune-Brooks Healthcare Foundation fundraiser, including food truck parking. The committee will also discuss an anonymous donation to the Fire Department.
- **July 21 — Carthage Redevelopment Corporation:** Board and officer elections, plus review of a redevelopment plan for the Burlingame Chaffee Building at 136 E. 4th Street.
- **July 21 — Civil War Museum Advisory Board:** Will discuss officer positions and leadership following President David Armstrong's resignation, effective June 23, 2026.
- **August 3 — Planning, Zoning & Historic Preservation Commission:** Public hearings on three Certificates of Appropriateness, including the tabled facade restoration request for 116-118 W 4th Street, plaster installation over brick at 141 Grant St, and a new awning at 416 Lyon St.