Walnut Grove meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Walnut Grove council agenda included $32 million bond vote, $5.3 million camera contract; minutes not yet published

The Walnut Grove City Council's July 13 meeting agenda featured the largest dollar items of the past two weeks, including a proposed $32 million industrial development bond for the Andy's Headquarters Project and a $5.3 million body-worn camera contract with Axon Enterprise. Minutes have not yet been published for any recent meeting, so outcomes are not confirmed.

City Council — July 13

The council was scheduled to take second-reading votes on several ordinances. Council Bill 2026-165 would authorize up to $32,000,000 in taxable industrial development revenue bonds for the Andy's Headquarters Project. Council Bill 2026-138 would amend the budget by $5,300,000 for a body-worn camera contract with Axon Enterprise. Council Bill 2026-148 proposed a resolution to apply for up to $10,000,000 through the HUD Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing grant. Council Bill 2026-150 would amend the budget by $100,000 for a Surface Transportation Block Grant agreement for regional transportation planning. Council Bill 2026-143 proposed repealing General Ordinance 7002, which rezoned 7.64 acres at 3302 South Maryland Avenue. Because minutes are not yet published, it is not known which items passed.

Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority — July 7

The LCRA was scheduled to vote on three real property tax abatement requests: properties at 300, 304, 308, 312 S. Hampton Ave. and 307, 311 S. Florence Ave. by Hampton Suites, LLC; 823 S. Grant Ave. by Michael Young; and 2003 E. Kearney St. by JAC Commercial, LLC. The agenda also included approval of March 3, 2026 minutes. Outcomes are not confirmed.

Planning and Zoning Commission — July 16

The commission was scheduled to hold three public hearings and one appeal: zoning requests Z-16-2026 for 1006 West Buena Vista Street (Westward Land Co., LLC) and Z-17-2026 for multiple properties on South Kansas Avenue (Adam Stacey); a preliminary plat for Gott's Valley at 3830 East Division Street; and a Short Term Rental Type 2 Appeal at 2458 South Roanke Avenue (Amanda Quint). Postponed items included Vacation 845 and the Preliminary Plat of Horizons at the Ridge 1st Addition.

Building Trades Board — July 9

The Building Trades Certification and Examination Board was scheduled to review 33 applicants across electrical, plumbing, gas fitter, and mechanical licenses, including 5 Master Electrical, 13 Journeyman Electrical, 4 Master Plumbing, 6 Master Mechanical, and 2 Journeyman Mechanical applicants.

Other boards and committees

The Park Board was scheduled July 10 to elect officers for 2026-27 and consider a funding and services agreement with Ozark Greenways. The Airport Board was scheduled July 16 to review an Aviation Enterprises lease agreement along with June 2026 statistical summaries and May 2026 financial data. The Ozarks Transportation Organization Board was scheduled July 16 to consider a $350,000 business line of credit resolution and approve the draft FY 2027-2030 Transportation Improvement Program.

Canceled meetings

Several meetings were canceled: City Council Workshop (July 6), Board of Adjustment (July 7), Mayor's Commission on Human Rights (July 7), Workforce Development Board (July 9), Administrative Review Committee (July 9 and July 16), and State of the Workforce Committee (July 15).

Coming up

• **July 20** — City Council workshop on the Mayor's Commission on Human Rights and review of the July 27 council agenda, followed by a special closed session on legal actions and employee matters.
• **July 21** — Board of Equalization appeal hearings for properties including Barnes Warehouse LLC, St. Johns Health System, and Greens at Springfield. Library Board selects officers and reviews committee reports. Community Involvement Committee continues discussion on a city trash-removal program.
• **July 22** — Board of Equalization continues appeal hearings for Wal-Mart Stores East LP, Lester E Cox Medical Centers, Springfield Kearney Hotel, and others.
• **July 23** — City Council workshop on building development services code updates and missing middle housing.

City Council to weigh $32 million bond for Andy's Headquarters project; recent meetings focused on data centers, budgets, and tax abatement

Walnut Grove's City Council is set to take second-reading votes July 13 on a $32 million industrial development revenue bond for the Andy's Headquarters Project, the largest dollar item on the upcoming council agenda. The same meeting includes votes on a $5.3 million body-worn camera contract with Axon Enterprise and a resolution to apply for up to $10 million in HUD housing grant funds.

Data center applications face 120-day delay

The June 29 City Council agenda included Council Bill 2026-147, an ordinance that would delay processing of applications for data center facilities for approximately 120 days. The bill also directs the City Manager to report on how to address the impacts and demands of data center development. Minutes from that meeting have not yet been published, so the outcome is not confirmed.

A separate June 29 City Council Workshop was canceled. No agenda items were discussed.

Workforce Development Board budget and contracts on the table

The Ozark Region Workforce Development Board met June 30 to consider its 2026-2027 budget, a contract renewal with consultant Bill Skains, and approval of a request for proposals for One-Stop Operator services. Additional items included reclassification of the Branson Job Center, a revised Business Services & Outreach Plan, and a Sub-State Monitoring Policy. The Council of Local Elected Officials also met June 30 to consider a candidate for the ORWDB, the same budget, contract renewal, and RFP items. Outcomes are not yet confirmed.

A July 1 Workforce Development Board meeting was canceled, and a July 9 meeting at the Missouri Job Center, 1660 N Campbell Ave, Springfield, was also canceled.

Tax abatement requests before Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority

The LCRA met July 7 to consider three real property tax abatement requests:

• 300, 304, 308, 312 S. Hampton Ave. and 307, 311 S. Florence Ave., requested by Hampton Suites, LLC
• 823 S. Grant Ave., requested by Michael Young
• 2003 E. Kearney St., requested by JAC Commercial, LLC

The meeting also included approval of minutes from March 3, 2026. Outcomes are not yet confirmed.

City Council holds closed session

On July 2, the City Council held a special meeting that consisted primarily of closed sessions under three provisions of Section 610.021: legal actions and litigation (subsection 1), negotiations with employee groups (subsection 9), and sealed bids and proposals (subsection 12). The public portion was available via Zoom or in the Denny Whayne Conference Room before the closed session began.

Administrative Review Committee considers Chipotle sign

The Administrative Review Committee met July 2 to hold a public hearing on case ARC2026-00030, a request to relocate a detached sign for Chipotle at 3356 S Campbell Avenue. The applicant is Mark Stiles. A July 9 Administrative Review Committee meeting was canceled.

Finance committee reviews housing tax credits, investment policy

The Finance and Administration Committee met July 7 to continue its review of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) process and begin discussions on a new city investment policy and a transit discussion process. The meeting concluded with a closed session on confidential auditor communications.

Building trades board reviews 33 license applicants

The Building Trades Certification and Examination Board met July 9 to consider 33 applicants across multiple trades: 5 Master Electrical, 13 Journeyman Electrical, 4 Master Plumbing, 6 Master Mechanical, and 2 Journeyman Mechanical. Actions included approvals to test, reinstatements, and reciprocations.

Park Board, Art Museum, and Neighborhood Council updates

The Springfield-Greene County Park Board met July 10 to elect board officers for 2026-27 and discuss a funding and services agreement with Ozark Greenways. The Art Museum Budget and Finance Committee met the same day at the Meyer Alumni Center, 300 S Jefferson Ave, to hear a report from the Museum Director.

The Neighborhood Advisory Council met July 8 for updates on the Animal Control Ordinance (Jon Mooney), signs in the right-of-way (Collin Quigley), the Neighborhood Works+ Program (Dane Seiler and Bryan Sayre), and Hear Something Say Something (Cris Swaters and Major Eric Reece). No votes were scheduled.

Coming up

• **July 13 — City Council:** Second-reading votes on the $32 million Andy's Headquarters bond, $5.3 million Axon body-worn camera contract, $10 million HUD housing grant resolution, and repeal of General Ordinance 7002 rezoning 7.64 acres at 3302 South Maryland Avenue.
• **July 15 — Landmarks Board:** Certificate of Appropriateness for 217 West Commercial Street (Decker K. Prop, LLC) and 413 East Walnut Street.
• **July 16 — Planning & Zoning Commission:** Public hearings on zoning requests at 1006 West Buena Vista Street and South Kansas Avenue properties, plus a preliminary plat for Gott's Valley at 3830 East Division Street.
• **July 16 — Airport Board:** Lease agreement with Aviation Enterprises and review of June 2026 statistical summaries and May 2026 financial data.
• **July 16 — Ozarks Transportation Organization Board:** Resolution for a $350,000 business line of credit and approval of the draft FY 2027-2030 Transportation Improvement Program.

Note: All recent meetings listed above are marked "agenda only" — minutes have not yet been published. Items described reflect what was scheduled for consideration, not confirmed outcomes.