Leadington Board considers public safety and fire truck purchase
Leadington Mayor Dustin McKinney makes a proclamation declaring July 17 “Leadington McDonald’s Day.” Lisa Brotherton-Barnes
During a packed evening of meetings for the month of July’s business matters, the board and the Leadington Community Development Corporation (LCDC) tackled matters ranging from traffic control to the financing of a new fire truck.
Ordinance amendment discussion
After a question had been considered regarding an appropriate stipend for the use of personal cell phones for city business, board members agreed to draft a new compensation ordinance regarding phones to replace a current version that is at least 50 years old.
The new version will update how employees are compensated for the use of their personal cell phones, with specific language added to distinguish elected officials, who are not classified as employees under city law. It will codify a $50 monthly stipend for those included in the compensation ordinance. Staff included in the compensation plan would include Mayor Dustin McKinney, City Clerk Deborah McCarver, Police Chief Jerry Hicks, and Street/Maintenance Department Director Kenny Horton.
In other action, the board approved Bill 2025-11, an ordinance authorizing the Schaefer-Monks boundary adjustment. The board also approved Bill 2025-12, an ordinance changing the regular monthly meeting date for Board of Aldermen meetings from the second Tuesday of the month to the Third Tuesday of the month.
Chamber updates
Mayor Dustin McKinney presented the chamber report, noting that the ribbon-cutting celebration for the McDonald’s was well-attended. The mayor was one of the speakers at the ceremony, formally welcoming the business to the city. He said that cars were arriving as early as 3 a.m. for a place in line for the drive-thru. In a limited grand opening promotion, the first 100 customers received a gift card good for thirty days of sandwiches or beverages. The Navy veteran who conducted the flag-raising ceremony was Ted Jones, the Police Chief’s uncle.
Navy veteran Ted Jones conducts the flag-raising ceremony at the grand opening of the Leadington McDonald’s. His nephew, Leadington Police Chief Jerry Hicks, stands at attention. Lisa Brotherton-Barnes
Police department updates
Chief Hicks reported 309 total calls during the previous month and said they were beginning to increase. The call breakdown included eight alarm soundings, 87 traffic stops, six animal calls, 10 checks for well-being, 10 disturbances, 65 extra patrols, and five warrant confirmations.
“Motorist assists are up, a lot of those down by the fairgrounds. We’ve been covering some of that area, close to or past city limits. We’ve got a bunch of new warrants in. I want to plan a warrant pickup and start calling the different cities and have them picked up,” he said. Hicks praised the efficiency of the newly implemented online reporting system, which allows citizens to file non-emergency complaints and reports through the city’s website. He noted that the system has helped streamline documentation while freeing up officers for more serious calls.
Street and maintenance
In his street and maintenance department updates, Manager Kenny Horton said that since the opening of the new McDonald’s off Highway 32 earlier this month, the city has seen an uptick in traffic confusion and illegal turns, particularly at a nearby intersection where drivers mistakenly attempt to make a left-hand turn back toward the highway despite clear signage.
According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol officer stationed in the area, such violations are occurring frequently, especially among drivers unfamiliar with the road layout or entering from out of town. “We’ve had people make the turn illegally right in front of law enforcement,” Horton said.
The board directed him to install new directional signage pointing toward Pit Stop, helping guide drivers away from illegal maneuvers and back to Highway 32 safely. Additional roadway striping is planned in the coming weeks as part of a larger effort to address post-opening traffic flow challenges.
Horton noted that the last time signage was installed, it was removed by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) due to its placement within the state-maintained right-of-way. This time, the city will place signage further downhill on locally controlled property to avoid jurisdictional conflicts.
In a separate discussion, the board addressed a public safety complaint involving parked work trucks on Peterson Street near the Pepsi bottling plant. Manager Horton said Officer Cole raised concerns that the vehicles were obstructing the view of the stop sign, making it difficult for oncoming traffic to safely navigate the intersection. City Attorney Larry Thomasson said that while state law already prohibits obstruction of stop signs, enforcement is complicated when visibility issues aren’t codified at the municipal level.
Board members explored several options, including painting curbs or adding “No Parking” striping, but ultimately leaned toward a more enforceable solution: installing a “Do Not Block Stop Sign” warning directly on the signpost. With the signage in place, officers will be able to issue citations.
Cemetery report
During the cemetery report, Mayor McKinney shared the progress made at Woodlawn Cemetery by Greg McWilliams, who provides volunteer cemetery restoration services. The mayor praised the work done by McWilliams to beautify the cemetery and expressed appreciation for his dedication to the project. He said he would like to have McWilliams attend a board meeting to discuss plans for lighting and the front entrance.
Public concerns
During the public comment portion of the meeting, complaints were aired regarding overgrown grass on the Highway 67 overpass, which many residents believe detracts from the city’s appearance—especially with new commercial development drawing more attention to the area.
MoDOT, which is responsible for mowing the overpass, is expected to address the issue after completing a round of work in neighboring Iron County.
LCDC considers fire truck purchase
After the board meeting adjourned, members reconvened for a meeting of the Leadington Community Development Corporation (LCDC), where the city is weighing a $575,000 purchase of a 2025 fire truck from Banner to replace aging equipment. It was noted that the newest truck in the department’s fleet is a 1999 model. Voters approved a half-cent sales tax in April 2024 to fund the project. Collections began in October, and the current amount of available funds is about $57,000; the June deposit was $10,192.
Chief Graham said the new truck features a 1,500-gallon tank with a 1,500-gallon pump. The purchase price includes a seven-year maintenance package that includes oil and filter changes. The truck comes with the necessary light package, but additional options that would be needed include drop-down chains for snow, a siren, and a hydraulic ladder rack.
The manufacturer has given the city 30 days to secure the current pricing, prompting a scramble to determine the best financing method. After that window of opportunity closes, the purchase price would be significantly higher. Beginning in 2026, new truck models are required to have different engines to meet emissions standards, raising the price by more than $200,000; the 2025 model is exempt from that requirement.
One obstacle: the LCDC has a current account balance of just $9.50, making traditional bank loans impractical. In an effort to pursue a USDA Rural Development loan, city officials are working to collect three bank rejection letters, as required by the USDA loan process. Two such rejections have already been obtained.
Alternatives include a lease-to-own purchase through the manufacturer or working with local banks on a low-interest municipal loan. The board reviewed sample interest rates ranging from 4.05% to 5.52% with terms extending up to 15 years.
Some board members expressed concern about overextending the city’s debt obligations. “A 30-year loan for a fire truck is just too long,” one said. Others noted that a 10- to 12-year term could allow the city to pay off the truck comfortably while avoiding excessive interest.
The board tentatively set a follow-up meeting for August 8 at 5 p.m. to vote on the purchase in open session. “We’ll have all the numbers before then,” the mayor said. “Once we approve it, we can move forward.”
