Congratulations to Terry Kathcart, who was honored at last night's Board of Aldermen Meeting. We are grateful for his years of unselfish service to our community.
Our phones are down at City Hall. We realize that this is the last day to pay for utilities. We hope to have this problem resolved soon! Thank you for your patience.
Coffee Hour from 11:30am to 12:30pm on Friday March 28 at The Hive.
Have thoughts on Willard’s future? Ideas for things you'd like to see? Concerns, hopes for our community, or something else you'd like to discuss? Come chat over coffee! This is a great opportunity to share what’s on your mind—whether it’s a challenge you see, an idea you’d love to explore, or just a wish for our city.
Let’s talk, connect, and work together to keep Willard moving forward. See you there!
📢 Public Safety Sales Tax Education Sessions 📢
Join us for an informative session on the Public Safety Sales Tax Ballot Question! 🚔
Chief McClain will explain why this question is on the April ballot and how it will support public safety efforts in Willard.
📅 March 19 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
📅 March 27 | 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
📍 Willard Police Department
This is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn more before Election Day. We encourage all residents to attend! #WillardMO #PublicSafety #StayInformed
!!!SCAM ALERT!!!
We received the following information from a representative with Liberty Electric. They also believe the contractors of concern may be operating in the Willard area. Please protect yourself and contact Liberty directly if you have concerns, Liberty contractors will NEVER ask you for compensation for vegetation removal/remediation.
FROM LIBERTY ELECTRIC:
Electric Service Customers: We’ve been made aware of scammers in our electric service territories claiming they are doing tree trimming or vegetation work on our behalf. Scammers are suggesting immediate tree removal or remediation on customer properties and requesting compensation.
Liberty representatives and approved contractors will never request compensation for vegetation removal or remediation.
Unless there is an immediate emergency involving vegetation, such as a pole that has fallen into a tree, vegetation management projects will be scheduled in advance.
Liberty and our contractors will contact customers at their residence, leave a door card, or by phone, to inform customers of upcoming work.
If you are ever in doubt, here are a few ways you can confirm:
Ask to see a Liberty badge or company ID badge (Approved contractors: Wright Tree Service, Xylem Tree Experts, Kenny Singer Construction, Eocene, or Growth Solutions)
Look for a “Contractor for Liberty” marking on their company vehicle.
Call our Customer Care Team and they will confirm the work.
If you have a question regarding vegetation that is encroaching on lines that extend pole to pole, you can contact our Customer Care Team at 1-800-206-2300. If you have questions about vegetation near your service line (from a pole to your residence), contact a certified tree trimming service.
Dear Willard Water Customers,
To protect the safety and quality of our public water system, the City of Willard is conducting a review to identify customers who may require a backflow prevention device, and to ensure that inspection records are up to date for those who already have one.
What is Backflow and Why Does It Matter?
Backflow occurs when water flows in the reverse direction, potentially allowing contaminants to enter the public water system. A backflow prevention device ensures that non-potable water, chemicals, or other substances do not enter the clean drinking water supply.
Who May Need a Backflow Prevention Device?
A backflow prevention device is required for certain properties where there is a risk of contamination. This includes:
• Properties with an auxiliary water supply (such as a well or irrigation system).
• Businesses or facilities with fire suppression systems (such as automatic sprinklers) or those handling chemicals, wastewater, or process fluids
• Properties with complex plumbing systems or cross-connections that could pose a contamination risk.
Inspection Requirements
To ensure continued protection of our water system:
• Annual inspections are required for all backflow prevention devices.
• Devices must be tested by a certified professional, and records must be submitted to the City of Willard.
• If a device is found to be defective, it must be repaired or replaced promptly.
Next Steps
If you already have a backflow prevention device we know about, we will be reaching out to verify that inspection records are up to date. If you think you may need one but are unsure if you do, or have reported it to us, or if you have any questions or concerns please contact public works (417) 742-5307. Public Works staff are available Monday through Friday 7am till 3pm.
Your cooperation is essential in maintaining the safety of our water supply. Thank you for your attention to this important matter!
Community Update: Streetlight Repairs
Since launching the new reporting tool in mid-December, we have seen eight streetlight issues reported and promptly resolved. This tool has helped streamline communication and improve response times for repairs; 2 lights were repaired within 48 hours!
If you have reported a streetlight issue through the website’s reporting tool and notice it has not been resolved within a couple of weeks, please reach out to me directly at ca@cityofwillard.org.
Streetlight issues can also be reported in person at City Hall or by phone, but we encourage using the online reporting tool whenever possible to ensure faster processing and communication with the power company.
Thank you for helping us keep Willard well-lit and safe!
Great news, Willard! 🎉 We now have enough applicants to move forward with forming the board!
We’re currently reaching out to those who previously submitted interest to confirm they’re still interested. If you haven’t applied yet but would like to be considered, there’s still time! The board will continue to accept applications.
As long as at least five individuals remain interested and we have the right balance of in-town and out-of-town applicants, appointments will be made on March 10th. Those selected will be contacted shortly afterward to set up the first meeting.
If you're interested in serving, we’d love to hear from you—apply today!
We are seeking some additional applications to serve on the newly created Water and Sewer Advisory Board. Applications. We have several applications from out-of-town customers, but only one from an in-town. We need to fill 3 of the 5 positions with in-town residents.
If you are an in-town water/sewer customer, please consider serving on this advisory board. Meeting frequency and times will be established during the first meeting of the board.
For those interested in contributing to the future of Willard’s water and sewer services, volunteer applications are available on the city’s website.
Karl A Menninger famously said, “What’s done to children, they will do to society,”
For decades now, Chief McClain has championed our city’s youth. You can hear the passion in his voice as he talks about the thousands of children that have graduated his DARE programs, and the hundred or so each year who attend the award-winning Police Athletic League boxing program or the related Outdoor Program, Camp Character. He says, “I really just want to help them live the very best lives they can.” And he means it. At a time when headlines blaze with youth violence, vandalism, and drug abuse, our police force is doing what other communities keep striving to do: successfully support the upcoming generation.
When I ask if there’s a simple message that drives all of these volunteer efforts focused on our children, he doesn’t pause. It’s the message he keeps driving home to “his” kids. “The Four Principles,” he says. “Four character traits that will make us better individuals, better members of society. Responsibility, Honor, Self-Control, Discernment.” We talk about them for a while, and I realize that it’s not just children that are needing the hope these traits bring to a society.
To find out more about the Four Pillars and the programs offered through the Police Athletic League, boxing, please visit Willard Police Athletic League (PAL). PAL boxing (ages 8-18) begins March 10, 2025. Applications are available at the Willard Police Department, Willard Intermediate Schools, or applications can be emailed directly if you contact police@cityofwillard.org. You can also donate or volunteer to mentor through their website.
As I walk away, I’m reminded that Nelson Mandela shared: “There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children.”
Even though he didn’t say so, I’m sure Chief McClain would welcome a little help in the present-day business of society soul-saving. Thanks to everyone who volunteers with these programs, or who has in the past. If you see this on social media and have a good experience to share about helping with, or attending these programs, we’d love to hear about it!
📢 Tree Pruning Notification from Liberty Electric 🌳✂️
Liberty Electric has notified us that they will be conducting tree pruning activities in our area this year to help maintain safe and reliable service. We understand that residents can expect to receive a letter from them within the next 7 to 90 days with details about scheduled work.
Additionally, they advised us that wood chips generated during the process will be available to residents upon request when crews are working in your neighborhood.
If you have any questions, keep an eye out for Liberty Electric’s letter or contact them directly. #WillardMO #TreeMaintenance
City hall will open on time tomorrow.
Please anticipate refreezing of melting snow overnight and take appropriate precautions when you travel.
City of Willard – Weather Closure Announcement
Due to ongoing winter weather, City offices will remain closed tomorrow for the safety of our staff and residents.
We recommend folks limit travel as much as possible, if you must travel please take appropriate precautions.
Stay warm and stay safe!
City of Willard – Weather Closure Announcement
Due to the anticipated winter weather, City offices will be closed tomorrow for the safety of our staff and residents.
Public Works has a plan in place to clear the roads, but with the expected snowfall, it will likely take time to see significant results .
To assist in their effort, we ask that residents:
• Keep roadways as clear as possible by avoiding parking vehicles in the street.
• Limit travel as much as possible to reduce hazards and allow crews to work efficiently.
• Stay informed by monitoring news and weather updates, such as those from the National Weather Service.
We appreciate your cooperation and patience as we work to keep Willard safe. If you must travel during the winter weather advisory, please take precautions. Stay warm and stay safe!
https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=MOZ090&warncounty=MOC077&firewxzone=MOZ090&local_place1=Willard%20MO&product1=Winter+Storm+Warning&lat=37.3077&lon=-93.4263
🚨 Important Update on Payment Fees 🚨
Hey Willard residents! We want to give you a heads-up about a change to credit/debit card payment fees, commonly called convenience fees. Our processing company has increased their convenience fee charges from 3% to 6.6%, which means the City must adjust the charges collected when processing credit/debit card payments.
💳 This applies to any credit/debit card payments made online, by phone, or in person beginning around 5pm tomorrow.
💰 Want to avoid extra fees? You can always pay by cash, check, money order, or set up automatic bank draft—these options have no additional charges!
📞 Also, the processing company may add an extra $1.25 for credit card payments by phone and $2.50 for debit card payments by phone.
We know no one likes extra fees, and we appreciate your understanding as we work to keep credit/debit payment options available. If you have any questions or need help setting up an alternative payment method, give us a call at City Hall.
We understand that recent car break-ins have left many in our community feeling uneasy. While Willard remains a safer place than many larger cities, we take every incident seriously and are committed to addressing these concerns. 72% of those arrested for crimes in Willard were non-residents, highlighting the importance of vigilance among members of our community. It is a fact that, even in this era of cutting-edge technology, the best equipment the police have is us—everyday citizens who look out for one another and support the efforts of our officers.
The Department of Justice shared a report stating that small town police departments are often very effective at suppressing crime. The report attributed that effectiveness to: “the high degree of personal interaction among police officers, and between police officers and individual citizens. Police in small towns and rural areas are part of the community.”* Our officers are not just enforcers, they are neighbors, friends, and partners in keeping Willard safe.
The recent rash of car break-ins in our town has a lot of us feeling more vulnerable. Our police force is constantly striving to improve through continued education and upgrading technology. To continue improving our technology and training, we are considering additional funding sources, including a proposed public safety tax.
Citizens in a small town can also help their local police by
• Report suspicious activity promptly to local law enforcement,
• participating in neighborhood watch programs,
• building positive relationships with officers,
• volunteering for community policing initiatives, and
• providing information about potential crimes or criminal elements
Our own Chief McClain added, “Our public safety program has always been strongest when the public and the police joined hands in an earnest, all-out effort to overcome the adversity that criminals and crime bring to our table.”
When crime occurs, it's natural to feel concerned, but we should also recognize the strong foundation that we have in our community. Thank you for being proactive, looking out for your neighbors, and supporting the officers who work tirelessly to protect our town.
Coffee Hour from 11am to Noon on Friday February 28 at The Hive.
Have thoughts on Willard’s future? Ideas for things you'd like to see? Concerns, hopes for our community, or something else you'd like to discuss? Come chat over coffee! This is a great opportunity to share what’s on your mind—whether it’s a challenge you see, an idea you’d love to explore, or just a wish for our city.
Let’s talk, connect, and work together to keep Willard moving forward. See you there!
As promised, in response to a community question here’s the link to our snow clearing protocol: https://5il.co/366z6. Please note that adjustments to the plan may be necessary based on real-time conditions, but we hope this serves as a helpful guide for the community.
We do strongly recommend that if you believe road conditions may be unsafe, the best choice is erring on the side of caution by delaying travel plans or allowing extra time to reach your destination safely.
Have you heard of Chappell Roan, the “Midwestern Pop Princess”? Did you know she grew up in Willard? How do you feel about becoming famous, along with her? The City Of Willard and Springfield area were spotlighted in Chappell’s guest performance on “Carpool Karaoke “. Fans around the world want to know what it is like to live here, and to have this connection to a rising star.
Reporters are already asking:
“How do locals feel about the spotlight being in the area featured in her music video? What do you think of her rise to fame? Do you have any advice for her?”
Now is your chance to have your voice heard. Post your thoughts here, and they may be included in an upcoming story featuring Chappell Roan and us!
The City of Willard will be closed Monday January 20, 2025 for Martin Luther King Day. We will resume regular business hours on Tuesday January 21, 2025 at 8:00am.
