Monett enters agreement for Stockton Lake water in drought conditions

By Jessica Breger Special to the Monett Monthly

The Monett City Council has approved the creation of a new Economic Development Committee for the city. 

The committee has been tentatively formed and potential members selected. All members have met and begun to work on what the committee would do within the city. 

The committee has members for multiple sectors of the city to be represented, including technology and land development.

At its May meeting, the council also approved entering into a sub-agreement with Southwest Missouri Joint Municipal Water Utility Commission to reallocate water storage in Stockton Lake to improve water reserves for the city. 

“This is not because we are running out of water; we are looking at 10-20 years into the future,” said Mayor Randy Burke.

Burke said this move is also for drought protection, as currently Monett’s water supply is dependent on groundwater.

“[That] means if we want to get water, we’ve got to dig wells,” he said, adding that the city has over 20 wells with only 12 producing water.

Burke explained that to drill a well could cost approximately $250,000 for each well.

”What we are going to be doing is spending about $53,000 annually, so that if we have a drought or we have problems with our groundwater, we can bring in from Stockton Lake,” Burke said.

The city is still working on lowering the cost even more by utilizing a multi-use fund with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. 

The Council also took time to recognize their public works department at the May meeting, declaring May 18-24 as Public Works Week. The city held its third annual Public Works Day on May 23.

On Public Works Day, the children of Monett were invited to the Public Works Street Barn to interact with and learn about the heavy equipment used by public works departments every day. 

At the 2024 event, children were asked to submit names for its newest street sweeper. At this year’s event, the name was chosen, dubbed “Lightning McClean.”

Regular City Council Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Monett School District Board Room, with video available on the city’s website the following day.