Novak named mayor pro-tem

The Nevada City Council voted 3-0 to elect Jayne Novak as mayor pro-tem to replace Joyce Wilson, who resigned from the city council on June 23 after moving outside the city limits.

The council elected Wilson as mayor pro-tem when it reorganized after April's election.

The council has been operating short-handed since May, when Tim Wells requested and was granted a leave of absence from the council until mid-August. Wells is providing counseling services at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Okla., to military families. When Wells requested the leave he told the council that under the terms of his agreement he would not be able to come back to Nevada to council meetings.

With Wilson's resignation, that leaves the council in the position of being unable to conduct any business that requires a four vote majority to approve, such as hiring or firing a city manager or passing an emergency ordinance. Since Wilson had more than one year left of her council term, the City Charter requires that a special election be called to fill the vacancy. Had there been less than one left of her term the Charter would have allowed the council to appoint a person to fill the vacancy until the next scheduled council election.

In a related matter, the council gave final approval to a special ordinance calling a special municipal election for Nov. 3 to elect a replacement for Wilson. The filing period for the single seat opens at 8 a.m., July 14, and closes at 5 p.m., Aug. 18. Any qualified Nevada resident wishing to file for the office may call Julie Lewis, city clerk, or stop by the City Hall, 110 S. Ash St., Nevada, Mo. 64772.

The council also approved the final draft of the advertisement for a new city manager that will be published in the August Missouri Municipal League magazine as well as the August issue of several other magazines targeting city managers. Applications will be accepted until Sept. 30.

"Then we can review the applications and if necessary extend the deadline," council member Jayne Novak, said.

In other business the council:

* Voted 3-0 to pass on first reading a special ordinance approving the payment up to $500 for an easement for street improvements on South Spring Street, just south of the Country Club.

* Voted 3-0 to approve annual liquor licenses for intoxicating liquor by the drink for: AmVets Post No. 131, 903 S. Subway Blvd.; AmVets Post No. 131, 613 S. Alma St.; American Legion Post No. 2, 702 E. Cherry St.; Casa Azteca, 117 N. Centennial Blvd.; Cherry Street Bistro, 127 E. Cherry St.; Cherry Street Grill, 113 W. Cherry St.; Fraternal Order of Eagles, 3313 E. Austin Blvd.; Nevada Country Club, 200 Country Club Dr.; Nevada Elks Lodge, 510 N. Centennial Blvd. and Modern Day Veterans Social Club of Southwest Missouri, 705 N. Osage Blvd.

* Voted 3-0 to approve annual liquor licenses for intoxicating liquor in the original package for: Cash-n-Dash, 401 N. Osage Blvd.; Cash-n-Dash, 1518 E. Austin Blvd.; Cash-n-Dash West, 1502 W. Austin Blvd.; Quality Convenience Store, 1112 E. Austin Blvd.; Ramey's Supermarket No. 28, 500 E. Cherry St.; Wal-Mart Supercenter No. 34, 2250 Lincoln Ave. and Woods Supermarket, Inc., 1407 W. Austin Blvd.

* Voted 3-0 to approve the annual packaged malt liquor licenses for: Fastrip No. 15, 402 W. Austin Blvd.; Fastrip No. 36, 1811 N. Ash St. and Tim's Convenience Store, 320 N. Osage Blvd.

* Voted 3-0 to approve malt liquor by the drink licenses for: Buzz's BBQ LLC, 1402 W. Austin Blvd.; Capri Bowl, 1701 N. Osage, Blvd.; and Pizza Hut, 1100 E. Austin Blvd.