Ashland meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Ashland boards to weigh A&W site plan, patrol vehicle equipment

Three Ashland boards met or are scheduled to meet in the past two weeks, but none have published minutes yet, so all items below remain pending action. The most consequential item on the agendas is a site plan for a new A&W restaurant, followed by a resolution to buy patrol vehicle equipment.

Parks & Recreation Board — Aug. 10

The board's agenda listed no new or old business. The only substantive item was a discussion of upcoming events. The rest of the agenda was procedural: roll call, approval of minutes, and adjournment.

Planning & Zoning Commission — Aug. 11

The commission was set to consider a contingent site plan approval for a new 2,143-square-foot A&W fast-food restaurant with a drive-thru at 601 E Broadway. The plan combines three parcels, including 514 and 600 Redbud Lane, and calls for removing existing structures, a required landscape buffer, and stormwater detention. Staff recommended approval subject to property transfer and replat.

The agenda also noted that a traffic assessment found no short-term improvements, and that the city does not currently accept payment-in-lieu. MoDOT restricts sidewalk along E Broadway, and no sidewalk is planned on Redbud Lane due to right-of-way constraints. The commission also received the Community Development Director's monthly report.

Board of Aldermen — Aug. 18

The board's new business consisted of two resolutions: one authorizing the purchase and installation of patrol vehicle equipment, and another regarding A&W (resolution number not listed). The agenda also included approval of the Aug. 4, 2026 meeting minutes and monthly reports from the Mayor, City Administrator, Police Chief, and other department heads.

No dollar amounts or vote tallies were listed for any of these items.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days.

Ashland board considers property tax rate, A&W site plan; park improvements discussed

The Ashland Board of Aldermen held a public hearing and introduced an ordinance to set the 2026 property tax rate at 0.1754 per $100 of assessed valuation, based on a preliminary total valuation of $119,364,105. The board also considered ordinances on meeting procedures, mutual aid agreements, and Main Street parking restrictions. Minutes from the Aug. 4 meeting have not yet been published, so no vote tallies are available.

Property tax rate

The board’s agenda included a public hearing and first reading of an ordinance setting the 2026 property tax rate. The proposed rate is 0.1754 per $100 of assessed valuation, with a preliminary total valuation of $119,364,105. The agenda also listed Ordinance No. 1566 amending the meeting and procedures chapter, Ordinance No. 1567 authorizing the mayor to sign an MPUA Mutual Aid Agreement, and Ordinance No. 1568 amending parking rules on Main Street. A resolution accepting a Vance Brothers pavement preservation proposal was also on the agenda.

City Park improvements

Both the Board of Aldermen and the Parks and Recreation Board met Aug. 5 to discuss the City Park Master Plan and how to proceed after a design services proposal for Phase 1 of the Ashland City Park Improvement Project failed on April 7, 2026. The master plan was adopted April 1, 2025. Phase 1 estimated costs are $792,276 for a retention basin and $2,868,052 for a playground/comfort station. Total estimated construction costs for all master plan projects are $8,575,159. Funding discussions included grants, private donations, and voter-approved debt. The Parks and Recreation Board also discussed up to $1 million in long-term debt via the Park Sales Tax.

A separate Parks and Recreation Board meeting on Aug. 10 had no new or old business listed, with the main item being a discussion of upcoming events.

A&W site plan

The Planning and Zoning Commission met Aug. 11 to consider a contingent site plan approval for a new 2,143-square-foot A&W fast-food restaurant with a drive-thru at 601 E Broadway. The plan combines three parcels, including 514 and 600 Redbud Lane, and includes removing existing structures, a required landscape buffer, and stormwater detention. Staff recommends approval subject to property transfer and replat. A traffic assessment found no short-term improvements needed, and the city does not currently accept payment-in-lieu. MoDOT restricts sidewalk along E Broadway, and no sidewalk is planned on Redbud Lane due to right-of-way constraints.

Upcoming board meeting

The Board of Aldermen is scheduled to meet Aug. 18. The agenda includes a resolution to authorize the purchase and installation of patrol vehicle equipment and a resolution regarding A&W. The board will also approve minutes from the Aug. 4 meeting and receive monthly reports from the mayor, city administrator, police chief, and other department heads.

Coming up

• **Board of Aldermen** – Aug. 18, 2026: Patrol vehicle equipment purchase, A&W resolution, monthly reports.

Ashland board introduces 2026 property tax rate, reviews park plans

The Ashland Board of Aldermen held a public hearing and introduced an ordinance setting the 2026 property tax rate at 0.1754 per $100 of assessed valuation, based on a preliminary total valuation of $119,364,105. The board also took up ordinances on meeting procedures, mutual aid agreements, and Main Street parking. Separately, the board and the Parks and Recreation Board discussed next steps for City Park improvements after a design proposal failed earlier this year. Minutes for these meetings have not yet been published; the following reflects agenda items and discussions.

Property tax rate and other ordinances (Aug. 4)

The Board of Aldermen introduced an ordinance to set the 2026 property tax rate at 0.1754 per $100 of assessed valuation. The rate is based on a preliminary total valuation of $119,364,105. The board also considered:

• Ordinance No. 1566, amending the meeting and procedures chapter.
• Ordinance No. 1567, authorizing the mayor to sign the MPUA Mutual Aid Agreement.
• Ordinance No. 1568, amending parking rules on Main Street.
• Resolution 2026-31, accepting a Vance Brothers pavement preservation proposal.

These items were listed on the agenda; no votes were reported.

City Park improvements discussed (Aug. 5)

The Board of Aldermen and the Parks and Recreation Board met jointly to discuss the City Park Master Plan, adopted April 1, 2025, and how to proceed after a design services proposal for Phase 1 of the Ashland City Park Improvement Project failed on April 7, 2026. The project is located at 399 North College Street.

Phase 1 estimated costs are $792,276 for a retention basin and $2,868,052 for a playground and comfort station. Total estimated construction costs for all master plan projects are $8,575,159.

Funding strategies discussed included grants, private donations, and voter-approved debt. The Parks and Recreation Board also discussed using up to $1 million in long-term debt via the Park Sales Tax.

Coming up

• **Parks & Recreation Board** – Aug. 10, 2026. No new or old business is listed; the agenda includes a discussion of upcoming events.
• **Planning & Zoning Commission** – Aug. 11, 2026. The commission will consider a contingent site plan approval for a new 2,143-square-foot A&W fast-food restaurant with drive-thru at 601 E Broadway. The plan includes combining three parcels (including 514 and 600 Redbud Lane), removing existing structures, a landscape buffer, and stormwater detention. Staff recommends approval subject to property transfer and replat. The meeting also includes the Community Development Director's monthly report.

Ashland meetings: Police vehicles, sidewalk project on agenda; utility charge ordinance up next

Ashland's Board of Aldermen and Parks & Recreation Board held three meetings in the past two weeks, but minutes have not yet been published for any of them. What follows is based on the agendas posted for each meeting — not confirmed outcomes.

Board of Aldermen — July 7

The agenda for the July 7 regular meeting listed several items for discussion and potential action:

• Purchase of two Dodge Police Pursuit Durango vehicles.
• An engineering services contract with Great River Engineering for TAP-9901 sidewalk and pedestrian crossings.
• Purchase of an 84-inch diameter metal culvert for E. Loy Martin Road repairs.
• An ordinance to amend city meeting procedures.
• An ordinance regarding Main Street parking changes.
• Appointment of Tony Ash as Ward One Alderman.

The agenda also included discussion of wastewater facility updates and potential parking changes on Main Street. No vote tallies, dollar amounts, or outcomes are available because minutes have not been published.

Parks & Recreation Board — July 13

The Park Board agenda listed three items:

• Naming of the dog park.
• Special event fee schedule.
• Upcoming events discussion.

No details on proposed names, fee amounts, or event dates appear in the agenda. Minutes have not been published.

Board of Aldermen — July 15 (Special Meeting)

The Board scheduled a special meeting to discuss a goal-setting retreat and strategic planning session with senior management consultant Scot Wrighton of LeaderGov.

The agenda also included a vote to enter closed session under Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 610.021(3) to discuss personnel matters involving hiring, firing, discipline, or promotion. The agenda stated that any actions taken during the closed session would be reported before adjournment. No report of those actions is available in the data provided.

Coming up — July 21

The Board of Aldermen is scheduled to meet July 21. The agenda includes:

• **Council Bill No. 2026-32**: An ordinance regarding property owner responsibility for delinquent utility charges. This item would determine whether landlords or property owners are held responsible for unpaid utility bills at their properties.
• **Resolution 2026-31**: A proposal from Vance Brothers, LLC for pavement preservation.
• **Resolution 2026-32**: Naming the dog park area in Ashland Community Park as "Tuff Memorial Park."
• **Ordinance No. 1566**: An amendment to Chapter 2 regarding meetings and procedures.
• **Ordinance No. 1567**: Authorization for the Mayor to sign an MPUA Mutual Aid Agreement.

The utility charge ordinance is the item most likely to affect residents directly, as it could shift financial responsibility for unpaid utility bills. The pavement preservation resolution and the dog park naming are also on the agenda.

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*Note: All three recent meetings listed above are marked "agenda only (minutes not yet published)" in the city's records. This roundup reflects what was scheduled for discussion or action, not what was decided. Residents can check the City of Ashland's official website for published minutes, which will confirm any votes, dollar amounts, and outcomes.*