Ash Grove alderman Wagner resigns during meeting

New mayor, two aldermen sworn in following unexpected board departure
 
There was even more turnover than expected amongst the Ash Grove Board of Aldermen, Monday night as Ward 1 Alderman Bill Wagner resigned his position just prior to the swearing in of a new mayor and two other aldermen.
As his reason for leaving, Wagner cited backlash he received— in person and on Facebook— after putting up political signage on the vinyl fence in front of Hamilton Cemetery.
“With everything else that I’ve received in phone calls I feel it’s in my best interest to resign and effective tonight I am,” Wagner told the surprised audience. He then immediately stood up and left the room. Wagner’s eventual replacement will be appointed by the mayor and accepted by the board.
Including Wagner’s departure, the board is now down to only one member who was on the board this time last year, Troy Watts. Fortunately, Watts—who has been on the board for more than a decade and is perennially mayor pro-tempore—maintains a wealth of institutional knowledge moving forward with new members and a new mayor.
Prior to Wagner’s announcement, Mayor Les Gardner thanked everyone for his time as mayor and said he considered the experience an honor. Alderman Jerry Kane, Ward 1, who lost his seat in the April 5 election to Ty Thornton, made no such speech. Thornton, new Ash Grove Mayor Caleb Smith and Watts were all then individually sworn in by City Clerk Melissa Mau.
New business
During the actionable business of the body, the three remaining aldermen voted 3-0 to:
- Allow the Ash Grove FFA Chapter to hold the annual FFA Calf Fry June 4 at Ash Grove City Park.
- Allow the mayor to enter into an intergovernmental cooperative agreement with Greene County for paving for 2022. It was stated that the board would prioritize the paving of Maple Lane.
- Update overtime protocol for city employees.
- Amend the city’s vacation policy in the city handbook.
- Sign an agreement with Empire Street Light Service.
- Donate a family pass to the swimming pool to the Ash Grove Chamber of Commerce.
Timeout for basketball goal issue
By a 2-1 voted, Thornton dissenting, the board also voted to table the second reading of an ordinance regulating obstructions in city streets and rights of way, specifically aimed at basketball goals in city streets. City attorney Mel Gilbert recommended the board hold off on the matter until all the seats on the board were filled.