The Mexico City Council welcomed a new council member and named a new mayor at its regular meeting April 14.

Ron Ray was elected to the council on April 8, garnering 645 votes, and was sworn in at the meeting. He faced no challengers, and replaced Chris Williams on the council. 

Steve Haag was elected by council as mayor, with Chris Miller being approved as chairman pro tem. Council member Vicki Briggs was the previous mayor, serving two years.

Haag thanked Williams for his service. He thanked Briggs for her service as mayor and said she did a “great job,” and said he appreciated their support for his election as mayor.

“Hopefully, I can do as well as the past mayors I’ve been on here with,” Haag said. “I’ll try and get out there and do that service that you all did.”

He also congratulated Ray for his election.

“We look forward to working with you,” Haag said.

Council approved certification of the election results at the meeting.

In other developments, council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to sign a three-year contract with Bartlett & West Inc. of Jefferson City and Westhues Architecture LLC of Columbia for on-call architectural services. The agenda memo stated that the city has retained “on-call” consultants for a number of city projects, mostly to support engineering needs. In addition to engineering services, city officials determined there is a need for an “on-call” professional service for architectural support, with such services including design of structures encompassing Mexico’s wastewater, stormwater, or transportation systems, structural assessments, building code compliance/support and various other municipal architectural work. 

City engineer and public works director Drew Williford said two companies were approved so if one is busy, as seems to be the case with a lot of engineering and construction companies these days, there is a backup company to contact for help.

Council also approved:

• A request for final approval of G&M Subdivision submitted by Nathanael Surveys & Designs, on behalf of owners Monica Johnson and Samuel Robinett. The proposed final plat was provided to the city on April 3, with this subdivision located at the northwest corner of the West Love Street and North Western Avenue intersection, according to an agenda memo. There are currently two lots at this location with the northern lot containing two residential structures, and city officials said it is the intent of both parties to subdivide this lot, so that there will only be a single residential structure on each future lot.  
• A resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with Lumix Electrical Inc. of Fulton for the 2025-2028 on-call electrical services contract. The agenda memo stated the city has a need for an on-call electrician to support diagnostic and electrical work at the Mexico Wastewater Treatment Plant, such as replacement and programming of Programmable Logic Controllers, replacement of lift station control panels, generator diagnostic and repair, diagnostic work on street lighting, coordination with Ameren of Missouri when applicable and other various tasks as needed. The memo further stated this contract will function as an “on-call” basis, in which the contractor must be able to respond to emergency work both day and night. The city seeks a new maintenance agreement on a three-year term. 

In an email to the Ledger, Williford said Lumix will work on electrical issues at the treatment plant as well as other work outside the plant as needed, such as electrical issues with the downtown street lights and troubleshooting control panels at lift stations in the collection system.

• A resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into an agreement with the Presser  Arts Center to assist in providing services to citizens. The 2024-2025 budget allows for the city to contribute $10,000 to the Presser Arts Center for providing programs and activities to citizens. The city has provided this level of assistance to the center since 2002. 
• Emergency repair funds totalling $10,875 to Plan B Development for repairs to the sanitary sewer collection system. The repairs were made to the Sanitary Sewer Collection System in the 500 block of South Jefferson Street. 
• Fran Robley to serve on the Mexico-Audrain Library Board, filling an unexpired three-year term, expiring in June. She also was approved to serve an additional three-year term expiring June 2028.