Festus Appoints New Council Member, Reviews Major Projects and Hears Ameren Energy Update

The Festus City Council welcomed a new member, approved several equipment and infrastructure expenditures, and heard a presentation from Ameren Missouri during its Monday, October 26 meeting.

The meeting included the appointment of Susan Harrison to the vacant Ward 2 council seat, a discussion initiated by Councilman Rick Belleville concerning legal expenses and the city's approval procedures, and an Ameren presentation addressing electricity demands associated with large customers, including data centers.

Council members also approved new regulations for electric bicycles and scooters, advanced downtown street improvements, authorized public safety purchases, and approved the upcoming Ladies Night festival.

A work session held before the regular meeting focused on improvements to public restrooms throughout the city's parks.

Susan Harrison Appointed to Ward 2 Council Seat

The Festus City Council voted to appoint Susan Harrison to the Ward 2 council seat, filling a vacancy that had existed since April.

Mayor Sam Richards presented Harrison's appointment, which received five votes in favor, none opposed, and two abstentions. Councilman Rick Belleville and Councilman Dan Moore abstained.

Harrison was administered the oath of office during the meeting and took her seat with the council.

Her appointment returns the City Council to its full membership as Festus continues to address development proposals, infrastructure needs, and other municipal matters.

Belleville Requests Separate Consideration of Legal Bills and Meeting Minutes

The meeting opened with a procedural discussion after Councilman Rick Belleville requested that portions of the consent agenda be removed for separate consideration.

Belleville identified the September 28 council minutes and legal expenses totaling $38,157.65 as items he wanted discussed and voted on separately.

Under the city's agenda procedures, individual council members may request the removal of items from the consent agenda. The consent agenda is ordinarily used to approve routine business collectively without separate discussion of each item.

Belleville's questions concerning the September minutes focused on a previous subdivision plat approval and whether similar administrative approval procedures might apply to future permits associated with the proposed data center.

City Attorney Brian Malone explained that he could not determine the legal standards applicable to future applications before those applications had been submitted and reviewed.

Belleville also questioned the amount of the city's legal expenses and how invoices are evaluated before payment.

Malone explained that legal expenses have increased because of ongoing litigation and other matters requiring legal services. He stated that legal expenses specifically associated with the data center are submitted to developer CRG for reimbursement under existing agreements.

Finance Director Michelle Vaughn described the city's invoice review process, explaining that expenses are assigned to the appropriate departments and reviewed through the city's financial and administrative procedures.

During the exchange, Mayor Richards questioned the need for additional discussion of expenses already reviewed by city staff. Belleville responded that he wanted procedures to be explained publicly.

Belleville voted in favor of both the legal bills and the September 28 minutes, joining the other council members in approving them. Neither item was rejected or amended as a result of its removal from the consent agenda.

Ameren Missouri Discusses Energy Demand, Customer Protections, and Rush Island

Ameren Missouri representatives provided a presentation covering the company's electricity generation plans, large-load customers, and construction projects at the former Rush Island power plant.

Jim McNichols, Ameren Missouri's government affairs representative for Jefferson and St. Charles counties, explained how the utility plans to meet future demand while operating under regulations established by the Missouri Public Service Commission.

A significant portion of the presentation concerned large electricity consumers, including data centers.

McNichols discussed Missouri Senate Bill 4, adopted in 2025, and the resulting requirements for customers with substantial electricity demands.

According to Ameren, customers requiring 75 megawatts or more are subject to additional conditions intended to protect other utility customers from bearing the costs of infrastructure required to serve those facilities.

Those requirements include paying the full cost of infrastructure necessary to connect to the electrical grid, entering long-term service agreements of 12 to 17 years, and providing financial guarantees.

Large customers are also required to pay minimum monthly demand charges based on at least 80 percent of their requested electrical capacity, even when their actual usage is lower.

McNichols explained that major projects must undergo engineering and electrical grid reviews before service agreements are finalized.

The presentation also covered Ameren's long-term energy planning, including changes to its generation portfolio as older coal-fired facilities are retired and new generation sources are developed.

Rush Island Construction Update

Ameren representatives also discussed ongoing projects at the former Rush Island Energy Center.

The site is being developed to accommodate both battery energy storage and natural-gas electricity generation.

The planned battery energy storage installation will have a capacity of 400 megawatts and use Tesla Megapack technology.

Ameren described the facility's planned safety features, including monitoring equipment, thermal detection systems, and measures intended to reduce risks associated with battery operations.

Construction work associated with the natural-gas generation project is also progressing, including foundations, underground infrastructure, and related equipment.

City Approves New Electric Bicycle and Scooter Regulations

The council approved a bill updating city regulations governing bicycles, electric bicycles, electric scooters, skateboards, and other similar transportation devices.

The ordinance establishes rules addressing where different classes of electric bicycles and other devices may operate, age restrictions, required safety equipment, and enforcement procedures.

City Administrator Ben DeClue explained that the updated ordinance also addresses portions of the city's existing code that had effectively prohibited some skateboards and scooters.

Council discussion focused heavily on young riders and concerns about electric motorcycles and other motorized devices being operated on public streets.

Belleville suggested postponing the ordinance until the November 9 meeting to allow additional public education and discussion with parents and young riders.

Councilman Moore expressed concerns about delaying safety requirements, citing complaints from residents and instances of children operating motorized devices in traffic.

Council members also discussed distributing educational materials through the city's website, social media, schools, and school resource officers.

The measure ultimately passed with Belleville joining the other council members in voting for its approval.

Downtown East Main Street Improvements Move Forward

The council approved Bill No. 4907, authorizing an agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for improvements to East Main Street.

The project covers the downtown corridor between Brierton Lane and North Mill Street.

Planned improvements include concrete pavement replacement, 10-foot-wide ADA-accessible sidewalks, streetlights, stormwater infrastructure, water infrastructure replacement, and pavement striping.

City staff explained that the project has received funding approval through the East-West Gateway Council of Governments and is continuing through the design process.

The project is intended to modernize the corridor while improving pedestrian accessibility and replacing aging infrastructure.

Council Approves Equipment and Public Safety Purchases

The council considered several equipment purchases for city departments.

Two proposed 2027 Ford F-150 purchases, one for the Street Department and another for the Water Department, were withdrawn from consideration.

City staff explained that additional discussion was needed regarding the types of vehicles best suited for department operations. The proposed purchases are expected to return during a future work session.

Other purchases moved forward:

• Larry G. Crites Memorial Park lighting: Solar Lighting, including lights for parking areas, sidewalks, intersections, and recreation facilities.
• Police Department vehicles: Three 2027 Dodge Durangos from Lucas Smith Dodge.
• Police Department radios: Five portable radios to replace aging communications equipment.
• Fire Department rescue equipment: Several rescue tools to replace aging equipment used for vehicle and machinery extrications.

Additional Ordinances Address Fire Protection and City Administration

The council approved several additional measures concerning city operations.

The council authorized an intergovernmental agreement with the Jefferson County R-7 Fire Protection District concerning recently annexed property.

Under the agreement, the city will compensate the district as fire protection responsibilities transition following annexation, with payments declining over a five-year period.

The council also amended the residency requirements for the city administrator.

Rather than broadly eliminating the requirement, the ordinance allows the council to issue individual waivers on a case-by-case basis.

Under the approved approach, any residency waiver remains specific to the individual receiving it rather than automatically applying to future city administrators.

The council approved a revenue-sharing agreement with Jefferson County concerning proceeds from the county's one-half-percent sales tax for capital improvements to publicly maintained roads.

Further Approvals

The council also approved a resolution, authorizing an engineering task order for improvements associated with the city's Water Master Plan.

The work includes engineering and design services for approximately 3,100 linear feet of new eight-inch water mains at multiple locations.

The improvements are intended to replace deteriorating infrastructure, improve water pressure and flow, and provide additional connections within the city's water distribution system.

City staff explained that the projects address residential water system needs and include locations involving railroad, creek, and highway-area crossings.

The council also approved Resolution No. 4906.5, calling the city's next general municipal election for Tuesday, April 6, 2027, and directing the City Clerk to publish the appropriate candidate filing notices.

Ladies Night Festival Scheduled for November 7

Downtown Festus will welcome the return of the Festus Main Street Association's Ladies Night festival on Saturday, November 7.

The City Council approved the association's request for the event and the associated downtown street closure.

The sixth annual Ladies Night will take place from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., moving to an earlier schedule than previous years.

Council members expressed support for the event, which has become a recurring part of the downtown Festus calendar.

Park Restroom Improvements Presented During Work Session

Before the regular meeting, Interim Parks Director Shain Dollar updated council members on efforts to repair and improve public restrooms throughout the city's parks.

Dollar reported that improvements have already been completed at Sunset Park and that additional facilities need painting, plumbing work, damaged partition replacements, and other maintenance.

A major concern involves restrooms at Larry G. Crites Memorial Park that have been closed for approximately two years because of sewage pumping problems.

The city has budgeted $120,000 for a redesigned pumping system, with additional funds allocated for broader restroom improvements.

Council members also discussed potential security cameras, automatic door locks, and future water and sewer extensions to support additional facilities.

Dollar indicated that work would continue as contractors and equipment become available.

Residents Address Council During Public Comments

Residents also spoke during the meeting about several local issues, including the proposed data center, environmental and noise concerns, the city's approval procedures, and government transparency.

Other speakers raised concerns regarding public infrastructure, accessibility, property conditions, and communication between residents and city officials.

Public participation surrounding the proposed development continues to be a recurring feature of council meetings.

Looking Ahead

The October 26 meeting brought several matters forward for Festus, from filling the Ward 2 council vacancy to approving equipment purchases and advancing infrastructure projects.

With Harrison joining the council, new transportation safety regulations taking effect, and additional work moving forward on downtown streets, utilities, and public facilities, city officials will continue managing a combination of immediate municipal needs and longer-term development decisions.