Nixa News | November 2018 Edition
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In this month's edition you can read about...
- Fall events in Nixa
- BBB Trust Award presented to Nixa Finance Director
- A letter from the Mayor
- City employee spotlight
- And more!
As always, you can find much more information at Nixa.com and engage with us on our official social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor.
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Every day I am reminded of what an amazing community we all get to call home. Over the last couple of months I have had the privilege of representing Nixa at several local events - from school functions and cub scout meetings to major community events.
On September 10th, I was able to speak at the annual One Nation Under God 9/11 memorial celebration put on by the Nixa Ministerial Alliance. This event brings our community together to celebrate those who serve and protect us, and our nation, as first responders. Coming just after the loss of Deputy Roberts from Greene County, we were reminded how fragile we all are, and how truly brave those individuals are who dedicate their lives to protecting us all.
We held the 50th anniversary celebration for Nixa Utilities on October 6th. Our key note speaker, Sam Hamra, was Nixa’s City Attorney in the late 60's and told the amazing story of how our past community leaders changed the course of Nixa History. One of the things which sets Nixa apart as a special community is the fact that our predecessors, Sam Hamra and Jay Wasson among them, had the wisdom to invest in the development of the city’s water, wastewater, and electric utilities.
And coming up November 1st, I will be honored to once again represent the City of Nixa at the Nixa State of the Community Dinner. That event allows organizations and leaders from across our community to show the successes of the past year, along with plans for the future.
I thank all of you that attended these events with me - and I hope the rest of you can take the opportunity to get out to one of our future events. Below are just a few of the upcoming events that make Nixa such a great community!
10/26 - Spooktacular (X-Center)
10/27 - Creepin' at the Crossroads (Downtown Nixa)
11/1 - State of the Community Dinner (Nixa Junior High)
11/10 - Veteran's Day Celebration (X-Center)
12/1 - Caroling at the Crossroads & Mayor's Tree Lighting (Downtown Nixa)
12/2 - Nixa Christmas Parade
12/7 - Nixa Chamber of Commerce Banquet (Green House 2 Rivers)
Sincerely,
Mayor Steele
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This perplexing puzzle will keep you bewildered, befuddled, and bemused.
Q: What can you fill a room with that takes up no space?
The answer to The Baffler is at the bottom of the newsletter.
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Trevor Hale has been with the Nixa Street Department since the spring of 2017. You've probably seen him out and about in a highlighter yellow shirt, helping our city look clean and well-kept.
Trevor was one of the employees in the Street Department who were instrumental in the renovation last winter of the Finance Department offices inside City Hall.
His willingness to learn, hard work ethic, and cooperation on any project make him a valuable asset to the department. Trevor is being promoted from Building & Grounds Maintenance to Utility Worker, and we expect he will continue to excel in his new position.
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Nixa Electric crews help Tallahassee recover from Hurricane Michael
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Nixa Electric Utilities sent four linemen, a bucket truck, and an auger truck to Florida to help the City of Tallahassee recover from Hurricane Michael.
Our crews travelled with a group of 47 lineworkers with the Missouri Public Utility Alliance.
When they arrived, 96% of Tallahassee's electric distribution system was down. By the time they headed home, 95% of the city's customers had power again. Good work guys!
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Finance Director honored with BBB Trust Award
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Congratulations to Donna Swatzell, City of Nixa Finance Director, on winning the 2018 Trust Award from the Better Business Bureau of Southwest Missouri! (Photo from left to right: Barb Blevins, Stephanie Ewing, Amanda Hunsucker, Donna Swatzell, Mayor Brian Steele, Deanna Allen, Jenni Gerhauser, Laurie Wilkerson.)
The award was presented at the
BBB of Southwest Missouri
Torch Awards ceremony. Mrs. Swatzell and the rest of the city's finance team work very hard to ensure that tax dollars spent by the city on behalf of its citizens are tracked and reported correctly. Donna ensures the city follows ethical accounting practices and demonstrates stewardship and transparency.
Mrs. Swatzell and her team compile a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report each year so that anyone can see where the city's money comes from and where it goes. The quality of these reports goes so far above and beyond the minimum reporting requirements, that the team has been honored for the last two years with Certificates of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Financial Officers Association.
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Director of Nixa Utilities earns Distinguished Service Award
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Doug Colvin, Assistant City Administrator - Director of Nixa Utilities and Public Works (pictured right) has been honored by the Missouri Public Utility Alliance with the "John 'Tom' Tinsley Distinguished Service Award". This is the highest honor bestowed by the MPUA to one individual annually.
The award is given to those who have provided distinguished service to the Alliance organizations for at least 10 years and made contributions to the betterment of the community, the region, and the state or nation.
Mr. Colvin says, “I am honored to be recognized with this prestigious award from the MPUA. I am humbled by this award because the accomplishments we have made as a city are a result of the teamwork and contributions of Nixa City Staff across departments, and especially in the Electric, Water, Sewer, Public Works and Utility Billing Departments. I also wish to thank Mayor Steele, City Council, and retired City Administrator Brian Bingle for their support and leadership as we have endeavored to improve Nixa Utilities over the years.”
Since joining the City of Nixa in 2004, Mr. Colvin has led the Nixa Electric Utility in improving its reliability through the development of a number of transmission and distribution projects, resulting in Platinum level recognition as a Reliable Public Power Provider by the American Public Power Association. He has improved the financial standing of the city through the successful sale of the Nixa electric transmission system, enabling the utility to cut debt and work on a cash basis. He has advanced Nixa's commitment to clean, cheap, renewable energy by developing a partnership with Gardner Capital and MC Power to open the largest utility solar farm in the state of Missouri (at the time it came into service), an accomplishment which earned the City of Nixa its second consecutive Innovation Award from the Missouri Municipal League. Not only that, the Nixa Solar Farm deal saves the Nixa Electric Utility an estimated $2.5 million over the course of the 25 year contract. Mr. Colvin has also led the Nixa water utility and street department to work on a cash basis.
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Spooktacular is presented by Mac Dental!
Join Nixa Parks, Nixa Police, Nixa Fire District, and local businesses for the annual Halloween Spooktacular. The event will be held on Friday, October 26th from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
Please bring a canned food item for donation. Wear your costumes and Trick-or-Trick at The X Center. In addition to candy, there will be lots of fun activities, including laser tag, inflatables, crazy hair, and more!
Call 725-5486 to reserve a booth space for your business.
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Creepin' at the Crossroads
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The Downtown Revitalization Committee is hosting it's 2nd Annual Creepin' at the Crossroads on Saturday, October 27th on S. Main Street.
Activities include:
- Live music featuring the Mark Chapman Band
- Food trucks
- Trick or Treat
- Costume contests for dogs, kids, and adults
- Scary movies upstairs at Main Event Center
- Halloween games
- Face painting
- Beer garden
- Sky-divers
- Photo booth
- Local craft vendors
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Dates: October 26th, November 6th, and November 21st
Time: 6:30 am to 6:30 pm
Location: The X Center
Open To: Kids ages 5 to 6th Grade
Cost: Members $15, Nixa Residents $20, Non-Residents $25
Please send a sack lunch and two snacks each day. Register early—space is limited!
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You are invited to join us as we honor all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces at the Nixa Veteran's Day Ceremony. The ceremony will be held beginning at 9am on Saturday November 10 at the Veteran Memorial in front of The X Center. Patriotic music and ceremony will be followed by coffee and treats inside The X Center. This year marks the centennial commemoration of the end of WWI, known as "The Great War" and "The War to End All Wars".
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The Update is a great way to learn more about what's happening in Nixa and have your questions answered while enjoying lunch. Each month, we bring a different guest speaker. These events give senior citizens an opportunity to meet and interact with the city's leadership, voice their concerns, and stay informed!
UPCOMING DATES: October 31, November 28, December 27.
Anyone can enjoy lunch at the Nixa Senior Center with a suggested donation of $3.50 for those 60+ and $6.00 for those under 60. Learn more at the
Nixa Senior Center
website.
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State of the Community Dinner
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Join us for the 2018 State of the Community Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. at Nixa Junior High.
Come to a night of information and community building as Nixa Public Schools, the City of Nixa, the Christian County government, the Nixa Fire District, and the Nixa Chamber of Commerce bring information to the community as well as participate in a Q&A session to keep the community informed and engaged on the future of Nixa and the successes and challenges we face.
Tickets are $15 each and includes your dinner. Ticket price will increase to $20 on Oct. 20.
XLT will provide FREE childcare, which will include pizza and juice box.
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Date:
Saturday, Nov. 3, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location: McCauley Park (Beneath the Willow Tree)
Cost: FREE
This class is open to all community members and all fitness levels. Bring your towel, mat, and water and come ready to relax in an outdoor setting to be guided through a 60-minute yoga session by a certified yoga instructor.
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Nixa Parks and Recreation presents: The XChange, Learning Opportunities for Professional Growth.
This educational series focuses on increasing communication, resolving conflict, and avoid drama in the work place.
Speaker and author, Lauren Schieffer, guides participants in utilizing effective communication tools to create a better workplace environment.
Seating is limited—please register early! To register, call 725.5486, visit The X Center, or send an email to
info@nixaparks.com
. Each class is $50 per participant.
The last class being offered this year is titled "Leading out of drama". It will be held on November 8th, 9:00 am - 11:00 am at The X Center.
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Registration for Winter Recreational Basketball will begin October 22nd and end December 5th.
The program is open to boys and girls ages 3 years old (must be 3 by January 5th) to 6th grade.
Games will be played on Saturdays. The season will run from Saturday, January 5th - February 9th.
The fees for the program are as follows: Members $40, Nixa Residents $45, Non-Residents $53. *Late registration from December 6th - December 9th with a $10 additional late fee.
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NASP: Afterschool Archery Program
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Date: Mondays and Wednesdays
December 3rd - 12th
Time:
Beginner: 3:45 pm - 4:35 pm
Open Shoot: 4:45 pm - 5:35 pm (Must have completed the Beginner Class)
Location: The X Center
Open To: 4th - 12th Grade
Cost: Members $12, Residents $15, Non-Residents $18
Registration ends the Thursday prior to the session start date.
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Write to:
Santa Claus
c/o Nixa Parks and Recreation
P.O. Box 395
Nixa, MO 65714
Please include an important event or accomplishment for 2018, a wish list, mailing address, email address, parent first and last name, and phone number. In order to receive your letter from Santa, he must receive yours no later than December 12th, 2018.
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Nixa's 64th Christmas Parade
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On Sunday, December 2nd, Nixa will hold its annual 64th Christmas Parade! This year’s theme is ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’. The parade will start at 2:00 pm.
Leaving from The X Center, the parade will travel west on North St., turn right on to Main (north) to Aven and turn left (west), take Aven to Fort St. (south), south on Fort St. to Wasson (west), west on Wasson to McCroskey (north), north on McCroskey to Lorene (East), east on Lorene to Main St. (north), north on Main St. to Short St. (east), East on Short St., to Frank (south), South on Frank to Kyle (East), East on Kyle to the back driveway of the Nixa Jr. High.
Parade participants: registration will end on Friday, November 30th.
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Date: December 21st - January 2nd
Monday - Friday; with the exception of Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Location: The X Center
Open To: Ages 5 years old - 6th grade.
Cost: Members $15, Nixa Residents $20, Non-Residents $25
Registration begins October 30th and ends December 19th.
Please send a sack lunch and two snacks each day.
Register early, space is limited!
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More Nixa Parks Events, Programs, & Sports Leagues
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FYI: For Your Information
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Sign Up for Text Alerts and
E-Notifications
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Sign up here
for more frequent e-mail notifications. You can select to only receive notifications for the topics you're interested in.
Get emergency alerts on your phone by downloading the Swift 911 Public app.
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The City of Nixa has job openings for various city departments!
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CITY CONTACT NUMBERS:
City Hall: 725-3785
Police: 725-2510
911 Non-emergency and Animal Control: 582-1030
Nixa Utilities and report an outage: 725-3229
Public Works: 725-2353
Parks: 725-5486
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The solution to your scalp scratchin'.
Q: What can you fill a room with that takes up no space?
A: Light.
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Nixa City Hall | 417-725-3785 | CityHall@Nixa.com | Nixa.com
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