Nixa News: October Edition

September 26, 2018

Nixa News | October 2018 Edition

In this month's edition you can read about...

Nixa appoints new City Administrator
Nixa seeks input for improving accessibility
Another Innovation Award for Nixa
Upcoming events
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.

NIXA.COM

As Mayor, I know that there are very few decisions I will ever make which will have as long-lasting and profound an impact on our community as appointing a city administrator. Knowing that, City Council has taken the responsibility of this search process very seriously. We were not just searching for a new City Manager, but a City Leader, someone who will shape the future of our community for years to come.

And we definitely took our time to deliberate. In fact, we looked so hard that we performed not one but two national searches over the course of the last 9 months. We received applications from over 100 highly qualified individuals from across the country. We considered 25 semi-finalists, then conducted interviews with 12 finalists. While any of the finalists would have been a fine addition to our community, there was one candidate who stood out above the rest. Council agreed it was a clear choice.

So what were we looking for?

We looked for professionalism, honesty and high ethical standards.

We looked for someone who is innovative, who has a vision for our future.

We looked for a relationship builder, who invests in their employees.

We looked for someone who could be a coach and mentor to our staff while further developing a culture of trust.

And we looked for someone with a passion for this community and for our city.

In the end we have found someone who exemplifies all these qualities -- and we found that person much closer to home than we might have expected.

I am excited to announce that city council believes Jimmy Liles, our current Chief of Police, is the proven leader we have been looking for.

Jimmy Liles has been with the City of Nixa for 19 years. He began his service to the city as a Police Officer in 1999. His intelligence, work ethic, and natural leadership ability helped him rise through the ranks of Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant and finally Chief of Police. Jimmy sharpened his management skills over that term as he absorbed knowledge from staff across the city’s departments, while also a graduating from the Missouri Police Chief’s Command College.

As Chief of Police, Jimmy has demonstrated his ability to think outside the box, seeking innovative, data-driven solutions to the challenges facing his department. He not only finds great ideas to implement, but also encourages his team to improve on those ideas. He is fiscally responsible, stretching limited tax-dollars to meet our ever-growing needs through the use of grants and community partnerships.

Mr. Liles is a mentor and a coach to his team at the Police Department. He has built a family environment of trust and support while upholding the highest standards of professionalism and community service. He shares council’s belief that our city is blessed with staff who are experts in their fields. He understands that the role of a City Administrator is to be the coach, while his staff are the players on the field. We are confident in his ability to guide our team together towards the goals in our strategic plan. Mr. Liles has a vision for our community and has demonstrated his ability to follow through on that vision.

On top of all that, Jimmy’s love for Nixa is deep and his roots here are strong. He has extensive knowledge of and strong relationships within our community and he is ready to lead Nixa into our next era of growth.

Sincerely,

Mayor Steele

P.S. I also want to take this opportunity to thank city staff and leadership for stepping up to ensuring the city continued to operate at a highest level during this search. Their teamwork and achievements over the last year are a testament to their professionalism and dedication to the Nixa community.

I especially want to thank Doug Colvin for his outstanding leadership as Interim City Administrator. Doug has shown dedication and passion for this organization and this community. He continued his amazing work as Director of Nixa Utilities and Public Works, while taking on the additional responsibilities of Interim City Administrator.

Going forward, Mr. Colvin will be serving as Assistant City Administrator as well as Director of Nixa Utilities and Public Works. Council has also appointed Police Major Joe Campbell to serve as Interim Chief of Police.

Meet City Administrator Jimmy Liles

At the Nixa City Council meeting on September 24th, Nixa City Council appointed Jimmy Liles to become the fourth city administrator in Nixa's history, going back to when the position was first created in 1988.

Mr. Liles says, "I am very honored and humbled that Council and the Mayor have selected me as the next City Administrator. I want to thank Interim City Administrator Doug Colvin for his strong leadership and dedication to this organization as Council conducted their search for a new city administrator. I also want to thank all of the members of the Police Department for their hard work and dedication which they have shown during my 19 years with the department. Everything we accomplished, we accomplished as a team. I am looking forward to working with all of the talented staff across the city in my new role. I am very excited to be able to lead this team as we take Nixa to the next level."

The Nixa community is invited to meet Mr. Liles during a public reception to be held at Nixa City Hall on October 2nd, from 4pm to 6pm. Light refreshments will be provided.

The Baffler

This perplexing puzzle will keep you bewildered, befuddled, and bemused.

Q: Why can't you trust the law of gravity?

The answer to The Baffler is at the bottom of the newsletter.

Working For You

ADA Compliance and Accessibility Study

Do you have concerns about accessibility in Nixa? Maybe you noticed a sidewalk which was too steep for a wheelchair, or some other accessibility issue with a public facility. We need your input.

The City of Nixa will hold a public meeting on Thursday September 27th at Nixa City Hall from 4:30pm to 6:30pm.

The purpose of this meeting will be to get feedback from the community about their concerns so we can make Nixa more accessible to everyone.

You may also offer your comments by calling 417-725-2353 to speak with Nixa Street Department Superintendent Jeff Roussell, or send an email to jroussell@nixa.com.

Over the coming months, you may also see people out studying sidewalks and public facilities around Nixa. They may be on foot or in a small ATV. They have equipment to analyze sidewalks, ramps, and other public facilities to help the City of Nixa assess what we need to do to make our community more accessible.

Another Innovation Award for Nixa

The City of Nixa has been awarded the Missouri Municipal League’s Innovation Award in the Large City category for the second year in a row!

Considering the City of Nixa also received an honorable mention in the 2015 Innovation Awards, Nixa has now been recognized for it's innovativeness 3 out of the last 4 years.

This year, we won for partnering with Gardner Capital and MC Power to develop Missouri’s largest solar farm, and last year, we won the same award for developing the Community Alternative Sentencing Court (CASC).

On September 18, 2018, the Innovation Award was presented to Nixa Mayor Brian Steele and Director of Nixa Utilities and Public Works Doug Colvin at the Missouri Municipal League Conference which took place at the Branson Convention Center.

“Nixa continues to punch above its weight and aggressively pursue innovative solutions for our progressive community,” says Nixa Mayor Brian Steele. “These innovation awards are proof that the other cities across Missouri admire the innovative spirit of the Nixa municipal government! As Mayor, I am proud to work with city staff who constantly seek innovative solutions to the challenges which many communities face, and who follow through on those ideas to the betterment of our entire community. We strive to set the pace as one of the most innovative communities in not only Missouri, but the entire nation, and these awards are a sign that we are making progress towards that goal. I especially want to acknowledge the work of retired City Administrator Brian Bingle as well as the Director of Nixa Utilities and Public Works Doug Colvin for their efforts in partnering with Jay Wasson, Gardner Capital, MC Power and others to bring this project to Nixa. Not only does the Nixa Solar Farm reduce our carbon footprint, but it saves Nixa Utilities $2.5 million dollars, meaning we can keep rates low at a time when many electric utilities continue to raise rates!”

Learn more about the MML Innovation Awards here .

Exceptional City Staff

Employee Spotlight

Sergeant Shawn Clark has been with the Nixa Police Department since 2005. During his tenure at the department he has filled a variety of roles.

Shawn began his career with a passion for DWI investigation and sought out training as a drug recognition expert. He undoubtedly made the community safer by aggressively enforcing DWI law and helping his fellow officers perform evaluations on suspected drug impaired drivers.

Later, Shawn was selected to serve as the K9 officer for the department. Shawn and canine Jannie focus their work on drug investigations. Shawn’s dedication to the K9 program is evident. He and Jannie have excelled in competitions at annual training events, winning first place multiple times.

Shawn is also a member of the department SWAT team. His knowledge and experience are a great asset to the unit.

Recently, Shawn was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was assigned to the Support division as the lead training officer and professional standards investigator. In this role, Shawn will pursue another passion - training and mentoring younger officers. His skill, knowledge and expertise will certainly help him shape the current and future officers of this department.

City Events

50th Anniversary Celebration for the Nixa Electric Utility

Your family will have a blast plus you'll learn a piece of fascinating Nixa history on October 6, 1pm-4pm at Rotary Park. Help us celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Nixa Electric Utility.

You'll enjoy free snacks and family fun including bounce houses, Safety Town, and more. There will also be some special guest speakers to tell the surprising story behind Nixa's Electric Utility.

Electronics Recycling Day

Got old electronics you need to get rid of?

The City of Nixa is partnering with Complete Electronics Recycling to host an electronics recycling collection event on Saturday, October 13 from 9am - 12pm at 1111 W. Kathryn St.

The event is open to all residents, businesses, churches, schools and organizations in Nixa and the surrounding area.

PCs, laptops, cell phones, kitchen appliances, and lots of other electronic equipment will be accepted free of charge except for Televisions and CRT Monitors ($20 fee applies). A more detailed list of recyclable items can be found at RecyclingMore.com/items-accepted/

The following items will NOT be accepted at the event, but can be recycled at the Complete Electronics Recycling facility located at 2935 W. Chestnut Expressway in Springfield during normal business hours (9am - 5pm Mon-Sat).

- Alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, hearing aid, etc.)

- Fluorescent / CFL / HID Lamps

- Appliances w/ Freon (Dehumidifiers / Refrigerators / Air Conditioners)

- Large Appliances (Washers / Dryers / Dishwasher / Hot Water Heater / Water Softeners / etc.)

For more information about this event, please contact Tim Andrews at 417-864-4415 or Tim@RecyclingMore.com

Spooktacular

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.

Coffee with a Cop

Spend time meeting Nixa Police Officers at the Nixa McDonald's from 9am-10am on October 3rd, National Coffee With A Cop day.

Thanks to Nixa McDonald's for inviting our department out for this event. Feel free to stop by to ask questions or let us know how we are doing. Nixa Police want to know how we can serve you better as a department.

Art Classes

Intro to Art held Tuesdays:

October 9 - November 13.

Pre-K thru 2nd grade Intro to Art from 6:15pm to 7:00pm.

3rd thru 6th grade Intro to Art from 7:15pm to 8:00pm.

Studio Art held Thursdays:

October 11 - November 15.

Studio 2D: 6:15pm to 7:00pm

Studio 3D: 7:15pm to 8:00pm

Location: The X Center

Cost: Members $30, Nixa Residents $35, Non-Residents $40

Registration ends October 5th.

Kids Day Off

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!

Winter Recreational Basketball

Registration for Winter Recreational Basketball will end October 3rd. The program is open to boys and girls ages 3 years old (must be 3 by November 4th) to 6th grade.

Games will be played on Saturdays. The season will run from Saturday, November 3rd to December 15th.

The fees for the program are as follows: Members $40, Nixa Residents $45, Non-Residents $53. *Late registration from October 4th - October 7th, with a $10 additional late fee.

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: September 26, 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.

Yoga in the Park

Dates:

Saturday, Sept. 29, 6pm - 7pm

Saturday, Oct. 13, 6pm - 7pm

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.

The Xchange

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.

The Great Shake Out 2018

Did you know Missouri was the epicenter of one of the most powerful earthquakes in U.S. history? The New Madrid quakes of 1811-1812 were so strong, they say the Mississippi River flowed backwards. Do you know what you would do if the New Madrid quake were to repeat?

The City of Nixa is registered to participate in the world's largest earthquake drill on October 18. Your family, business, or school can participate too. Just visit ShakeOut.org/register and you'll see information on how you can prepare for a large earthquake.