Houston’s 2024 financial audit received an unmodified/clean opinion from KPM CPAs & Advisors of Springfield, council members heard Monday. 

Jon Cummings, representing the firm, stated that this is “the best result.” He said the opinion means the city’s financial statements are materially correct and would not mislead a reader.

Cummings did note that a lack of segregation of duties is an internal control weakness of the city. It’s common in municipalities of a similar size, he said. Cummings also stressed the importance of cybersecurity diligence. 

The council will vote on approval of the annual report at the next meeting.

BID FOR COLUMBARIUM APPROVED

The council approved an $18,160 bid from Bill Ramsey, Texas County Monument, for a 48-niche columbarium that will be gray marble with black marble doors. 

“We definitely recommend that we go with Bill,” said Ward I Alderman Fred Stottlemyre. “He’s local and I think he’s going to give us this unit at cost.” 

The city is responsible for pouring an 8’ x 20’ concrete slab at Pine Lawn Cemetery. Plans to pour the slab this fall will give it time to cure before the columbarium is ready in four to six months. The slab will support two columbariums, as the city intends to add another in the future. The city aims to put it between the flags and the pavilion. 

Ramsey suggested that engraving on the doors include name, date of birth and date of death, for uniformity and space. The city decided against ordering capsules with the niches to allow families to use their capsule of choice. 

OTHER ITEMS

• Lloyd Wells, administrator, said that Toth and Associates of Springfield plans to speak to the council Nov. 17 concerning a utilities rate study. In July, the council approved a $20,000 bid from the firm for the report, which was estimated to take four months. Results will inform the council’s rate decisions. 
• John Sheehan spoke to the council about maintenance of several city signs. He also requested the city allow small businesses to set up in front of their buildings for free during festivals. 
• Wells discussed progress on several nuisance violations concerning downtown buildings. He also discussed work to chip seal Westwood Drive and clean out a culvert on Oak Hill Drive.
• Nine certificates of deposit (CDs), totaling roughly $1 million, were renewed for 12-month, 4 percent interest rate terms at Security Bank of the Ozarks. Eight were already at the bank, one was previously at West Plains Bank.
• The city received one application for a social media intern – a high school junior.
• Street asphalting is expected to begin the first week of October, said Wells. Work is in progress to get deer caution signs on Oak Hill Drive.

The meeting adjourned into closed session at 6:36 p.m., after one hour and six minutes.