Joplin council advances fiber network, pay policy and infrastructure projects

JOPLIN, Mo. — The Joplin City Council advanced plans for another citywide fiber-optic network Monday, approved changes to employee promotion pay and authorized more than $780,000 in airport, road, software and engineering expenses.

The council also directed city officials to consider stronger protections for residents whose property is damaged by utility contractors.

The council approved on first reading a right-of-way agreement allowing Lumos Fiber of Missouri to install and operate communications equipment on city property.

Lumos representatives said the privately funded network is expected to eventually reach homes and small businesses throughout the city. The company is working through a joint venture with T-Mobile and could later consider expanding into surrounding areas.

Company representatives did not provide a construction start date, saying the timeline will depend on city permits and coordination with other infrastructure projects.

Lumos said residents will receive mailed notices and door hangers before construction begins in their neighborhoods. Company vehicles and equipment will also be clearly marked, and daily construction information will be provided to city departments.

The company pledged to track complaints, property restoration and other construction issues. Representatives also said Lumos plans to hire local contractors and workers when possible.

A Lumos representative said the company offers symmetrical 2-gigabit service for about $70 per month in some markets, but Joplin prices have not been announced.

The right-of-way agreement was one of two ordinances advanced on first reading. The council also voted 8-1 to advance revisions to the city’s employee promotion policy. The official agenda listed both measures as first-reading ordinances.

The promotion proposal would increase the standard raise for an employee moving from an hourly position to a salaried position from 10% to 15%. The change would apply throughout city government, including police officers and firefighters who could lose opportunities to earn overtime after a promotion.

The policy would also allow salary adjustments when a supervisor earns less than a subordinate. The supervisor would be moved to a pay step at least $1 above the highest-paid employee under that person’s supervision.

Concerns were raised that the policy does not place a cap on those adjustments. Examples discussed during the meeting showed that some supervisors could potentially receive raises of more than 30% or 40% because of differences in longevity and overlapping pay ranges.

The council also unanimously approved a consent agenda containing several contracts and development measures.

The largest expense was a nearly $309,510 engineering agreement with Olsson for the Davis Boulevard Improvements project.

The council also approved a $247,932 annual payment to SHI/Microsoft for support of the city’s financial software and related systems. The expense was included in the city’s current budget.

Another measure authorized a $184,665 contract with Blevins Asphalt to mill and overlay part of the general aviation terminal parking lot at Joplin Regional Airport.

Other approved consent items included an agreement to provide sanitary sewer service to property east of Coyote Drive and north of Interstate 44 in Newton County.

The council also approved the final plat of the Prospect Village Addition near Geneva Avenue and 20th Street and rezoned property at 2601 S. Joplin Ave. from neighborhood commercial and single-family residential uses to two-family residential use.

The city Health Department was also authorized to accept nearly $39,954 through a contract with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Council members called for changes to the city’s agreements with utility companies after hearing from a resident whose sewer line was damaged during a cable installation.

Three cables were reportedly installed through the sewer line in February, leading to $4,850 in repairs. The resident said compensation was delayed for more than four months despite the contractor acknowledging the damage.

City agreements require contractors to make prompt repairs, but officials said the contracts do not establish specific deadlines for resolving claims or reimbursing homeowners.

The council directed the city manager, city attorney and other staff members to examine stronger contract language. Possible changes could include claim-processing deadlines, clearer communication requirements and a larger city role in investigating damage.

The meeting also included economic development updates from the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce and the MOKAN Partnership.

Chamber officials reported that the city issued 67 new business licenses during the first six months of 2026. Restaurants and retailers accounted for more than 40% of the new licenses.

Momentum Bike Park recorded about 72,000 visits from 27,400 individual visitors. Joplin is scheduled to host a UCI Pump Track World Championships qualifying event Aug. 15 and 16, making it one of four host locations in the United States.

MOKAN officials also outlined several potential development projects, including a renewable battery operation, a transportation facility expected to begin operations in 2027, a $40 million agricultural investment and a possible food manufacturing and distribution facility.

City officials also received an annual cybersecurity update detailing work completed since a public cyber incident in 2021. The cybersecurity and Chamber presentations were listed as the two formal presentations on the council agenda.

During a simulated phishing campaign in April, 225 of 579 employees opened a test email, 16 clicked the simulated malicious link and four entered information. Employees who failed the test received additional training.

The city has also developed an incident-response plan and plans to conduct exercises designed to test how departments would respond to a future cyberattack.