News Flash

Katie Towns named Springfield-Greene County Health Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECity Manager Jason Gage has formally selected Katie Towns as director of health for Springfield-Greene County effective July 18. Towns has served as acting director the past five months, following the departure of Clay Goddard. She ha...

City applying for $2M in CARES Act CDBG funding to expand homeless and housing services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The City of Springfield plans to apply for up to $2 million of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-CV) funds from the Missouri Department of Economic Development. CDBG-CV ...

2021 Birthplace of Route 66 Festival canceled due to COVID-19 concerns

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

As a partner in the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival, the City of Springfield is canceling the 2021 Birthplace of Route 66 Festival due to COVID-19 concerns. The 2021 festival was planned for Aug. 13-14. A surprise kick-off concert tha...

Mayor McClure encourages patriotic act of getting vaccinated

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Springfield Mayor Ken McClure wishes the citizens of Springfield a Happy Independence Day.

 “On this fourth of July weekend, as we prepare to honor our nation’s 245^th birthday, I am reminded of the precedent set by the command...

Mayor Ken McClure denounces vandalism at Bartley-Decatur Neighborhood Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mayor Ken McClure denounces the recent vandalism at Bartley-Decatur Neighborhood Center, issuing this statement:

“The vandalism at Bartley-Decatur Neighborhood Center does not reflect Springfield values. We value a culture of inclusion...

June 28 City Council meeting summary

View the summary.

View a video recording of the meeting.

Springfield Fire Department wishes everyone a safe and happy Independence Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

As our community prepares to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday, the Springfield Fire Department wants to share the following reminders for a safe celebration. 

Fireworks are prohibited in the city limits of the City of Spri...

Honda Gold Wing’s annual Wing Ding returns to Springfield June 29-July 3

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Springfield will host an estimated 5,000 Honda Gold Wing enthusiasts for the Gold Wing Road Riders Association’s 42^nd annual Wing Ding event June 29-July 3. The event was rescheduled from 2020, when it was canceled due to CO...

Join Councilman Abe McGull for coffee, conversation on the fourth Friday of each month

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Zone 2 City Councilman Abe McGull wants to have coffee with you.

“A consistent citizen dialogue keeps me grounded in the hopes and dreams of the citizens I serve as their elected representative in Zone 2,” he says. “Turning a citizen o...

C-Street stakeholders to meet June 15 to discuss proposed TIF-funded projects

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Staff from the City of Springfield’s Economic Development office will host a public input meeting 5-6:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 15 at White River Brewing Company, 505 W. Commercial Street, for Commercial Street businesses, resi...

Volunteers needed for local boards and commissions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

The City of Springfield is currently taking applications for a variety of boards and commissions.

Boards and commissions with one or more vacancies include:

Board Of Public UtilitiesHas the power and duty to take charge of and...

Mayor Ken McClure thanks community for brave, innovative, critical work in annual address

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Springfield Mayor Ken McClure reflected on the past 14 months in Springfield during his annual State of the City Address this morning, thanking the community for its brave, innovative and critical work in the battle against COVID-19.

&...

Mayor to present annual State of the City Address Thursday morning

MEDIA ALERT

Mayor Ken McClure will present the annual State of the City Address starting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday at Evangel University’s Robert H. Spence Chapel as part of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s Good Morning Springfield! program. If you c...

City facilities to reopen to the public June 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

In accordance with City Council’s May 18 vote to repeal the City’s COVID-19 regulations effective May 28, all City facilities, including the Busch Municipal Building and Historic City Hall, will fully reopen to the...

Mayor withdraws proclamation of civil emergency as COVID-19 regulations end

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mayor Ken McClure will withdraw the Sixth Proclamation of Civil Emergency effective at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, May 27 to coincide with the 12:01 a.m. Friday, May 28 effective date for the repeal of the ordinance containing the City’s COV...

Judge rules in Galloway rezoning case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Greene County Circuit Court Judge David Jones reached a decision in favor of a developer Monday in a lawsuit filed by Elevation Enterprises, LLC. The developer sued the City of Springfield and City Council to block an election asking ...

City Council repeals community COVID-19 restrictions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City Council unanimously repealed an ordinance containing the City’s COVID-19 regulations, (8-0 with Councilman Richard Ollis absent), effective at 12:01 a.m. May 28, 2021. A requirement for outdoor masks was lifted, effective immedia...

Pedestrian safety program SGF Yields wins innovation award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SGF Yields, the City’s pedestrian safety program, has been named a 2021 Innovation Award recipient by the Missouri Municipal League. 

“The Missouri Municipal League is happy to announce that the City of Springfield project SGF...

Mayor renews civil emergency order through June 10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

As a housekeeping item in order to ensure the city has needed flexibility in the coming weeks, Mayor Ken McClure issued the 10th Renewal of the Sixth Proclamation of Civil Emergency, effective at 11:59 p.m. May 11 through 11:59 p.m. J...

FY2021-2022 City budget workshops begin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City Manager Jason Gage hosted the first in a series of budget workshops Tuesday. Gage and Finance Director David Holtmann first presented an overview of the remaining financial picture for the City’s current 2021 fiscal year, which r...

City Council amends COVID-19 regulations to remove masking requirement when outdoors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

At tonight’s meeting, City Council unanimously passed a one-reading emergency bill to amend the City’s current COVID-19 regulations to remove the requirement for individuals to mask when outdoors, except when around large crowds.

On Ap...

Road to Recovery: Getting SGF in the Green

Springfield-Greene County COVID-19 Dashboard update for the week ending April 30 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Springfieldians may be able to look forward to a return to normalcy this summer, but only if the seven-day case average and number of COVID-19 p...

Taj Suleyman named City of Springfield Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Taj Suleyman has been named the City of Springfield’s first Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. He will join the City’s Leadership Team May 17.

Suleyman has extensive career experience leading diversity, equity and inclusion...

Birthplace of Route 66 Festival ON in 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

After having to cancel the 2020 Birthplace of Route 66 Festival due to the pandemic, festival organizers the City of Springfield, Aaron Sachs & Associates, KY3/KSPR/CW, Downtown Springfield Association and West Central Neighborhoo...

Certain occupancy restrictions lifted as city moves into ‘yellow’ phase of Road to Recovery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Effective Friday night April 16 at 11:59 p.m., the City will officially transition to what is referred to as the ‘yellow’ phase of the Road to Recovery. Springfield City Council took formal action calling for this transition at their ...

Clean Green Springfield registrations surpass 1,000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The City of Springfield’s Clean Green initiative has attracted more than 1,000 individuals signing up to assist with trash pickup and beautification during the months of April and May. Individuals, families, various groups and local b...

Mayor renews civil emergency order through May 11

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

As a housekeeping item in order to ensure the city has needed flexibility in the coming weeks, Mayor Ken McClure issued the Ninth Renewal of the Sixth Proclamation of Civil Emergency, effective at 11:59 p.m. April 11 through 11:59 p.m...

City, county to celebrate 9-1-1 during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week April 11-17

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The second week of April is set aside nationally to honor those that provide the voice to our emergency services across our country. Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 Emergency Communications will honor their telecommunicators April 11-...

City Council votes to lift occupancy restrictions April 16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

At its April 5 meeting, Springfield City Council voted to remove COVID-19 occupancy restrictions, allow buffet dining and special events under 500 people, moving the community into the “yellow” phase of the Road To Recovery Plan, effe...

Forward SGF Speaker Series continues with panel on trends in housing choice

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Join the City of Springfield and Forward SGF Comprehensive Plan consultants John Houseal and Brandon Nolin, along with a panel of local housing experts, at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 15 for “Transforming Our Community: Trends That Influen...

Clean Green Springfield initiative kicks off this spring

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Springfield is a beautiful city, but due to the effects of the pandemic and other factors, it noticeably needs some love.  

The City of Springfield is launching “Clean Green Springfield,” a series of City-wide cleanup activiti...

City Council to consider resolution detailing next steps in Road to Recovery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

At tonight’s meeting, City Council will consider a resolution that provides the framework provided by the Springfield-Greene County Health Department for safely reducing the City’s COVID-19 restrictions in a phased step-out plan. Tune...

Mary Lilly Smith to retire from City of Springfield

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mary Lilly Smith, an institution at the City of Springfield, formally announces her retirement after 38 years of public service with the municipality. Her last day in the office will be April 30. Smith’s name is synonymous with that o...

Danny Perches hired as City’s Development Project Facilitator

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The City of Springfield has named Danny Perches to the new position of development project facilitator, effective March 29. This position will be an extension of the City Manager’s Office and will regularly review the status of all de...

City Council considers next steps on Road to Recovery

Today—nearly one year since our first COVID-19 case in Greene County—Springfield City Council began discussions of what comes next in the Road to Recovery. 

With case counts trending downward, hospitalizations decreasing and vaccination rates incr...

City seeking feedback for future of downtown Springfield

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

The City of Springfield is currently working with the community to develop the Downtown Plan for the Forward SGF Comprehensive Plan. The Downtown Plan will serve as an important guide for land use and development, community...

City’s auditor releases FY 2020 Compliance Report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The compliance report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 has been completed by the City’s independent audit firm, RSM. The report is typically released in December in conjunction with the 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financ...

Volunteers needed for local boards and commissions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

The City of Springfield is currently taking applications for a variety of boards and commissions.

Current openings include: 

Traffic Advisory Board (seven openings)

 Advises the Traffic Engineer, Chief of Poli...

City commits additional funding to crisis cold-weather sheltering

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The City of Springfield has committed an additional $95,000 in emergency funding for overnight crisis cold-weather sheltering. An agreement was signed last week with Community Partnership of the Ozarks and the Ozarks Alliance to End H...

City Council hears results of 2020 community survey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

At the Jan. 12 City Council Retreat, City Council heard a report on a community survey administered in November 2020 on the topics of crime in the community, race relations and the community, and race relations and policing.

• View the p...

Goddard announces retirement to take role with Missouri Foundation for Health

After 25 years with the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, Director of Health Clay Goddard is announcing his intention to retire at the end of February.

He has taken the position of Senior Director of Public Health Transformation at Missouri Foun...

Dwayne Shmel named City’s new director of Building Development Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dwayne Shmel has been selected as the City’s new director of Building Development Services (BDS), effective Jan. 11, 2021. Shmel replaces Harlan Hill, who served in the role from December 2017 until he resigned earlier this year to be...

City to hire director of diversity and inclusion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

At the Sept. 8 City Council meeting, City Manager Jason Gage requested that City Council approve a measure allowing him to recruit and hire a Director of Diversity and Inclusion. The position will be a senior-level managemen...

Katie Towns named Springfield-Greene County Health Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECity Manager Jason Gage has formally selected Katie Towns as director of health for Springfield-Greene County effective July 18. Towns has served as acting director the past five months, following the departure of Clay Goddard. She ha...

Katie Towns named Springfield-Greene County Health Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECity Manager Jason Gage has formally selected Katie Towns as director of health for Springfield-Greene County effective July 18. Towns has served as acting director the past five months, following the departure of Clay Goddard. She ha...

UPDATED: Springfield Fire Department responds to house fire on South Lone Pine Avenue

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Two additional children, a 13-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy, have succumbed to injuries from a Friday house fire in the 2000 block of South Lone Pine Avenue. Around 6:30 a.m., July 23, the Springfield Fire Department was dispat...