The Lebanon City Council met on Monday night to discuss and approve several initiatives aimed at improving city infrastructure, public safety, and community services.
One of the main items was the approval of materials for constructing a new sidewalk along Beck Lane and Ivey Lane. The project will add approximately 4,400 feet of sidewalk from Linda Circle to Elm Street. Materials for the project include concrete, aggregate, truncated domes, striping, and handrails. Construction is expected to begin in the summer.
The council also approved engineering design work for upgrades at the intersection of Fourth Street and Van Buren. Planned improvements include wider turning areas and an evaluation of a crosswalk connection into Gasconade Park. This supports long-term efforts to relieve traffic in the West Loop area. Design work is set to start immediately.
At Floyd W. Jones Lebanon Regional Airport, repairs will move forward on the taxiway and apron to address cracks and surface wear that could impact aircraft operations. The project will use both federal funding and local support.
Police Department technology upgrades were also addressed during the meeting. The council approved replacing failing body camera and car camera systems with new equipment featuring automated activation, GPS capabilities, and improved video quality. According to officials, these upgrades are intended to help officers document incidents more clearly and ensure accountability.
In addition, council members agreed to expand automated license plate readers (ALPR) and video cameras throughout the city. The new system will use advanced search tools to identify vehicles involved in investigations, with cameras placed along major routes entering and exiting Lebanon.
To modernize traffic enforcement, in-car printers will be added to police patrol cars for electronic ticketing (e-ticketing). This measure aims to reduce roadside time for officers and drivers while improving accuracy by sending information directly to courts.
A joint training structure for Fire and Police Departments was approved as well. This facility will allow both departments year-round access for realistic emergency response training scenarios.
Council members also voted to add a dedicated fund for operating the Lebanon Area Community Golf Course in the fiscal year 2026 budget as the city assumes management responsibilities. The fund is expected to cover routine maintenance costs through projected revenues.
The meeting began with a moment of silence honoring Ward 1 Councilman Gib Adkins following his passing on December 7.
Several board appointments were confirmed: Jeff Mutchler as Council Representative on the Airport Advisory Board; John Gideon, Steve Jackson, Randy Wall (Council Representative), Bob Garner (Council Representative) on the Golf Course Advisory Board; John Elmore was appointed to the Zoning & Planning Commission through June 2026.
