Michelle Heiliger - Your Wright City Mayor

06/12/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us last night! A reminder that Board of Aldermen meetings are open to the public and we always encourage our residents to attend and engage with your board. Your voice matters and we love seeing familiar faces in those seats.
Here is a recap of what was covered:

Batting Cages at Ruge Park
Cuivre River Cooperative provided a grant to the Wright City Parks Foundation for new batting cages to be built in Ruge Park. The Park Board came before the board requesting a budget amendment to cover the remaining funding needed to move the project forward. Unfortunately the funding requirements were not available for the board to complete the vote last night. This item will return on the next agenda and we look forward to moving it forward.

Magruder Asphalt Site Plan
This has been a year and a half process and last night the board voted to approve the Magruder Asphalt site plan for the facility located off Roelker Road. Magruder has met all requirements of the city including approval from Water Engineers who confirmed the plant will not negatively impact surrounding properties or the creek, as well as approval of a traffic study conducted specific to this property.
We heard from a handful of residents who spoke in opposition and shared concerns related to odor, traffic, the potential impact on home values, and health related questions. We take those concerns seriously. It is important for our community to know that this industry is regulated very tightly by the EPA, DNR, and OSHA and these facilities are required to undergo consistent inspections in order to maintain the permits necessary to operate.
The site plan was approved with the following conditions. A map including the dedication of right of way to the city for the future widening of Roelker Road, the amended entrance including a turn lane, and the dedication of the future road that will serve as an entrance to the front parcels when developed must all be received prior to any permitting. It is also important to note that only the furthest back parcel containing the plant has been approved. Any future growth of this facility must come back before the board for approval prior to any permitting. This facility is also held to our nuisance ordinances related to lighting, noise, and odor. This item passed by a 3-1 vote.

Liquor License Renewal Applications
This is an annual process. The board approved seven license renewals last night. There are five businesses that still need to submit their applications. If those applications are not received before the next board meeting, those businesses will not be able to serve alcohol until the board convenes again in July. Please do not wait!

Road Striping Change Order
The board approved a change order for road striping to be completed once current construction wraps up. The initial bid did not include roads that were not receiving a new overlay. The board agreed that extending the striping to those roads will improve the appearance of our city and bring an important focus back to driver safety. This $4,400 investment was approved unanimously.

Indian Head Lodge, Public Road Recognition
The board voted unanimously to recognize and declare Indian Head Lodge as a public road. The board then voted unanimously to set a public meeting at the next BOA meeting to move forward with annexing this road into the city.

Vacant Building Inspection Ordinance
The board voted to establish an ordinance requiring annual inspections of substantially vacant buildings. Any building that is 50% or more vacant will be required to have an annual inspection and demonstrate that the building remains up to code. We have seen a growing number of resident complaints related to buildings falling into disrepair and this ordinance is an important first step in supporting the mission to revitalize our downtown district and Wright City as a whole.

Department Head Reports and Bills
All department heads provided their reports and the bills were approved.

Announcements
This Saturday — Flag Retirement Ceremony at Diekroeger Park at 11:00 a.m.

Every Wednesday — Food Truck Night at Diekroeger Park from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Sunday June 21st — Happy Father's Day! Don't forget!

Saturday June 27th — Wright City Fireworks Show in conjunction with the First Friday Event at the Lion's Club. Please note there will NOT be a First Friday on First Street on July 3rd.

Monday June 23rd through Friday June 27th — Warren County Fair in Warrenton.

Saturday June 20th — Fair Queen Coronation at Warrenton High School.

Sunday June 21st — Fair Parade in Warrenton.

06/11/2026

This is great information for many of our residents.

Please share with anyone who may need these resources.

NECAC offers summer utility assistance

NECAC is offering utility assistance to qualifying residents of 12 Missouri counties.
Applicants must meet income guidelines, have received a utility shut-off notice, be the person responsible for the bill and have $3,000 or less in financial resources. The Energy Crisis Intervention Program pays up to $300 toward disconnect notices for any heating or cooling energy source.
Applications may be submitted online at www.necac.org or in person at NECAC Service Centers in each of the 12 counties.
The monthly income limit for a one-person household is $2,840. For a four-person residence, it’s $5,461. Additional guidelines are available upon request.
The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is distributed through the Missouri Department of Social Services, which then contracts with NECAC to administer the service. Last summer, NECAC assisted 4,062 households.
More information is available by calling 573-324-0120 or by contacting one of the following NECAC Service Centers:
• Lewis County: 573-288-3969.
• Lincoln County: 636-528-7604.
• Macon County: 660-385-4616.
• Marion County: 573-221-7166.
• Monroe County: 660-327-4110.
• Montgomery County: 573-564-3606.
• Pike County: 573-324-2207.
• Ralls County: 573-985-2411.
• Randolph County: 660-263-6595.
• Shelby County: 573-633-2210.
• St. Charles County: 636-272-3477.
• Warren County: 636-456-8191.

06/10/2026

Please review the attached agenda for our BOA meeting tomorrow night.

All BOA Meetings are open to the public and we encourage all residents to attend.

We hope to see you tomorrow.

06/07/2026

This weekend brought heartbreak to our community and to families who are now navigating the kind of pain that no parent should ever have to face. I spent the day today celebrating my daughter's birthday; watching her laugh and watching her live, and I could not stop thinking about the parents in our community who are sitting in hospital rooms, making arrangements, and holding pieces of a life that has been shattered.

I often say that Wright City is a special place. These families will soon understand, if they do not already, that when this community decides to show up, we show up.

What I want to ask of all of us right now is this: take your cues from the families. Support does not equal judgment. Support does not equal demands. Sometimes we move to those things because we do not know what else to do with our grief and our anger, and that is understandable. But what these families need, all of them, is to know that when the phone rings and it is their turn to need us, we will be ready and waiting.

We have parents who will make final arrangements for their child. We have parents praying with everything they have that their child wakes up. We have parents navigating a situation they never imagined they would face. And we have an infant who has both parents wound in the middle of all of it. Every single one of them needs the same thing right now. They need our prayers, our patience, and our presence when they are ready for it.

Pray for the best possible outcome for all of them.

And then go home and have a conversation with your own family. So many of our young people operate in the space of "this happens to other people, it will never happen to me." "It is just a little way down the road." "They do not need to wear a seat belt, we are just going around the corner." "Stay off the main roads, you will be fine." Make sure you tell your kids to call for a ride. No judgement, we simply wany you to make it home. We will always come for you. We need to have the awkward conversations. We need to send the message clearly and with conviction.

I pray to never receive the phone call that our local parents received this weekend. Hug your kids. Tell them how important they are and how much you love them; and then tell them to be smart and be safe.

Wright City, be kind to each other right now. These are our people.

06/04/2026

Every parents worst nightmare.

Can you help?

UPDATE: EVAN HAS BEEN FOUND AND SAFE

‼️ MISSING JUVENILE ALERT ‼️
•
The Warren County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in locating 14 year old Evan Wallace.
•
Evan left his residence in Warrenton on foot around 11:00 PM on June 3, 2026, and has not been seen since.
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📍 Last seen wearing:
👉Black hoodie
👉Gray shorts
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If you have seen Evan or have any information regarding his whereabouts, please contact Warren County Dispatch immediately at 636-456-7088.

06/03/2026

Mark you calendars for one of the best nights of the year. City of Truesdale, MO does an amazing day planning National Night Out.

We hope to see you there.

06/03/2026

Check out this list! Gma and I will be dining in the park tonight.

Who else will be coming by?

06/01/2026

On Friday, June 13th at 11:00 AM, we will gather at Diekroeger Park for our annual Flag Retirement Ceremony; and I want to see our community show up for this one.

This ceremony exists because our flag deserves to be honored even at the end of its life. When an American flag becomes worn, tattered, or faded, it is not simply thrown away. There is a proper way to retire it with the dignity and respect it has earned; and that is exactly what happens here. The United States Flag Code calls for flags to be retired in a dignified way, traditionally through a respectful burning ceremony. Our Parks Department organizes this event every year and the Boy Scouts come out to perform the ceremony with the care and reverence it deserves.

Here is something I am proud of: Wright City is the only local city that offers this honor to our flag and to our community. That says something about who we are.

Do you have a flag at home that needs to be retired? You do not have to wait until June 13th. Drop it off at City Hall and place it in the collection box. Every flag collected will be transferred to the park and included in the ceremony.

This is a meaningful opportunity to teach our children what it means to honor our country; not just when it is convenient, but in every way and at every stage. I hope you will bring your family and join us.

Friday, June 13th — 11:00 AM — Diekroeger Park

We will see you there. 🇺🇸

06/01/2026

Wright City — mark your calendars. 📍

We are hosting a Community Town Hall on Wednesday, June 3rd at 6:30 PM at City Hall, and I want to be straightforward with you about why this matters.

It is easy to sit behind a keyboard and express frustration about what is happening in Jefferson City. I understand it. But frustration typed into a comment box does not change legislation. Showing up does.

Senator Ben Brown and Representative Jeff Meyers are coming to Wright City to hear from you in person. These are the gentlemen you voted to represent you in the Missouri legislature. This is a direct line to the people who have the ability to make a difference on the issues that affect your daily life. That opportunity does not come around often enough and I am not going to let it pass without making sure our community shows up.

This will be the first time Senator Brown has visited Wright City since before he was elected. Come meet him. Let him hear from you face to face.

Here are some of the topics to be raised:

🔹 The passing of SB3 and what it means for Missouri
🔹 Data center legislation and its impact on our state
🔹 The proposal to eliminate the state income tax and shift to a sales tax model
🔹 The future of I-70 construction across Missouri
🔹 What is being done to support local schools and municipalities like Wright City
🔹 Upcoming legislation that affects our community

Bring your questions. Bring your concerns. Bring your neighbors. This is what civic engagement looks like and Wright City has always shown up when it counts.

Wednesday, June 3rd — 6:30 PM — Wright City City Hall

See you there.

05/29/2026

Good morning, Wright City! 🏙️

Here is your recap from last night’s Board of Aldermen meeting. Aldermen Arbuthnot, Andrews, and Lyons were present. Alderman Owens was absent.

A quick reminder that these meetings are open to the public and we encourage our residents to attend. Your community, your voice.

🌳 PARK BOARD APPOINTMENT
The board unanimously approved the appointment of Joe Butler to the Park Board. Joe and his family have been participating in Wright City Sports for some time; and here is what I love about this story. They lived in Dardenne Prairie and drove to Wright City just to be part of our sports program. Now that they have made Wright City home, Joe wants to give back. Welcome to the team, Joe!

🌱 LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION GRANT
Our application to the Land and Water Conservation Grant was denied. I know that is disappointing, but we are not done. Our grant writer has already reached out to the LWC program to schedule a session to get specific feedback on our application and understand exactly what they want to see. The application reopens in the fall and we will be ready.

🛣️ 2ND STREET PAVING PROJECT UPDATE
The board unanimously approved a change order to the 2nd Street paving project. We are adding the 1st Street expansion and the paving of the alleyway between FMB Bank and Wright Stop. The change order includes an increase to the original bid because we are having the contractor haul off the excess dirt rather than the city handling it; the right call. The milling work began today and paving begins tomorrow! 1st Street will be slightly delayed because four utility poles need to be moved and a storm drain must be lifted first. We will keep you posted.

🐾 WOOFSTOCK SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT
The board unanimously approved the special event permit for Woofstock, the annual event held by Wags and Whiskers at Diekroeger Park. Mark your calendars for September 12th!

🎆 FIREWORKS DISPLAY CONTRACT
The board unanimously approved the contract for our June fireworks display. More details to come!

📌 ANNOUNCEMENTS

🌟 Amazing Creature Show — THIS SATURDAY, May 30th at 2:00 PM at Diekroeger Park. This was a huge hit last year. Come learn about local wildlife and bring the whole family!

⭐ 1st Friday on 1st Street — June 5th. Come out and support our local businesses!

📚 Summer Reading Program — Starts June 1st through the Wright City Library.

🚩 Flag Retirement Ceremony — June 13th at 11:00 AM at Diekroeger Park. A meaningful opportunity to learn the proper way to retire an American flag and to involve young people in honoring our country. I hope to see you there.

🥊 Women’s Self Defense Class — June 23rd at 6:00 PM at the Wright City Library. Wright City PD is partnering with the library to offer this class. Sign up and share with the women in your life.

☕ Coffee and Connect — For residents 50 and older. Meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays at the Wright City Library.

🌽 Camp Wacofiaru — July 6-10 at East Elementary. Apply through the Warren County Fine Arts Council.

⛳ Wright City Chamber Golf Tournament — August 28th.

🌻 Wright City Farmers Market — First Sunday of each month in the new park.

🚚 Food Truck Wednesday — Every Wednesday at Diekroeger Park from 3:00 to 7:00 PM.

What a great community we have. So much happening and so much to be proud of. Have a wonderful day, Wright City! 💚