City of Bolivar Not Extending Street Lighting Contract with Liberty

The hot topic for the Bolivar Board of Aldermen for the last several meetings has been whether or not to continue a contract with Empire District Electric Company, d.b.a. Liberty, for street lighting services. On October 14, 2025, a bill to extend the service for one year was tabled. Tuesday, Oct. 28, the bill, which reads, “An ordinance authorizing an agreement with the Empire District Electric Company, doing business as Liberty, for a temporary extension to the Municipal Electric Service Agreement for streetlighting until September 2026,” was presented for a rollcall vote. Aldermen voted two ayes and five nayes. The city will not be in a contractual agreement with Liberty at this point. Those in favor of extending the contract were Alexis Neal and Steve Sagasar. Those opposed were Dusty Ross, Tricia Bel-Price, Justin Ballard, Ashley Raines, and Brian Wilson.