City extends closure to April 30 during public health emergency

To lessen the spread of coronavirus-19 (COVID-19), throughout our community, City Hall and other City buildings will remain closed to the public through April 30, 2020, unless further action is needed to expand the closures. The closures include all City ...

WIC Program enrolling new participants; adjusts product lists due to COVID-19

The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC, remains in operation in Missouri. The Joplin City WIC program will continue to support current participants and to enroll new participants who may now be income-eligible du...

City issues Stay at Home Order for Joplin

Today, Mayor Gary Shaw,  in consultation with  Health Director Dan Pekarek, City attorney’s office and other local health systems, issued a “Stay at Home” order requiring Joplin citizens to stay at home exce...

City officials offer update during COVID-19 crisis

During the City’s Briefing today, Joplin Mayor Gary Shaw and other City officials provided information and reminders of key areas regarding the City’s operations and the health and safety of our citizens. Below is an abbreviated listin...

City Council to meet April 6 via teleconferencing

The Joplin City Council will hold its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, April 6, however it will be conducted through audio teleconferencing. Mayor Gary Shaw will be seated at the dais in Chambers of City Hall along with City Manager Nick Edwards, Ci...

FAQ: Recycling Center, Tree Limb Drop Off & Leaves/Compost

Question:       Why is the Recycling Center Closed?

Answer:         This was deemed a non-essential service during this extraordinary period of a global pandemic. Staff was asked to identify se...

City operations and services continue as modified during public health emergency

To protect the health of our staff and community and lessen the possible spread of the coronavirus-19, the following programs and city services have been closed or modified.  We will continue to provide essential services throughout this public h...

Joplin Parks and Recreation Launches “Virtual Recreation Center”

Are you staying home and bored? Joplin Parks and Recreation has created a Virtual Recreation Center to help area residents stay active, connected, and informed during this unprecedented time.

While the Department has postponed or cancelled several upcoming...

Building permits and inspections continue for our citizens

To protect the health of our staff and community and lessen the possible spread of the coronavirus-19,  some city services have been modified.  We will continue to provide essential services throughout this public health crisis. &nbs...

First presumptive positive case of COVID-19 announced in Joplin

The Joplin Health Department today announces the first presumptive positive case of COVID-19 in an adult in the city of Joplin. In consultation with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, this is considered a case and therefore will be inv...

Health organizations partner to open drive-through COVID test site

With Missouri’s first cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) sparking concern in the community, the city of Joplin and Jasper County Health Departments, Freeman Health System and Mercy have opened Joplin’s first drive-through COVID-19 t...

Health Department advises returning travelers to self-quarantine

As residents return from spring break trips and other travel, it is the advice of the Joplin City Health Department that they self-quarantine for 14 days.

During that time, travelers returning from outside our region are advised to stay home, avoid contact...

State of Missouri: all must practice social distancing; groups to have 10 or less

With today’s directive from the State of Missouri ordering all citizens to practice social distancing, City Health Director Dan Pekarek emphasizes the significance of this step to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

“It is key that our citiz...

City buildings closing to public access; Options outlined for essential services

In order to lessen the possible spread of coronavirus-19 (COVID-19), City buildings will close to the public starting Monday March 23 through April 3, 2020, unless further action is needed to expand the closures. The closures include all City buildings wi...

Joplin Recycling Center is closed through April 4

Joplin Recycling Center is closed through April 4. At that time we will review the current status of the public health emergency. We encourage our citizens to please stay home if possible during this time. The Center will accept ALL of your items when we ...

City offers payment options for utilities and business licenses

During this public health emergency and a focus on social distancing due to the coronavirus-19, the City is working to find options to help citizens in various ways, including making their monthly utility payment and/or business license fees.

On a temporar...

Sunshine Lamp Trolley service is suspended; MAPS buses still running

During this public health emergency, the City is reviewing public transportation options for our citizens as they relate to the focus on social distancing recommendations. 

With this is mind, the Sunshine Lamp Trolley service has been canceled unt...

Republic Services outlines changes in residential trash service due to Coronavirus-19

Republic Services’ number one priority is the safety of our employees, customers and communities we service.  Effective immediately, there will be some changes in the residential trash services due to the public health emergency caused ...

Joplin Municipal Court hearings postponed due to Coronavirus-19

Due to the emerging rapidly evolving public health emergency of Coronavirus-19, the Presiding Judge of the Circuit Court of Jasper County issued an Administrative Order postponing Joplin’s Municipal Court hearings for defendants not in custody u...

City suspends utility disconnection during COVID-19 state of emergency

To assist our citizens who may be facing uncertainty and financial hardship during the rapidly evolving Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) public health emergency, water shut offs for non-payment of sewer bills has been suspended. The City of Joplin continues to t...

Citizens: Contact medical provider about elevated symptoms before going for care

The City of Joplin and Jasper County Health Departments are monitoring the recent outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and remind citizens to stay calm if they have cold or flu-like symptoms. Presently, the staff reminds citizens the risk to th...

Missouri opens novel coronavirus information hotline

JEFFERSON CITY, MO –The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) activated a statewide public hotline for citizens or providers needing guidance regarding the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. At 8 a.m. today, the hotline opened an...

Citizens: 2020 Census invitations are in the mail

Every One Counts                   

Citizens in Joplin and surrounding area should receive their initial invitation to respond to the 2020 Census in their ma...

Handwashing Best Protection Against Flu and Coronavirus

Increasing media coverage of the coronavirus outbreak that began in China is creating some questions in our community.  The Joplin City Health Department understands that citizens are concerned about the new coronavirus and have questions about h...

Annual residential trash rate and curbside recycling rate to increase 23 cents

The City of Joplin has a franchised contract with Republic Services for residential trash and curbside recycling services for all single-family houses and duplexes.  The contract allows for a 2% price increase on April 1, 2020. 

Starting ...

Wastewater rate study indicates need for increase

In late 2019, City Council members reviewed a recent rate study for the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The study indicated the need for a rate increase in an effort to keep pace with the cost of the wastewater service for all customers on th...

American Airlines: Passengers must now check in no less than 45 minutes before flight

American Airlines has changed the required “check-in” time allowance and the time of checking luggage from 30 minutes to 45 minutes before the scheduled departure time of a flight. If passengers arrive after the new 45-minute window, t...

City of Joplin monthly tree limb drop off opens for the 2020 season

The City will open the tree limb and brush drop-off site every third Saturday, starting on Saturday, March 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the 2020 season.  This program is open the third Saturday of the month from March through...

Council names Edwards as City Manager

On behalf of the Joplin City Council, Mayor Gary Shaw is pleased to announce Joplin native Nick Edwards has been named as Joplin’s City Manager.

Edwards comes from Lee’s Summit, Mo., where he served in administrative positions for the p...

Census 2020 questionnaire hits mailboxes in first quarter of 2020

Every One Counts                   

2020 is the start of a new decade and is also a leap year, but did you know it’s the year that the U.S. Census takes pla...