Webb City Mayor: We'll be open for business May 4

In a message to the community today, Webb City Mayor Lynn Ragsdale delivered the message residents have been waiting to hear.

"We will be open for business May 4," Ragsdale said.

The city will follow Gov. Mike Parson's plan to reopen in phases and not add anything else, Ragsdale said.

"We expect our businesses and residents to use common courtesy in practicing good hygiene and distancing habits."

Ragsdale addressed criticism that closing the city was not necessary since there have been such a relatively small number of COVID-19 cases.

"We didn' lower the curve, because we never had a curve," the mayor said. "We got ahead of the curve which is a better scenario.

The accompanying video also includes information from City Manager Carl Francis and Webb City R-7 Superintendent Tony Rossetti.