Free course teaches city’s structure, function

The Municipal Government Academy, organized by the city’s planning and development department, is a 10-week course beginning Sept. 8. Officials from city departments will give presentations on Springfield operations, and students will tour civic facilities.

The academy has had one previous session, and students toured the Greene County courthouse and underground waterways and listened to representatives from the Fire and Police departments, among other activities, said Claudia Crighton, Springfield citizen service coordinator.

“We got a lot of positive comments from that course,” she said. “It’s a way to inform the public on what we do as a municipal government and get them interested in serving on councils or boards.”

Other presentations for the course could include speakers from the city’s finance department and Springfield-Branson Regional Airport, Crighton said.

The first class includes a dinner at Fulbright Water Treatment Plant where students will meet with Springfield’s mayor and City Council members. Registration for the course can be done at the city’s Web site, www.springfieldmogov.org/egov/academy.html, or by calling (417) 864-1037.