Ed Gass, Returns to City Government.
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By Pauline Masson –
There are only seven board of aldermen (BOA) meetings between now and the April 2026 municipal election. But ward one will have its mandated two representatives.
The ward has had only one representative, Alderman Karla Stewart, since alderman Rafael Madrigal resigned from his unexpired term in August 2025.
After her two first appointments to fill the temporary post were rejected, she tapped Ed Gass, one of the longest serving city officials in city history, to fill the vacancy. The 5-member BOA unanimously approved the appointment on Tuesday, December 2.
Mayor Filley said Mr. Gass would join the board at the December 17 meeting.
She could not have chosen a more seasoned public servant to fill the post. Mr. Gass is probably personally known by more Pacific residents than any official in recent memory.
Mr. Gass worked for the City of Pacific for 41 years from 1966 to 2007. He was public works commissioner for the last 30 years.
When he retired – the first time- he left a legacy of city growth and public works improvements.
In 2001, as public works commissioner, Mr. Gass persuaded Mayor Jill Pigg to approve the plan that he orchestrated to purchase the property that created Liberty Field.
The city bought the ground from the heirs of the late Lloyd Duncan for $53,000. Part of the negotiation of the purchase price included the city naming the south entry road into the park for Mr. Duncan and building a stone and brass entrance monument at the north entrance that also recognized Duncan.
In 2006, Mr. Gass persuaded Mayor Herb Adams to approve a plan for him to negotiate for the City to buy a tract of undeveloped land that Boys Town of Missouri owned, which was located north of Jefferson Street and South of Brush Creek at the City Park.
His June 2007 retirement from city employment was celebrated by fellow employees, citizens and dignitaries..
Associate Circuit Judge Dave Hoven, Fire Chief Rick Friedmann and the Meramec Valley School District Superintendent Randy George were among community leaders gathered for the ceremony.
Benton Kelley of Kelley Concrete said he had a long working relationship with Mr. Gass.
“He’s been here as long as I can remember,” Mr. Kelley said.
After two years in semi-retirement, he ran for the Ward One seat on the BOA and was elected alderman in April 2010.
As an aldermen, he urged fellow aldermen to study sewer rate costs, he called for a thorough study of city expenditures and revenue over time to ferret out ways to pay for infrastructure improvements, pressured the city to paint the city’s 500 fire hydrants that were distributed around the city.
Fire Marshal Ken Prichard told The Missourian that in spite of their appearance most of the hydrants were in working order. Firefighters test each hydrant once a year.
The 2017 inspection report listed 18 hydrants that had faults and four that needed immediate attention.
Even so, Gass said the appearance of the hydrants should be a concern to officials because it was an indication that leaders are not taking care of the city.
After his retirement from elected office, Mr. Gass continued to pay attention to the city pubic works. In 2018 he persuaded the city to complete stormwater repair from Payne Street to Hogan Subdivision.
He persuaded the City to pressure the Missouri Pacific railroad to clean out the culvert on East Osage to prevent water from pooling on the roadway creating a hazard.
He warned that the city’s aging water and sewer system was at risk and officials need to assess the situation,
Even a a short-term alderman, Mr. Gass’s vast knowledge of the city’s parks, streets, sewer and water system and his willingness to say what he knows, brings a new level of discussion to the BOA.
A wise choice indeed. I have pondered why the previous candidates could not gain support from the majority to be appointed. I guess we’ll never know. It certainly appears that it’s not about who the Mayor wanted but who wanted to serve the citizens.