City Council

Page 371 CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE May 6, 2019 Be it remembered the Council of the City of Caruthersville met in regular session Monday, May 6, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council room of the Municipal Building at which time and place the following were present: Sue Grantham Mayor Takella Motton City Clerk Lawrence Dorroh City Counselor Tony Jones Sergeant at Arms Bullington Councilperson Lyons Councilperson Cheek Councilperson Grable Councilperson Hood Councilperson Reeves Councilperson Rodgers Councilperson Duckworth Councilperson The number of members necessary to consider a quorum being present, the Mayor called the meeting to order and announced the meeting was in session for the transaction of business. The first order of business was the approval of the regular session minutes of April 15, 2019. Councilperson Duckworth motion to approve, second by Councilperson Hood with all in favor Councilperson Rodgers motion for approval of the special session minutes of April 23, 2019, second by Councilperson Lyons, with all in favor. Councilperson Duckworth motion for approval of reports and bills, second by Councilperson Lyons with all in favor. The next order of business was the appointments by Mayor Grantham for City Clerk/Takella Motton, Court Clerk/Nyoka Rushing, Counselor/Lawrence Dorroh, Municipal Judge/Mike Hazel, and City Engineer/John Chittenden. Councilperson Duckworth motion for approval, second by Councilperson Lyons, which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Reeves Yes Rodgers Yes Duckworth Yes Mayor Grantham asked for approval of the following appointments; Fire Chief/Charlie Jones, Public Works/Paul Shaw, Parks & Recreation Director/ Wes Deere, Building Commissioner/John Ferguson, and City Prosecutor/Lawrence Dorroh. Councilperson Hood motion for approval, second  Page 372 by Councilperson Duckworth, which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Reeves Yes Rodgers Yes Duckworth Yes Mayor Grantham asked for approval for the Tree Board/Jane Ellen Lazenby and Wes Deere as ExOfficio, Planning & Zoning Commission/Lisa Curtis, Library Board/Johnny Barnett, and Airport Board/ Jimmy Lyons as ExOfficio. Councilperson Grable motion for approval, second by Councilperson Lyons, with all in favor. Mayor Grantham asked for approval of the Council committees, Councilperson Grable motion for approval, second by Councilperson Hood, with all in favor as follows: Finance Street & Sanitation Insurance Police & Fire Water & Sewer Jimmy Lyons Matt Duckworth J. J. Bullington Johnny Hood Barbara Rodgers J. J. Bullington Barbara Rodgers Barbara Rodgers Teddy Cheek Don Grable Teddy Cheek Don Grable Matt Duckworth Don Grable Jimmy Lyons Johnny Hood Jennifer Reeves Jimmy Lyons Jennifer Reeves Teddy Cheek Unfinished business; Mayor Grantham reported that Gayle Sheppard the contact for the building on Ward Ave. that’s a safety issue will be meeting with her attorney to be advised on how to proceed. The title is in the name of her deceased husband, and they were given Counselor’s contact information. Police report; Chief Tony Jones attended the Police Memorial for Fallen Officers; his appointments are as follows: Administrative Investigative Jerry Hudgens, Assistant Chief (Major) Terry Privett, Captain Daniel Kinder, Desk Office (R) Dustin Fitzwater, Patrolman/Investigator Patrol Housing Jeremy Darnell, Lieutenant Paul Meacham, Sergeant Shane Wiseman, Sergeant/Sex Crimes Corey Vaughn, Patrolman David Ward, Corporal Kaleb Johnson, Patrolman Rodney Jackson, Patrolman Matt Vincent, Patrolman/K9 Officer Code Enforcement Jerry Hudgens, Jr., Patrolman Sonya Fuller Matt Julius, Patrolman Bryan Lacy, Patrolman (PT) School Resource Officer Animal Control James Beaver, Corporal Chris Thacker, Humane Brianna Shelly, Patrolman (Academy) Page 373 Councilperson Bullington motion for approval of the Police appointments, second by Councilperson Hood, with all in favor. Chief Charlie Jones appointments are as follows: Lynn Moss/Assistant Chief, Kevin Curtis/Captain, Randy Guest/First Lieutenant, Jerry Hudgens/Second Lieutenant, Charlie Jones/Engineer, Jim Lyons/Engineer, James Rushing/Engineer, Kevin Curtis/Engineer, Ron Warren/Firefighter II, Tony Smith/Firefighter II, Ricky Floyd/Firefighter II, Terry Rushing/Firefighter II, Tina Cook/Firefighter II, Paul Shaw/Firefighter II, Troy Meals/Firefighter I, Jess Cagle/Firefighter, Terry Privett/Firefighter, Michael Coleman/Firefighter, B. T. Merideth/Firefighter, Thomas Guest/Firefighter, Brian Shelton/Firefighter, Jerry Hudgens, Jr./Firefighter, Ross Pilcher/Firefighter, Jimmy Lyons/Firefighter, Chris Callen/Firefighter. Councilperson Duckworth motion for approval, second by Councilperson Hood, all in favor with Councilperson Lyons abstaining. Paul Shaw appointments are as follows: Bookkeeper/Gena Glass, Wastewater Superintendent/Richard Lee, and Street & Sanitation Supervisor, Water Distribution & Plant Chief Operator/James Elliott. Councilperson Duckworth motion for approval, second by Councilperson Lyons, with all in favor. Code Enforcement report; Sonya Fuller reported sending out letters, and the rain has hindered some progress. Ms. Fuller is due in court for a code violation, and continuing to get the word out for the spring cleanup week. Paul Shaw stated that 2 of the big roll offs had been filled today, and will be picked up tomorrow. Park & Recreation report; Wes Deere reported that the Recreation Center now has inside and outside pickleball, baseball is ongoing, and the wrestling event is May 18, 2019. Mr. Deere’s appointments are as follows: Karen Henson/Office Manager, Mario Pitts/Assistant Director, and Niki Tate/FT Life Guard. Councilperson Duckworth motion for approval, second by Councilperson Grable, with all in favor. Library report; Teresa Tidwell reported that 10 people attended the Career Center set up in the Library in which they filled out applications and worked on resumes. The Career Day will occur every month on the last Tuesday, copies and faxes will be free to send out. There will be a Teddy Bear picnic June 1, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. The teddy bear is somewhat like build a bear; signups are at the Library for $20.00. Humane report; Karol Wilcox reported that the Blytheville Animal Shelter and Assistant Chief visited with them, and looking to replicate what they’re doing. The Animal Shelter is offering a reward for any information about a Labrador puppy found in the Brown Shoe ditch which had been shot in the jaw and placed in a tire in the water. Open House was a huge success with 100 in attendance, and a Lifesaving Grant was received for PETCO. A vaccination clinic will be available at the shelter Saturday, May 11, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. with Dr. Bill Embry of the Malden Veterinary Clinic. Dog tags will be available for purchase during the Vaccination Clinic. For the month of April there was intake of 22 dogs and 12 kittens, 17 dogs and 9 cats were adopted, 1 dog redeemed, 1 death, and 1 sent to Rescue; Officer Thacker wrote 22 citations. There was a removal of 7 dogs and 5 cats from a residence with 10 more cats and 3 dogs on the property. There are two more residents on the list with similar circumstances, but have to be planned strategically because of constraints on housing them. The 5k  Page 374 walk was a success with more attendance than last year. Councilperson Rodgers was concerned about the pets that run at large and leaving their waste in yards, also with the owners letting their pets leave their waste while walking them. Counselor Dorroh will be looking at the ordinance to see if it states anything for pet owners to pick up their pets waste. Fire report; Fire calls from April 16, 2019 through May 6, 2019 are as follows: 4/16/19; Call on 545 County Rd 362, 4/22/19; 545 County Rd 362, 4/22/19; Vehicle fire on County Rd 363 a total loss, 4/26/19; Grass fire Rt. U& Rt. H, 4/26/19; Electrical fire in attic on E. 20th St, 4/27/19; Bird nest smoking in porch light on Gayosa, 4/30/19; Eighteen wheeler brakes overheated on Rt. U & D, 5/3/19; Vehicle accident on I55, 5/4/19; Structure fire on County Rd 553 a total loss, 5/6/19; Gas main was struck at Taven Apts. Training for the month of April was Hose Practices with 17 firefighters in attendance. Economic report; Jason Smith definitely wants to be a part of the branding event for the City. A meeting will occur Wednesday, May 15, 2019 regarding the application process for the UM Extension Building Local Prosperities. Scheduling is ongoing with the City website and branding focus group. The Arts Council has met and moving forward with Mickey Davis with McClure Industries on the Exchange Building, and Mr. Davis sent a playbook for the Exchange Building project. Vicki Bean will be involved with the pushing forward of Missouri reconnecting with the Mississippi Parkway Commission. The Arts Council will also be reserving trees for this year’s Holiday River Lights; proceeds going towards street decorations for the City. New Business; There was discussion of a contingency plan for missed pickups by Republic when there’s a breakdown or when they pack out. Republic concern is residents having more trash cans than what they’re supposed to have, causing them to pick up extra trash, and packing out. They will be providing a list as to who’s supposed to have 1 or 2 cans extra. Counselor Dorroh stated the contract with Republic has liquidated damages within 24 hours for pickup. Councilperson Grable inquired of the rock pile on the northeast corner of 12th and Ward; it’s staging for contractors and will be addressed. There were questions about cones on some of the streets; they will be filled once the City cleanup is done. The County Tax Collector is selling properties for 5 years of back taxes, and would like to know if the City would like to do the same. There was a question about the City recouping from the mowing of the properties; Counselor Dorroh stated that the recourse are liens against the property applied to the taxes, which can be sold on the court house steps by the City same as the County. Mayor Grantham has spoken with the City Collector about going ahead and sending out delinquent notices on taxes. Chief Tony Jones will be putting in the paper a notice of a road block for the checking of the City sticker, to get people to pay their City personal taxes if they haven’t paid. Councilperson Duckworth motion for approval of the accepting the provisions for the City that the County as set forth for the sale of property, second by Councilperson Lyons, which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Reeves Yes Rodgers Yes Duckworth Yes Page 375 Mayor Grantham entertained a motion for a change in signatories with all banking institutions with the City accounts by removing Josh Rittenberry and adding Teddy Cheek, Councilperson Bullington motion for approval, second by Councilperson Lyons, with all in favor. Business from the floor; Betty Bond was concerned with a dog problem on West 19th St with the residents keeping their dogs in the fence. There are 5 Rescue dogs that get loose and bark at all times of the night, and her concern is safety. Chris Thacker has written citations, and a fence looks like it’s in the works. A peace disturbance could be filed, but it has to be excessive for any action to take place. With no further business to come before the Council, Councilperson Lyons motion to adjourn, second by Councilperson Grable, with all in favor, the meeting adjourning at 6:00 p.m. ATTEST: ____________________________________ Mayor ___________________________________ City Clerk