City Council

Page 376 CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE May 20, 2019 Be it remembered the Council of the City of Caruthersville met in regular session Monday, May 20, 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 Duckworth (Absent) Councilperson Bullington Councilperson Lyons Councilperson Cheek Councilperson Grable (Absent) Councilperson Hood Councilperson Reeves Councilperson Rodgers 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 May 6, 2019. Councilperson Hood motion to approve, second by Councilperson Cheek with all in favor Councilperson Lyons motion for approval of reports and bills, second by Councilperson Hood with all in favor. The next order of business was the appointment of Councilperson Hood for Mayor Pro Tem by Mayor Grantham, Councilperson Lyons motion for approval, second by Councilperson Rodgers, which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Reeves Yes Rodgers Yes City Hall will be closed Monday, May 27, 2019 in observance of Memorial Day. Police report; Chief Tony Jones reported that the Police department would have to increase the fees for copies of reports, because of the expense of toner, maintenance, and parts for the refurbished copier that was purchased. Counselor Dorroh will be looking at the existing ordinance, and a fee will be established across the board for all requests of records. Chief Jones will be applying for a grant in order to purchase radios at a 75/25 ratio. Chief Jones also reported that the block party on 13th and Vest was Page 377 very successful with over 300 kids and their parents attending. Area business made donations, and a thanks was given. Fire report; Fire calls from May 8, 2019 through May 20, 2019 are as follows: 5/8/19; Mutual aid request by the Kennett Fire department for a structure fire. Ed Woods with Woods Services completed the annual Preventive Maintenance and Pump Certification on all 3 pumpers. All 3 trucks and tanker have had the annual hose testing conducted per insurance guidelines. Chief Charlie Jones reported that the Emergency Management Region E Coordinator came to the City Friday, May 17, 2019 to look at the sink holes and sewer breaks throughout the community. Pictures and reports were sent to Jefferson City, and Director Ron Walker established that a more investigative work needed to be conducted. An aerial search took place to see if anything else needed to be looked at to determine what was going on. There was ground checking and loud noises observed coming from a sewer manhole on Edwards last week, and a geologists conducted tests. The State is very concern about the City’s saturation, sewer pipes and manholes collapsing, and wants records and documentation to be sent in for grant purposes. The cost estimates and documentation will be conducted by an engineering firm. Mike Bernard suggested that with the City’s drainage issues that the City and Drainage District 3 go in half and half, and let the County do the work to alleviate the drainage issues with the ditches in the Bell Fountain and District 3 areas. Councilperson Hood motion that a letter be written to address the drainage issues, second by Councilperson Bullington with all in favor. Public Works; Paul Shaw reported that 13 six yard dumpsters had been picked up resulting from the spring cleanup week; anything that was missed will be picked up. The pickup of leaves and limbs will be back on track in the weeks to come. The Taven Lift station is sinking and a bypass manhole has been set up. There’s still a lot of water underneath that’s not being seen, the pumps are running nonstop. A diver looked for the bar pit in question with Arcosa, but it was too dark, and nothing could be done. There were 3 bids for the STP project for 20th Street. , Robinson Inc. had the lowest bid with only a difference of $682.91 with Apex who the City is familiar with the work, which will be talked about in closed session concerning any possible changes. Code Enforcement; Sonya Fuller reported that she was processing letters, and that a fine was imposed towards the resident that she went to court for. A list is being made of properties that need mowing that will be done in-house. There was a question about the Young property that has been discussed, and Councilperson Hood was told that work would be done on the property before August. Library report; Teresa Tidwell reported that all the newspapers in the county have been digitized and are online dating from 1800 to 1966. Ms. Tidwell is distributing surveys for compliance for a national grant showing community input. The Summer Learning Program about space starts Tuesday, May 28, 2019, signups are provided online. There are a few kits left for the Teddy Bear Picnic occurring June 1, 2019. Budget report; Councilperson Lyons reported that it looks like that the General Fund is increasing due to things being moved around. Department heads should be thinking about their  Page 378 budgets for next year. Councilperson Bullington is concerned about the Sanitation Fund as to whether or not the dollar is being put back in; Paul Shaw will look into the matter. The City Collector provided the results of the taxes being collected due to the roadblocks set up for the checking of the City sticker as follows: Real Estate $2,097.71 Personal Property $2,947.05 Vehicle Sticker $472.00 Total Interest $1,222.73 Economic Committee report; Mike Bernard reported that with the Economic Council putting forth a number of initiatives, one being the redesigning of the City’s website. An annual $40.00 fee for the domain, a $2,000.00 one-time fee, and $60.00 monthly would be the fees. The fees would compensate for the updates, and continual support from Creative Design. Councilperson Bullington motion to move forward with the website, second by Councilperson Lyons, which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Reeves Yes Rodgers Yes New business; Barbara Merideth proposed that the instituting of the flagpoles and fundraising should be conducted by the City and with the different organizations working together. After much discussion, Councilperson Cheek motion to authorize the placement of the flagpoles and the seeking of funding. Councilperson Lyons second the motion, which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Reeves Yes Rodgers Yes Business from the floor; Paul Shaw made mention that the mosquito chemicals had come in, and spraying will commence in the next 2 weeks. They will also start setting out things in standing water that kills the eggs. The street sweeper has also been in operation. Karen Malin reported that they were having the 6th Annual River Bootheel Festival June 8, 2019 at the American Legion and they’re trying to grow, becoming like Saturday in the park with vendors and booths. They always give money to an organization, and this year it will be the Outreach Support Center in which they will buy supplies. The event during the day is for the kids they come and participate, and it ends at 4:00 p.m. The adults move inside of the American Legion at 5:00 p.m. where there’s music with local and surrounding area talent. Introduction to bills; Counselor Dorroh introduced bill No. 2019-02, An Ordinance Regulating the Keeping of Animals. Councilperson Lyons motion for the first reading by title only, second by Councilperson Hood, with all in favor. Councilperson Hood motion for the second reading, second by Page 379 Councilperson Lyons. The question before the Council is shall Bill No. 2019-02 to be known as Ordinance 2019-02 pass and become law, which resulted in the following vote on said question to wit: Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Reeves Yes Rodgers Yes Councilperson Rodgers made mention of watching the news where the City was taking the initiative to set up areas within the City where boxes were located with bags for disposal. Councilperson stated that he had seen such boxes in the ULine catalog, and someone mentioned that maybe it could get paid through the grant through the Humane Shelter from Petco. Councilperson Lyons motion to go into closed session for legal advice, second by Councilperson Hood, which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Reeves Yes Rodgers Yes Councilperson Hood motion to amend the closed session for the hiring of personnel, second by Councilperson Lyons, which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Reeves Yes Rodgers Yes Upon returning from closed session, Councilperson Lyons motion to approve the lowest bid for the STP project unless John Chittenden has evidence that Robinson Inc. is not reliable. The motion was second by Councilperson Hood, which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Reeves Yes Rodgers Yes With no further business to come before the Council, Mayor entertained a motion to adjourn. Councilperson Hood made the motion, second by Councilperson Bullington with all in favor, the meeting adjourning at 6:25 p.m. ATTEST: ________________________________ Mayor ______________________________ City Clerk