City Council

Page 465 CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE June 1, 2020 Be it remembered the Council of the City of Caruthersville met in regular session Monday, June 1, 2020 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 Rodgers Councilperson Duckworth Councilperson Bullington Councilperson Lyons Councilperson Cheek Councilperson Grable (Absent) Councilperson Hood Councilperson Reeves 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 18, 2020. Councilperson Lyons motion for approval, second by Council Hood, all in favor with Councilperson Duckworth abstaining. Councilperson Duckworth motion to approve reports and bills, second by Councilperson Lyons with all in favor. Police report; Chief Tony Jones reported that he had been alerted that a protest was going to take place at 7:00 p.m. with possible disturbance. The police, sheriff, and highway patrol will be on guard for any possible disturbance. Councilperson Hood stated that it had been noted that a lot of disturbances had been from outsiders taking away from the peaceful demonstrations, and that the police should be mindful. Councilperson Bullington asked if no parking on the side of the road could be enforced where the graduation parade is taking place so that there wouldn’t be any interference with the six foot banners. Fire report; Fire calls from May 22, 2020 through June 1, 2020 are as follows: 5/22/20; Vehicle fire on Westwood, 5/25/20; Burning mattresses on East 9th St., 5/27/20; Fire alarm due to cooking on Rufus. Annual rural fire subscription letters were sent out last week, and there are presently 120 members. Public Works; Paul Shaw reported that a leak had been detected for the last six months; people had come in and attempted to find to leak to no avail. The decision was made to check every manhole; Page 466 the leak was found quickly. The leak was occurring on 4th and Eastwood which was shut down and clamped off; the plant has shut off for the first time since March. Mr. Shaw asked for approval to move money from the General Fund from FEMA for the flooding to the accounts in which projects had been paid from. Councilperson Duckworth motion for approval, second by Councilperson Hood, with all in favor. There have been complaints to the State about the limb pile. In order to get the situation under control the remotes will have to be reprogrammed, and the gates opened only by an employee to restore order. Councilperson Rodgers reported that Westwood apartments were having sewer problems; Paul Shaw stated that they would probably have to rod it out again. Code Enforcement; Barry Gilmore reported that the State had sent information sheets in order to stay compliant concerning the limb pile. There have been 121 notices sent out with some being resolved and others ongoing. Thirteen properties have been billed to taxes, 6 blighted properties have been resolved, and the old Gaithers and the old beauty school buildings will be coming down. There’s a house on East 9th St. that will be coming down, and maybe one on Truman, still working out details. The cleanup has started, which will be from June 1st through June 26th; trash can be put out four days prior to your trash pickup day. Week 1 is Tuesday trash day, week 2 is Friday trash day, week 3 is Thursday trash day, and week 4 is Wednesday trash day. The Colorado contractor for the Wal-Mart building for the medical marijuana will be looking to hire local people that qualify; late August is being targeted for startup. Councilperson Rodgers inquired about the ditch on Bell that needs cleaning up which at one time was talked about being fill in. The Y at Bell and Adams also needs mowing, which the City owns. Mr. Gilmore will be getting with the Street department about their schedule, and there was discussion of the community worker helping with the clean out of the ditch. The Young property on 12th St. was also brought up about its condition, which has been sold. There was discussion of hiring temporary part timers to help with the mowing. Councilperson Bullington motion to hire seasonal part timers, second by Councilperson Duckworth with all in favor. Library report; Teresa Tidwell reported that as of last week the State library had $589,000 available through the CARES Act , on a first come first serve basis. Ms. Tidwell applied for an $8,300 grant for an adult self-checkout station and nine chrome books for board members to use for remote meetings. The summer reading program will be “Imagine Your Story” which will be digital and will be done in conjunction with the Humane Society. Fifty dollars will be given to anybody that does 100 hours of reading up to $500 will be given. The Library will also be partnering with the Pemiscot County 4h that will be doing the reading online along with the activities. The Missouri Conservation will also bring items for the area in the back of the Library. Ms. Tidwell was commended for her creativity and hard work that she brings to the Library. Mayor Grantham reported that Parks & Recreation had a soft opening for today; Lamonte Bell wil be picking up supplies this evening. Economic Development; Jana Merideth reported meeting with Richard Proffer, and he’s been working remotely on behalf of the City. There will be meetings June 9, 2020 with BLP at the Library, and cleanup at Dorroh Hall at East Memorial Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. Workforce Development meets June 22, 2020 at the Library at 10:30 a.m. Downtown Tourism Committee will schedule a meeting at a later date. Mayor Grantham and Ms. Merideth will be meeting with Mr. Proffer June 22, 2020 to discuss the study that he conducted while working remotely. The Coover grant is ongoing in which all the staff has all gone to part time and everything is backed up. Economic Action Development Action Page 467 Committee meets June 23, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. A2H is close to giving a virtual visionary gross marking tool to use for the Arts Council grant. Mayor Grantham reported that the Casino had a great opening, with safe guards such as shields, masks, and temperatures readings, and social distancing in place. Introduction to Bills; Counselor Dorroh introduced bills concerning street lighting and the franchise tax with Ameren for a long term agreement with the City, which requires a 30 day inspection before final passage. Councilperson Duckworth made motion for first reading, second by Councilperson Hood as follows: BILL NO. 2020-08 ORDINANCE NO. 2020-08 AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE LIGHTING BY ELECTRICITY OF THE STREETS, AVENUES, ALLEYS, AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES IN THE CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE, IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI AND OTHER ELECTRIC SERVICE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CITY, BY CONTRACT, SETTING FORTH THE TERMS OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY AND UNION ELECTRIC D/B/A AMEREN MISSOURI, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, AND PERMITTING SAID COMPANY TO ERECT, OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN POLES, LINES, WIRES, CABLES, TRANSFORMERS, AND OTHER APPLIANCES IN THE STREETS AND ALL OTHER PUBLIC PLACES, NECESSARY FOR AND APPURTENANT TO THE PERFORMANCE OF SAID CONTRACT AS DESCRIBED HEREIN. Councilperson Duckworth made motion to place Bill No. 2020-08 in the Clerk’s office for public inspection until the July meeting, second by Councilperson Lyons, which resulted in the following vote: Reeves Yes Rodgers Yes Duckworth Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes The next bill up was for the renewing of the franchise tax granting for a period of 20 years. Councilperson Duckworth motion for a first reading, second by Councilperson Hood as follows: BILL NO. 2020-09 ORDINANCE NO. 2020-09 AN ORDINANCE RENEWING AN EXISTING FRANCHISE AND GRANTING FOR A PERIOD OF TWENTY (20) YEARS TO UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY D/B/A AMEREN MISSOURI, A CORPORATION, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, A NON-EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE, RIGHT, PERMISSION, AND AUTHORITY TO CONSTRUCT, RECONSTUCT, EXCAVATE FOR, PLACE, MAINTAIN, OPERATE, AND USE ALL EUIPMENT, FACILITIES, DEVICES, MATERIALS, APPARATUS OR MEDIA INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DUCTS, LINES, PIPES, HOSES, CABLES, CULVERTS, TUBES, POLES, TOWERS, WIRES, CONDUITS, CONDUCTORS, MANHOLES, TRANSFORMERS, UNDERGROUND VAULTS, SWITCHGEAR, CAPACITORS, RECEIVERS, AND TRANSMITTERS, WITH ALL NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE APPURTENTANCES AND APPLIANCES IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, IN, ALONG, ACROSS, OVER AND UNDER THE STREETS, ROADS, ALLEYS, SIDEWALKS, SQUARES, BRIDGES, AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES IN THE CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE AND AREAS DEDICATED TO THE CITY FOR PUBLIC UTILITY USE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRANSMITTING, FURNISHING AND DISTRIBUTING ELECTRICITY WITHIN AND THROUGH SAID CITY, PRESCRIBING THE  Page 468 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SUCH GRANT, IMPOSING CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS UPON THE GRANTEE, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, SUCCESSIVELY, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH. Councilperson Hood made motion to place Bill No. 2020-09 in the Clerk’s office for public inspection until the July meeting, second by Councilperson Duckworth, which resulted in the following vote: Reeves Yes Rodgers Yes Duckworth Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes The final bill introduced was for an ordinance for a one year trial period for the sale and discharge of fireworks. Councilperson Lyons made motion for the first reading, second by Councilperson Hood as follows: BILL NO. 2020-10 ORDINANCE NO. 2020-10 AN ORDINANCE TEMPORARILY PERMITTING THE SALE AND DISCHARGE OF FIREWORKS IN THE CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE AND IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS THEREON Councilperson Hood motion for the second reading, second by Lyons, the question being shall Bill No. 2020-10 pass and become known as Ordinance No. 2020-10, which resulted on said question to wit: Reeves Yes Rodgers Yes Duckworth Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Chief Tony Jones had given Counselor Dorroh some information concerning Hale Fireworks for a lease agreement with the City for the parking lot of the Cupples building for a $1,000 rental from June 26, 2020 through July 10, 2020. They would have to provide an updated certificate of insurance and purchase a business license. Councilperson Duckworth motion for approval, second by Councilperson Rodgers, which resulted in the following vote: Reeves Yes Rodgers Yes Duckworth Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Councilperson Rodgers inquired about revisiting the Sales Use Tax, which capture online sales outside of the state that come into Missouri. Counselor Dorroh will be looking into as to when it could be placed on the ballot. Charles Cain wanted to know if there could be extractions from Ameren in lieu of the 20 year agreement; Counselor Dorroh stated discussion could be made for certain concessions. Page 469 There were questions concerning the savings the City has incurred since the solar panels has been put in by Entegrity. Mayor Grantham stated that they were scheduled to come and meet with the City, but amid Covid-19 everything is pushed back. They will be visiting with the City to give the data concerning the savings with the solar panels. Mayor Grantham also thanked Matt Duckworth for his service on the Council. With no further business to come before the Council, Councilperson Duckworth motion to adjourn, second by Councilperson Hood with all in favor, the meeting adjourning at 6:12 p.m. ATTEST: ______________________________________ Mayor _________________________________ City Clerk