City Council

Page 494 CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE September 21, 2020 Be it remembered the Council of the City of Caruthersville met in regular session Monday September 21, 2020 immediately following the Public Hearing 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 Jerry Hudgens Sergeant at Arms Rodgers Councilperson Glass Councilperson Bullington Councilperson Lyons Councilperson Cheek Councilperson Grable (Absent) Councilperson Hood Councilperson Spence Councilperson PUBLIC HEARING September 21, 2020 There was a Public Hearing preceding the Regular Session meeting for any questions or comments about the City of Caruthersville applying for CDBG-Mitigation funding. The funding would be to enhance and improve the water/wastewater facilities to reduce long term risk and lessen the impact of future disasters related to the FEMA declaration disasters. The funding cap would be for $2,500,000 with the application deadline being in October. Counselor Dorroh asked if there were any questions or comments, and with there not being any, the Public Hearing closed. 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 September 8, 2020. Councilperson Hood motion for approval, second by Councilperson Spence, with all in favor. The next order of business was the approval of reports and bills, Councilperson Lyons motion for approval, second by Councilperson Hood, with all in favor. Under petitions, letters, and other communications are as follows: The City of Caruthersville requested proposals for administration services to assist in two proposed projects financed with approximately $5,000,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds. The proposed projects are an infrastructure mitigation project for approximately $2,100,000, requiring $2,000,000 in CDBG funds. There’s also one for a streets and drainage project for approximately $3,200,000 requiring approximately $3,000,000 in CDBG funds. There was only one proposal received, and it was from Mitzi Dell, and her proposal met all the criteria listed in the Request for Proposals. Page 495 The City of Caruthersville also requested RFQ’s for engineering services to assist with two proposed projects: an infrastructure mitigation project and streets and drainage project to be partially funded by CDBG funds, with the remainder to be financed by the City. There was only one firm that sent in a Request for Qualifications, which was Waters Engineering. Waters Engineering meets all criteria set forth in the RFQ’s. Councilperson Bullington motion to accept Mitzi Dell for sewer administration, second by Councilperson Lyons, which resulted in the following vote: Rodgers Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Councilperson Bullington motion to accept Mitzi Dell for streets and drainage administration, second by Councilperson Hood, which resulted in the following vote: Rodgers Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Councilperson Bullington motion to accept Waters Engineering for sewer engineering, second by Councilperson Lyons, which resulted in the following vote: Rodgers Yes Glass `Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Councilperson Bullington motion to accept Waters Engineering for streets and drainage engineering, second by Councilperson Lyons, which resulted in the following vote: Rodgers Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Mayor Grantham asked for a motion to be able to sign off on the Mitigation application and the Long Term Recovery application. Councilperson Rodgers made the motion, second by Councilperson Lyons, which resulted in the following vote: Rodgers Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Page 496 Police report; Assistant Chief Jerry Hudgens reported that a second arrest had taken place involving the August 16, 2020 homicide of Larry McIntyre Jr. Several agencies have been involved with the investigation. The suspect was apprehended in Raytown MO. Fire report; Fire calls from September 8, 2020 through September 21, 2020 are as follows: 9/8/20; An electrical short in the wiring of a breaker box on Jefferson, 9/9/20; Rescue from roof on Eastwood, 9/12/20; Fire alarm sounding on East 5th St., 9/14/20; Structure fire with moderate damage to exterior wall on East 19th St., 9/16/20; Grass fire in median on I55, 9/18/20; Gas riser struck by mower on Chaffin, 9/19/20; Tractor trailer blew a tire and caught on fire on I55, 9/19/20; Ditch bank on fire near Collins Ave., 9/20/20; Fire reported on Route D with heavy smoke which was a farmer burning off a corn field, 9/20/20; Gas meter struck by mower on Laurant. Fire prevention week is October 4, 2020 through October 10, 2020, which will be conducted at the schools this year instead of the fire station. Public Works; Paul Shaw reported inspections being conducted at the Waste Water plant went well with no violations. The Ward Avenue sinkholes were fixed with one section still having a little water that will be taken off to the sides; Taven is also close to being finished. The crew has been doing a lot of mowing, and a leak has been fixed in a field off of Highway 84. The next FEMA projects to be done are on Zaida, the Nursing home, Grand and Laurant. Code Enforcement; Barry Gilmore reported that the overgrown lots from Chaffin, 19th St., to 20th St. had been mowed where a pack of dogs had been corralling. There are three trailers that are on the radar to be rid of, the Cooks, 20th St. and W. 11th St. Mr. Gilmore talked to a contractor that was rerouting the conduit from the boat to the bridge and back to the building for the raising of the sea wall. There’s a plan in the works to remove the vehicles located on the Chaparral lot, and the same for the 3rd St. lot to be mowed, and auctioned off. Councilperson Rodgers made mention that John Wooden will be spearheading a community wide clean up, targeting the East side this weekend. The City will be donating vests and trash bags. Park & Recreation; Lamonte Bell reported that he will be looking at new equipment this week in Memphis, TN. , he will also be looking at making application for credit to purchase a sauna. Mr. Bell has asked for poles to put at the far end of French Park to alleviate pulling in and tilling the ground. He’s also asking to get no littering signs, all being subject to fines. Library report; Teresa Tidwell reported that the Fourth annual Wall of Distinction ceremony will take place Friday, September 25, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. at the Baxter Southern Auditorium. This year’s honorees are the following: Dr. C. F. Cain, Redman Dunham, Howard Fike, Sue Swinger, and John Hammie Smith. City Collector report; The collections from September 1, 2020 through September 17, 2020 are as follows: Real Estate $1,459.94, Personal Property $499.89, Miscellaneous $600.00, with the total taxes being $2,559.83. Budget report; Councilperson Lyons asked for a motion for a budget amendment for the MODOT Airport Grant in the amount of $27,640.00 from Sales Tax Capital Improvement Fund. Councilperson Bullington motion for approval, second by Councilperson Glass, with all in favor.  Page 497 New Business; Mayor Grantham reported that there will be a car show this weekend at the Casino, and there will be a parade. Counselor Dorroh presented a basic engineering agreement provided by John Chittenden for reimbursement of engineering services for the FEMA projects to be executed by the Mayor. Councilperson Lyons motion for approval, second by Councilperson Hood, which resulted in the following vote: Rodgers Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Introduction of Bills; Counselor Dorroh introduced a bill to change the rates for water, sewer, and sanitations services. Councilperson Lyons motion for the first reading by title only as follows: BILL NO. 2020-14 ORDINANCE 2020-14 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE II OF CHAPTER 700 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE, MISSOURI TO INCREASE THE WATER CHARGES IMPOSED THEREBY AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT OF WATER AND SEWER RATES AND TO AMEND SECTION 230.054 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO INCREASE THE SOLID WASTE COLLECTION SERVICE FEES AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT OF SAID FEES Councilperson Lyons motion for a second reading, second by Councilperson Hood, with all in favor. The question is will Bill No. 2020-14 pass and become known as Ordinance 2020-14, Councilperson Lyons motion for passage, second by Councilperson Bullington, which resulted in the following vote: Rodgers Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Councilperson Lyons motion to go into closed session for the purpose of personnel, second by Councilperson Cheek, which resulted in the following vote: Rodgers Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Upon returning from closed session and with no further business to come before the Council, Councilperson Lyons motion to close, second by Councilperson Hood, with all in favor, the meeting adjourning at 6:05 p.m. Page 498 ATTEST: ________________________________ Mayor _________________________________ City Clerk