City Council

Page 506 CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE November 2, 2020 Be it remembered the Council of the City of Caruthersville met in regular session Monday November 2, 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 Grable Councilperson Hood Councilperson Spence (Absent) Councilperson Rodgers (Phone) Councilperson Glass Councilperson Bullington Councilperson Lyons Councilperson Cheek 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 October 19, 2020. Councilperson Hood motion for approval, second by Councilperson Lyons, with all in favor. Councilperson Grable motion for approval of closed session minutes of October 19, 2020, second by Councilperson Lyons, with all in favor. The next of order of business was the Park & Recreation report; Lamonte Bell inquired about preventive measures that could be taken regarding the pool heater with it having to be reset often indicating it may be going out. Mr. Bell also inquired about the Silver Sneakers insurance payments. Councilperson Grable will be looking into both matters. Pickle ball and pool patrons have increased. Mr. Bell will be looking into an IPad that is able to monitor temperature as patrons enter the building. Police report; Chief Tony Jones reported that the handing out of the candy at the parade was successful. Fire report; Chief Charlie Jones reported fire calls from October 20, 2020 to November 2, 2020 as follows: 10/20; Accident with 18 wheeler striking a vehicle in the rear causing fire on I55, 10/20; Structure fire with moderate damage on Eastwood, 10/22; Gas leak on vacant property on Adams, 10/27; Smoke scare on 32 County Rd, 10/29; Smell of gas with nothing being detected at Midtown apartments, 11/2; Report of odor of burning wires with nothing being detected at Caruthersvilla apartments, 11/2; Two 18 wheelers caught on fire with one striking the other in the rear on I55. Training for the month of October was Extrication Tools and Techniques.  Page 507 Mayor Grantham reported that the Street Sweeper was up and running. Code Enforcement report; Barry Gilmore reported that there have been six dilapidated properties that have been demolished. The Cooks has a trailer left which will be dealt with either through a sale or demolished to clear the property. The house that’s on Kelly Dr. has a loan on it, but it will either get fixed or it has to come down. The burn out on E. 9th has to get fixed or it has to come down. The City owns a lot on E. 12th St. and the County owns two lots. Someone wants to buy the City lot, and Notice was sent to the abutting land owners to see if they were interested in the purchase, and no one responded. The interested party bid $300.00 for the lot; Councilperson Lyons motion to accept the bid, second by Councilperson Bullington, which resulted in the following vote: Grable Yes Hood Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes There’s another property on Eastwood that can be used for training exercises for the Fire department if it meets the standards with the property owner not being liable. Councilperson Bullington motion to authorize the use of the property for training exercises, second by Councilperson Grable, which resulted in the following vote: Grable Yes Hood Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Mr. Gilmore will be looking at demolishing a house on Madison and Grand weather permitting in the next couple of weeks. Library report; Teresa Tidwell reported getting ready for the election by opening up the theater for social distancing. Their numbers are getting back to normal; they’re at a standstill as far the Christmas Storytime, not committing yet. City Collector; Paige Gillock reported that the taxes will be going out this week. The collections for October 1, 2020 through October 31, 2020 are as follows: Real Estate $216.68, Personal Property $428.00, Miscellaneous $1,340.16. Total taxes were $1,887.34 plus Interest $88.03, and Commission $9.47, with the total collections being $1,984.84. There was a question as to when the County would be sending funds for the CARES ACT, and the amount. The City is slated to receive $125,000 by mid-November. Insurance report; Councilperson Bullington reported that the Insurance Committee will be looking at seeing what Nevont through the MBA Affinity Health Plan has to offer in savings for health insurance. Business from the floor; Councilperson Hood reported that the Salvation Army will start up Saturday, November 28, 2020. They will be wearing masks and gloves and sanitizing all equipment. Page 508 This year they are asking people to consider donations to offset the hands on bell ringing, which is being cut back. Lenny Welch inquired about the $25 garbage fee on his bill; he thought the increase would be $2.31. He wanted to know why the City changed companies. Mayor Grantham, Counselor Dorroh, and Council explained that the City was getting a lot of complaints, and the City’s abundance of bulk rubbish was getting out of hand. It was never the City’s position to pick up trash, only during spring cleanup, and the picking up of yard waste was keeping employees from other essential duties. The new trash company will be picking up yard waste and bulk rubbish on the trash pickup day alongside your tote. This will free up the City workers to do what’s needed within the City, and hopefully the City will stay clean. Mayor Grantham entertained a motion to go into closed session for the purpose of personnel and legal matters. Councilperson Hood made the motion, second by Councilperson Lyons, which resulted in the following vote: Grable Yes Hood Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Upon returning from closed session and with no further business to come before the Council Councilperson Grable motion to adjourn, second by Councilperson Hood with all in favor. ATTEST: ________________________________ Mayor ______________________________ City Clerk