City Council

Page 537 CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE April 5, 2021 Be it remembered the Council of the City of Caruthersville met in regular session Monday April 5, 2021 in the Council room of the Municipal Building at which time and place the following were present: Sue Grantham (Absent) Mayor Takella Motton City Clerk Lawrence Dorroh City Counselor Tony Jones Sergeant at Arms Lyons Councilperson Cheek Councilperson Grable (Absent) Councilperson Hood Mayor Pro Tem Spence Councilperson Rodgers Councilperson Glass Councilperson Bullington Councilperson PUBLIC HEARING A Public Hearing was held during regular session on an amendment of zoning and for a conditional use permit for construction and operation of an electrical substation. Counselor Dorroh started off by saying that Ameren MO had requested to permit the construction and operation of an electrical substation on Juliet Ave. An ordinance was prepared, and the Planning & Zoning Commission made recommendation to the Council that the Code of Ordinances be amended to add electrical substations under the City’s conditional use regulations. The Commission also recommended granting Ameren MO conditional use to permit. The floor was open for any comments for the requests. With there not being any comments, Councilperson Lyons motion to close the Public Hearing, second by Councilperson Cheek, with all in favor. The number of members necessary to consider a quorum being present, Mayor Pro Tem Hood 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 March 16, 2021. Councilperson Lyons motion for approval, second by Councilperson Spence, with all in favor. Councilperson Cheek motion for approval of the closed session minutes, 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 Cheek, with all in favor. A letter was received from Elizabeth Hightower concerning the expiration of Board Member Rick Young’s appointment to the Housing Authority Board. Ms. Hightower recommended the Page 538 reappointment of Mr. Young. Mayor Pro Tem entertained a motion to reappoint Rick Young to the Housing Authority Board. Councilperson Bullington motion to approve, second by Councilperson Lyons, which resulted in the following vote: Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Rodgers Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Police report; Chief Tony Jones reported that Shane Wiseman and Jerry Hudgens were both resigning from the police force. Shane Wiseman accepted the Chief of Police position with Hayti that started today. Jerry Hudgens last day will be April 9, 2021, and would like to take his remaining vacation through May 14, 2021. He would like to stay on as part time, and will help with the transition. Mr. Hudgens will be going to Nucor for the opportunity for the betterment of his family. Mayor Pro Tem inquired about the drag racing that was occurring in town. Chief Jones stated that the department was aware of the problem, and will not be giving out warnings, but giving out tickets and arresting. Mayor Pro Tem entertained a motion to accept resignations of Shane Wiseman and Jerry Hudgens. Councilperson Cheek made motion, second by Councilperson Bullington with all in favor. Chief Jones will be issuing a new release tomorrow about the road blocks occurring in April checking for City stickers. The department is running out of room in the Evidence room, and will be bringing in a pod for temporary storage, but would like to be able to use part of the Medic One building for storage. Fire report; Fire calls from March 18, 2021 through April 5, 2021 are as follows: 3/18/21; Structure fire of vacant house a total loss on County Rd. 551, 3/19/21; Smoke scare on Walker, 3/19/21; Burned pizza on stove on West 6th St., 3/20/21; Malfunction of a stove igniter on Hwy U, 3/22/21; Brush fire on County Rd. 366 & 363, 3/24/21; Fire alarm sounding on East 19th St., 3/25/21; Mobile home afire in Cooter, 3/25/21; Lift assist at Riverview apartments, 3/26/21; Structure fire with moderate damage on Brown, 3/27/21; Mutual aid request for a structure fire on County Rd. 337, 3/29/21; Carbon Dioxide alarm sounding at The Store. Training for the month of March was Storm Spotter training by webinar from the National Weather Service in Memphis, TN. Chief Charlie Jones also requested consideration to store emergency management equipment in one of the bays of the Medic One building. Public Works; Paul Shaw reported that the TAP grant for the water tower park was denied. The th 20 & Lincoln lift station utility bill has been over $6,000 a month, and waiting for a price to repair. The fuel for the by-pass pumps at 3rd St. and 20th & Lincoln has been excessive. The Maple storm water station controller needs replacing, and there’s a quote of $4,162.00 for the 3rd & Eastwood controller replacement, which is budgeted for. There was also mentioning again of a part time person to address bookkeeping and fill in other departments when needed. G & C will be gone three weeks while Vandevanter does work. When G & C comes back they will start on the Water plant, and then construction of the roads. Councilperson Lyons made motion to accept the budgeted item for the controller replacement, second by Councilperson Cheek, which resulted in the following vote: Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Rodgers Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes  Page 539 Code Enforcement; Barry Gilmore reported that he had an agreement with Daryl Young to demolish C H Young grocery by June 1, 2021. The house at 304 East 10th St. is coming down, 70 to 80 notices have been sent out for tall grass in Ward 1, and the tractor will be in operation to start on the county lots. Mr. Gilmore will place an ad in the paper tomorrow for hiring to mow to get ahead of the mowing. Also in Ward 1 there are 10 to 15 houses in which Notices have been sent out to demolish by July 1, 2021; will try to do three to four a month. The Parkview problem has been given time to properly tag and title vehicles and keep the property clean. Park & Recreation; Lamonte Bell reported that he ordered the metal detector, but it didn’t go through, will be checking to see what the problem is. Radios will be provided to the monitors so they can report immediately if an incident occurs. The protocol is to ask the individual(s) to stop the altercation and not try to physically stop an altercation, but to call the police or push the emergency button so they can be removed from the premises. Library report; Teresa Tidwell reported working on the summer reading program; partnering again with Karol Wilcox, Conservation Agency, and 4H. The My Missouri 2021 Photo Exhibit will be at the Library April 15, 2021 through May 10, 2021. A reception will take place on April 15, 2021 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. City Collector; Paige Gillock reported an increase in city sticker purchases. Tax collections from April 1, 2021 through April 5, 2021 are as follows: Real Estate/$1,225.65, Personal Property/$1,501.19, Miscellaneous/$722.13, Total Taxes/$3,120.72 + Interest and fees = Total Collections/$3,448.97. Budget report; Councilperson Bullington reported that there’s money set aside for the Exchange building that the Casino donated, which was $27,000, the County also donated $25,000. A2H is seeking grants for the Exchange building and working on a design. Councilperson Bullington proposed to move the money into its own account, and start fund raisers to show the effort for contributions to be more attractive for grants. Councilperson Bullington motion to have the $52,000 moved to the Exchange Building account, second by Councilperson Spence, which resulted in the following vote: Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Rodgers Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Insurance report; Councilperson Bullington reported that the Airport insurance was up for renewal with the rate being $2,000 same as last year. Councilperson Lyons motion for approval, second by Councilperson Cheek, which resulted in the following vote: Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Rodgers Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes The recommendation of the Insurance committee is to stay with United Health Care, the overall Page 540 increase to the City is about $2,000. There are two employees on Option 1, and UHC is recommending them to move to Option 2 with the renewal rates being similar. The Option 2 rate to the employees will be $60.00 per pay period an increase of $12.90. Most employees are on Option 3 the current rate is $11.30, and the renewal rate will be $25.00; a Core Essential is also provided with limited providers, the annual deductible is less but some of the physician services are more. Option 4 current rate is $6.61 and the renewal rate for the employee per pay period will be $15.00; compared to the other plans the annual deductibles are lower, but the physician services and prescriptions are higher. Option 4 is Core Essential which has limited providers. Councilperson Lyons motion for the approval of staying with White & Associates under the UHC plan, second by Councilperson Hood, which resulted in the following vote: Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Rodgers Yes Glass Abstain Bullington Yes The City’s current supplemental insurance is with Aflac as primary. The Insurance committee met with Colonial Life and Kemper. Colonial Life benefits and services were better, and the Committee recommends Colonial Life as the primary supplemental. Councilperson Lyons motion for approval, second by Councilperson Cheek, which resulted in the following vote: Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Rodgers Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Business From the Floor; Carlton Sherrill addressed the Council about a problem with people staying in a shed across from the shelter that is being worked on for the people the Church are trying to help. Mr. Sherrill made mention that there’s a lot of traffic at and in between the shed, and there have been a lot of break-ins at the shelter. Mr. Sherrill wanted to know if he could get help with the problem. Counselor Dorroh recommended that Mr. Sherrill work in his grant for personnel for surveillance at night. Counselor also implied that a search warrant could be provided if there was sufficient evidence of any violations. Counselor Dorroh introduced Bill No. 2021-01 amending the conditional use permit to include electrical substations. Councilperson Lyons motion for the first reading by title only, second by Councilperson Bullington as follows: BILL NO. 2021-01 ORDINANCE NO. 2021-01 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE IV OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO INCLUDE ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS AMONG THE ENUMERATED USES FOR WHICH A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT MAY BE GRANTED Councilperson Lyons motion for the second reading, second by Councilperson Hood; the question is will Bill No. 2021-01 pass and become known as Ordinance No. 2020-01, which resulted in the following vote on said question to wit:  Page 541 Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Rodgers Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Counselor Dorroh entertained a motion to grant a conditional use permit for placement of an electrical substation on Juliet by Union Electric DBA Ameren Missouri in the form of a Resolution drafted by the City Attorney and signed by the Mayor. Councilperson Lyons made motion, second by Councilperson Hood, which resulted in the following vote: Lyons Yes Cheek Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Rodgers Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes With no further business to come before the Council, Councilperson Lyons motion to adjourn, second by Councilperson Cheek with all in favor. ATTEST: _______________________________ Mayor ________________________________ City Clerk