City Council

Page 563 CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE July 19, 2021 Be it remembered the Council of the City of Caruthersville met in regular session Monday, July 19, 2021 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 Cheek Councilperson Grable Councilperson Hood Councilperson Spence (Absent) Councilperson Rodgers Councilperson Glass Councilperson Bullington Councilperson Lyons 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 for July 6, 2021. Councilperson Cheek motion for approval, second by Councilperson Hood with all in favor. Councilperson Lyons motion for approval of reports and bills, second by Councilperson Grable with all in favor. Police report; Chief Tony Jones reported that all the merchandise was recovered that was stolen while the military personnel was here for the Health Clinic. He also made mentioned that he would be in front of the Public Safety Building with a sign acknowledging the Police department’s defeat with the Fire department’s win in the blood drive participation. Fire report; Fire calls from July 8, 2021 through July 19, 2021 are as follows: 7/8/21; 911 report of a large brush fire, limbs were being burned in a back yard on Route D, 7/11/21; Electrical outlet overloaded and began sparking on Eastwood, 7/16/21; Smoke alarm sounding with nothing being detected on Madison. Public Works; Paul Shaw reported that the monitoring periods for copper and lead indicated that there were no action levels over the limits from the public water system that came back from DNR. The City was also found to be in compliant with the Missouri Clean Water Law with the inspection of a sanitary sewer collection system conducted by DNR. The Historic Water Tower was able to be climbed up to the fifth floor without complications. If allowed in the budget ASA can fix the pavement on 10th St. from Carleton to Truman, 20th St. and Compress, and 9th and Ward for the amount of $70,597.46. Councilperson Grable motion to accept the proposed amount by waiver with the bidding requirement being below the prevailing wage, and the people being in place saving on the mobilization team. Page 564 Councilperson Hood second the motion, which resulted in the following vote: Cheek Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Rodgers Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Code Enforcement; Barry Gilmore reported that several houses had been demolished, and that another one should be demolished Wednesday. The City did a quick claim dead on the old Tiger Hut, and it will be demolished once the bid process and asbestos testing takes place. The four houses on Eastwood have been purchased and will be gutted and renovated. Mr. Gilmore tried to contact the attorney of the owner of the building on Ward that’s in question about its condition, to no avail. There was a question about the old Ben Franklin building; the plans are not known, but all the remaining Churchill properties are to be taken to Byron Medlin’s building on Industrial Dr. and auctioned off. Parks & Recreation; Lamonte Bell inquired about the purchases that were made regarding the 24 hour access, and that the Park Board would like for the purchases to be brought to the Recreation Center. Mayor Grantham stated that Randy Guest was in the process of installing the cameras, but the Park Board Ex Officio Grable could get with Mr. Guest about the rest of the equipment. Mayor Grantham received a certified letter with a check in the amount of $10,000 for the Recreation Center’s pool repairs sent anonymously from an individual in Tennessee. Library report; Teresa Tidwell talked about the Bicentennial Time Capsule that the St. Louis Ambassadors and the State Historical Society of Missouri are partnering together on. They’re asking organizations, institutions, businesses, and government agencies to participate by contributing three items that represent the present, past, and future. The Library contributed a picture of the first library, the building of the 1940 library, and a picture of the building of the 2002 library. Mayor Grantham asked the Historical Society to present three city items; the Water Tower past, present, future, Exchange Building, and Sea Wall/Levee. Missouri 20-21 will be having an ice cream social across the state representing Missouri’s birthday. The City will have its ice cream social on the riverfront; more details coming soon. City Collector report; Paige Gillock turnover report for the month of June is as follows: Total Real Estate Tax/$7,563.05, Total Personal Tax/$1,422.58, Total Tax/$10,815.22, Total Overall/$17,386.80, Due City $17,104.78, Collector’s Commission/$174.08, Assessment Fund/$107.94 Budget report; Councilperson Lyons presented a proposed salary rate increase for the patrolman from the current as follows: Current/Min. hr. rate $15.25; Max. hr. rate $23.48; Proposed/Min. hr. rate $18.50; Max. hr. rate $26.45. The new rates would be in order to compete with the surrounding areas, and would take effect September 1, 2021 along with the other wage increases. Councilperson Grable motion for approval, second by Councilperson Rodgers, which resulted in the following vote: Cheek Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Rodgers Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes  Page 565 Lyons Yes Economic report; Jana Merideth reported that BLP Work Development goal as being work ready has been certified at 100 percent for Pemiscot County. The Arts Council, the City, and A2H met with Shad Burner and presented the vision plan, and talked about funding. Shad Burner will also be at the August 24, 2021 Local Prosperity Team meeting. There’s a DRA grant slated for this area, that’s geared towards high tech agriculture curriculum, and Ms. Merideth will be asking for support by submitting a letter to the proper authorities. The Catfish Tournament is this weekend; Seth Kuykendall will be performing from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. followed by Mary Beth Byrd from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. The Casino will be providing the food for the fish fry upon the request from the Chamber. Barry Gilmore reported that the Country Club will host a Friday night dinner for the event. Mayor Grantham reported that the goal was met for the Water Tower fund raiser, and the grant money will now be able to be released. Business From the Floor; Denny Callen reported that Representative Roan and Senator Bean’s bill had passed and became law, and will take effect August 28, 2021. The bill allows for the Casino to no longer have to be located on a floating platform. Plans are being developed for the building of a new Casino that will be connected to the pavilion, which has to be approved by the Gaming Commission. There will be a non-floating base and hotel tower. The hotel across the street has been purchased, and will be refurbished, and will include an elevator. PUBLIC HEARING The Public Hearing was held after the regular session meeting because of travel constraints. Bradley Clark, Project Administrator at Bootheel Regional Planning Commission manages the funds that come through the Bootheel, and administers them to the contractors and engineers. As of now there’s a Community Development Block Grant in the works for 43 million dollars on a first come first serve basis for low to moderate income communities. The grant can be used for example, general infrastructure, water, waste water, and economic development, broadband. The City would need to provide a preliminary architecture report to start the process if used towards the Exchange Building. There was a needs assessment conducted by asking questions to the public by rating it from fair, poor, good, to non-existent. The questions consisted about water source, drainage, parks and recreation, electricity, gas. There was a section related to the police and fire, energy savings, health care, street, sanitation, parks, emergency medical, sidewalks, parking lots. There was a section geared towards community facilities and educational profile. There was a section about a priority list about what needs to be fixed the most, and the answers were as follows: 1) Jobs/Workforce Development 2) Economic Development 3) Downtown Tourism 4) Clean-up 5) Infrastructure. CDBG money and COVID money can be applied for at the same time. With the CDBG money putting in matching funds makes you more competitive. Money that’s donated that’s ear marked for a certain project may also be considered matching funds; Mr. Clark will be looking into it. With there not being any more questions the Public Hearing was closed. Mayor Grantham entertained a motion to go into closed session for the purpose of real Page 566 estate and personnel. Councilperson Lyons made motion, second by Councilperson Bullington, which resulted in the following vote: Cheek Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Rodgers Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Upon returning from closed session, and with no further business to come before the Council, Councilperson Lyons motion to adjourn, second by Councilperson Hood, with all in favor. ATTEST: ________________________________ Mayor _________________________________ City Clerk