City Council

CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE July 18, 2023 Page 744 Be it remembered the Council of the City of Caruthersville met in regular session Tuesday July 18, 2023 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 Lyons (Absent) Councilperson Fales Councilperson Grable Councilperson Hood Councilperson Spence (Absent) Councilperson Robinson Councilperson Glass Councilperson Bullington 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 3, 2023. Councilperson Hood motion for approval, second by Councilperson Glass with all in favor Councilperson Bullington motion for approval of reports and bills, second by Councilperson Hood, with all in favor. Next on the agenda was adopting the budget from last year so that the City could continue conducting business. Councilperson Bullington made the motion, second by Councilperson Hood, which resulted in the following vote: Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Robinson Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Unfinished Business; Councilperson Grable inquired about the status of the speedbump request for Playground and Greenwell Rd. The speedbumps would have to be ordered, and Barry Gilmore will inquire about the cost effectiveness of the asphalt company being able to put in a low roll. Humane report; Karol Wilcox reported adopting nine dogs with six going to rescue, intake for the month as of now is 14 cats and 26 dogs. An owner that the Shelter has been dealing with for over a year, dogs had to be euthanized because of their poor conditions. The owner was left with one, and was given instructions to clean up or she would end up losing it also. The area on 4th & Highland, 5th & Cotton and West 4th had been taken care of through the courts, but now the same people have different dogs. The area is being worked again, and will be taken through the same process of the court system. A pit Page 745 bull was picked up at the Middle School , being aggressive at the Summer Food Program, and the owner refuses to come forward. All the kennels are full, with five being temporary. A neglect case was done on Friday, and went to the emergency veterinarian. They continue to respond to well-being checks. Fire report; Lynn Moss reported during July 1, 2023 through July 18, 2023 there were 13 fire calls with two being out of the city limits. One call was the weight scales on I55, the page should have gone to Steele, and the other was for a car on fire on I55 which was unfound. Approximately 100 notices were sent out for renewals of fire subscriptions, and have received 90 as of date. A 35 year veteran fireman turned in his resignation over the weekend. He has enjoyed his term with the department, but has accepted a position to relocate for a greater opportunity for him and his family. Councilperson Bullington motion to accept the resignation, second by Councilperson Grable, which resulted in the following vote: Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Robinson Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Public Works; Dustin Sterling Alliance Operation Report for June 2023 is as follows: Administrative/The electronic Discharge Monitoring Report has not been submitted due not having the results of the lead test. The compliance Monitoring Report for Groundwater has been submitted to DNR. Treatment/Third St. Plant is operating at a normal rate, Industrial Treatment Plant aerator has been repaired and is fully operational, Wastewater Treatment Plant performing with a 98.0% BOD removal efficiency and a 96.6% TSS removal efficiency. Regulatory/ Eight Bac-T samples were taken, and all passed, and 29 Wastewater samples which also passed. Collection & Distribution/There were 20 customer service orders completed, 30 line locates, installation of a water service line, and a leak repaired. Project Updates/The new check valves were installed at the Third St. Water Plant. Safety/Meeting on Work Zone and Flagger Safety was held July 7, 2023. For the month of May Repair Expenses were under budget by ($39,260) and Chemical Expenses over budget by $2,614. Code Enforcement; Barry Gilmore reported that the Welcome sign on Hwy 84 had been repaired, and that all the Welcome signs were now fixed. There have currently been 50 to 60 more notices sent out. Mr. Gilmore presented the Council with engineering drawings of the new truck stop; awaiting regulatory conditions from MODOT. Also, awaiting permitting regarding Good Day Farm. Mr. Gilmore proposed getting fuel for the tanks in the Maintenance yard, and repairing the diesel tank. Councilperson Bullington motion for approval, second by Councilperson Glass which resulted in the following vote: Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Robinson Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Councilperson Bullington revisited concerns about the two building on Ward Ave. status at being torn down. Barry Gilmore reiterated that a dangerous building notice had been sent to the owners, and  Page 746 and that there could potentially be something done about the old Ben Franklin building, with the other being a longer process. Parks & Recreation; Lamonte Bell reported that the turnover for the month of June was up over $3,000.00. The water aerobics class has increased to 24 members, FCC regionals are coming every day, and The Stop the Violence Movement will resume in August. There will be a host of speakers coming August 10, 2023, the Football League is starting, and a Swim team will start in September. Library report; Marsha Hayes reported that the automatic doors wouldn’t be installed until November 15, 2023. The Summer Reading program averages from 40 to 60 kids every Tuesday, and next Tuesday they will be having bouncy houses and slides. Ms. Hayes also is looking into getting bids to reseal the windows. Introduction of Bills; An ordinance establishing and implementing a program to charge mitigation rates for the deployment of emergency and non-emergency services by the fire department for services provided/rendered by/for the Caruthersville fire department. The bill has to be restructured to alleviate charges to residences within the city limits. With no further business to come before the Council, Councilperson Hood motion to adjourn, second by Councilperson Bullington, with all in favor. ATTEST: ________________________________ Mayor _______________________________ City Clerk