City Council

CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE August 21, 2023 Page 750 Be it remembered the Council of the City of Caruthersville met in regular session Monday August 21, 2023 in the Council room of the Municipal Building at which time and place the following were present: Takella Motton City Clerk Lawrence Dorroh City Counselor Sue Grantham Mayor Tony Jones Sergeant at Arms Bullington Councilperson Lyons Councilperson Fales Councilperson Grable Councilperson Hood Councilperson Spence Councilperson Robinson Councilperson Glass 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 August 7, 2023. Councilperson Grable motion for approval, second by Councilperson Glass with all in favor. Councilperson Lyons motion for approval of the closed session minutes for August 7, 2023, second by Councilperson Glass with all in favor. Councilperson Lyons motion for approval of reports and bills, second by Councilperson Grable with all in favor. Mayor Grantham entertained a motion to change the next meeting for Tuesday September 5, 2023 in observance of Labor Day. Councilperson Bullington made the motion, second by Councilperson Hood, which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Absent Robinson Yes Glass Yes Humane report; Karol Wilcox reported that Intake was 34 animals and 25 adopted out, with the Shelter total being 91. The goal is to have 75 for a balance and expenses. The dogs that were under a house, and in a culvert near City Hall were all captured, which in turn got seven feral animals off the streets. There’s a situation on Jefferson in which the owner has seven to thirteen cats, the Shelter is obligated to give them a chance to correct the problem. The pit bulls that were a problem in the past, are being let out again, and will be cited. Page 751 Fire report; Lynn Moss reported four fire calls from August 7, 2023 through August 21, 2023. One was out of town on I55 which was a grass fire. There will be a First Responder Appreciation Night at Hopke Field Friday August 25, 2023. All First Responders are invited to attend. Public Works; Dustin Sterling Operations Report for Alliance for July is as follows: Administrative/The electronic Discharge Monitoring Report was submitted to DNR, and the Compliance Monitoring Report for Groundwater Systems. Alliance will also be issuing a check for $3,478.00 for the remainder of the Repair/Chemical budget which is included in the monthly fees during the 2022/2023 fiscal year. Treatment/Third Street Water Plant operating normally, Industrial Treatment Plant running in conjunction with the Third St. Plant normally. The Wastewater Treatment Plant is operating with a 97.7% BOD removal efficiency and a 98.3% TSS removal efficiency. Regulatory/There were eight Bac-T samples taken, 3rd St Plant sampled for Inorganic Compounds, and 33 Wastewater samples taken, and all passed DNR requirements. Collection Distribution/There were 19 service orders, 67 line locates, repaired water leak on Bell and Highland, relocated a service line on Bell for storm sewer install, repaired grinder pump at the Humane Society, assisted contractor with a manhole installation at Southgate, repaired lift station at Taven due to a surge from a storm, and cleared sewer backup at Jiffy Jim’s. Project Update/Composite samplers were installed at the Wastewater Plant. The safety meeting was on Excavation Safety. June repair expenses were under budgeted by ($5,665) and Chemical Expenses were over budgeted by $367.00. Code Enforcement; Barry Gilmore reported Liz Grove from Rural Water will be here Friday August 25, 2023 to start a rate study for the City. Obtained quotes from Logan Meeks to examine the old Ben Franklin building and the David Davis building for $4,150.00 and $2,850.00. Mr. Gilmore also had quotes for backhoes in which he’ll follow up with the Council at the next meeting for a more definitive recommendation. Waste Pro will be starting pickups early because of the heat, have your trash out the night before or by 5:00 a.m. More notices were sent out this morning bringing it to a total of 400 year to date. The truck stop is proceeding; MODOT says there’s not a parcel for access; Mr. Gilmore believes that Greenwell/Industrial Rd can be used for egress. Good Day Farm goal is to have the temporary building up by September 8, 2023, and the parcel for the building will be what was established in the ordinance. Councilperson Grable made reference to the Connex trailer or Stonewall Dr., and another house that is a nuisance on Stonewall. Councilperson Grable was also was concerned about the cars, junk, and grass on W. 12th St. and short Schults. All three properties Mr. Gilmore has been dealing with; the trailer has to be removed, the house is owned by a home equity company, in which the City can’t simply tear down. All properties have received notices, and the cars will be picked up once the warrants have been issued. Parks & Recreation; Lamonte Bell reported that on September 13, 2023 there will be a Casting Carnival sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation teaching how to cast fishing rods from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. There were 25 signups for the swim team, and about 25 that couldn’t make it for the signups. Mr. Bell had a question as to the hiring of the swimming coach as an employee or contractor. Counselor Dorroh will be assisting Mr. Bell with the determination Library report; Marsh Hayes reported that the automated doors were in, and installation should  Page 752 be occurring soon. There will be a bi-weekly story time on the first and third Mondays at 10:00 a.m.in which there will be crafts and snacks also provided for the kids. Ms. Hayes is also working on a tech grant for $22,000.00 for laptops and ipads. The grounds of the Library hasn’t been tended to as it should. Ms. Hayes says it’s been ongoing throughout the year in which patrons always point out to her. Mayor Grantham state that she would be taking care of it in the morning. Business From the Floor; Don Jeffries returned to Counselor Dorroh after examination the draft of a historic preservation code in order for the City to be certified as a “Certified Local Government” for grant purposes. Mr. Jeffries also gave Counselor a summary of matching grant requirements. Since the last meeting Mr. Jeffries was contacted by the Jeffris Foundation letting him know that the Historic Water Tower Committee has been invited to participate in the funding grant challenge in the amount of $480,000 to be raised in three years. Mayor Grantham stated the kick off will be September 14, 2023 for a dinner that would include a silent auction, music, and competition between the tables, tickets will printed on sale by tomorrow. Grants will be the bulk of the fund raising. Introduction to Bills; Counselor Dorroh introduced Bill No. 2023-06 for out of town fires and a service agreement, and stated the first reading was in order. Councilperson Lyons motion for the first reading second by Councilperson Hood with all in favor as follows: BILL NO. 2023-06 ORDINANCE 2023-06 AN ORDINANCE REPEALING SUBSECTIONS B THROUGH H OF SECTION 205.100 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY AND ENACTING NEW SUBSECTIONS B THROUGH E TO ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT NEW PROGRAM TO CHARGE MITIGATION FEES FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF EMERGENCY AND NON-EMERGENCY SERVICES BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR SERVICES RENDERED BY THE CARUTHRSVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO RURAL AREAS Councilperson Lyons motion for the second reading, second by Councilperson Hood with all in favor. Councilperson Bullington motion for passage, second by Councilperson Hood, which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes Glass Yes Counselor Dorroh introduced Bill No. 2023-07 for the biannual Conflict of Interest by public officials to be independent of decisions for personal gain, stated that the first reading was in order. Councilperson Hood motion for the first reading, second by Councilperson Grable with all in favor as follows: BILL NO. 2023-07 ORDINANCE 2023-07 AN ORDINANCE OF CARUTHERSVILLE, MISSOURI, TO ESTABLISH A PROCEDURE TO DISCLOSE POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND SUBSTANTIAL INTERESTS FOR CERTAIN OFFICIALS Councilperson Lyons motion for the second reading, second by Councilperson Grable with all in favor. Councilperson Lyons motion for passage, second by Councilperson Bullington, which resulted in Page 753 the following vote: Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes Glass Yes Councilperson Hood motion to go into closed session for the purpose of personnel and legal, second by Councilperson Lyons, which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes Glass Yes Upon returning from closed session, Councilperson Lyons motion to adjourn, second by Councilperson Hood with all in favor. ATTEST: ________________________________ Mayor _____________________________ City Clerk