City Council

Page 784 CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE December 18, 2023 Be it remembered the Council of the City of Caruthersville met in regular session Monday December 18, 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 Terry Privett Sergeant at Arms Glass Councilperson Bullington Councilperson Lyons Councilperson Fales Councilperson Grable Councilperson Hood (Absent) Councilperson Spence Councilperson Robinson 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 December 4, 2023. Councilperson Bullington motion for approval, second by Councilperson Glass with all in favor. Councilperson Lyons motion for approval of reports and bills, second by Councilperson Glass, with all in favor. Councilperson Grable made motion for the next meeting to occur on Tuesday January 2, 2024 in observance of New Year’s Day. Councilperson Lyons second the motion with all in favor. Barbara Merideth reported that Wreaths Across America was a huge success; the participation was great and they received more wreaths than what was needed. The match program will be ongoing until January 17, 2024. Ms. Merideth proposed to the Council as to having a Revolutionary War Patriot Marker to be placed at the Library. DRA would pay for the marker, and the City would do the installation. Councilperson Fales motion to accept the proposal, second by Councilperson Grable with all in favor. Mayor Grantham announced that the broadband could be installed as early as February or March, in which PD Fiber is doing on their own. Maps will be constructed by the middle of January and submitted to the Council for the residential areas that’s part of the grant process. Police report; Assistant Chief Terry Privett reported that the body cam policy was being covered with the officers. There was an incident that occurred during the week, and is under investigation. Humane report; Karol Wilcox stated that the Shelter’s license renewal was coming up January 31  Page 785 2024. There were 26 animals taken in since the last meeting; 26 were adopted out, two Rescues, and two euthanized. Pet Sense has been great they took in 16 cats within a weeks’ time. Fire report; Chief Lynn Moss reported that there have been seven calls thus far in December. Since the last report there were two fire calls; 12/16/203; Vehicle fire on Belle, 12/18/2023; Structure fire on Grand. There have been 134 fire calls for the year. Public Works; Alliance Operations Report for November 2023 is as follows: Administrative/ The Electronic Discharge Monitoring Report for the month of September was submitted to DNR. The Compliance Monitoring Report for the month of September was also submitted to DNR. Treatment/Third St. Water plant operating normally, Industrial Treatment plant operating normally and is ready to run in conjunction with the Third St. plant when the demand increases. The Wastewater Plant is operating with a 95.3% BOD removal efficiency, and 91.9% TSS removal efficiency. Regulatory/Nine Bac-T samples were taken, and all passed, 16 Wastewater samples were taken with a violation received for ammonia when the rotor was off for routine maintenance. Collection & Distribution/Twenty-three customer service orders were completed, 25 inspections for new tenants, sewer and water was connected for the Dispensary, and seven service lines were rodded out. Repair Expenses were under budget by $8,039.00 and Chemical Expenses were over budget by $512.00. Library report; Marsha Hayes reported that Santa and the Gingerbread Man will be at the Library tomorrow. The doors will be in Wednesday, and hopefully they can get them operable without a hitch. The birthday calendars will be in January 10, 2024, and story time will be every other Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. Mayor Grantham would like to appoint two more board members, and asked for the Council approval for Jack Hubbard and Amanda Maclin. Councilperson Bullington motion for approval, second by Councilperson Grable, which resulted in the following vote: Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes Code Enforcement; Barry Gilmore reported that the primacy fee that is due in the summer was undercharged, and was corrected by paying $2,500.00. Mr. Gilmore is looking at adding 76 cents extra to the water bill for one month. Mr. Gilmore talked to three providers for GSI service, and the City would have to pay for the equipment. The Council will be provided with the numbers and pros and cons for the different providers. There will be two more houses up for demo on East 7th St. and East 14th &Walker. There were three more samples taken for asbestos testing. The additional streets that were being looked at with money left over from the grant fell through. The City will be doing the work instead if the weather prevails. City Collector; Paige Gillock reported collections from December 1, 2023 through December 18, 2023 as follows: Real Estate $98,631.73, Personal Property $48,856.32, Drainage Districts $960.00, Miscellaneous $1,122.00, Total Taxes $149,306.73, Interest & Fees $317.07, Total Taxes $149,623.80 Page 786 New Business; Mayor Grantham talked with Ameren, Representatives, and MODOT about the lighting on Truman. There’s a grant that will be available in March that incorporates lights with sidewalks, and the City will be applying. Business From the Floor; Mr. Jessie Lyles was concerned about dangerous buildings within the City. Mr. Gilmore stated that on one of the buildings he had given the owner information as to how to stabilize, and the two other buildings would have to be demolished; the paperwork would have to be redone to reflect the change which would be put on a tax lien. Bids would have to take place, and specs drawn up for the security of the one building that’s next to another building. Councilperson Bullington motion for the bid and specs to take place, second by Councilperson Fales, which resulted in the following vote: Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes Chyneva Moore was concerned about having to pay a fee for the City services of rodding out her sewer. She didn’t think it was her responsibility since the MACO had made the call instead of her. Mr. Gilmore explained that the City was only responsible for sewer main not private lines, and her problem was within her line which was grease. The City has gone out to the residence at least two times, and there has been a plumber to her residence. The administration will be looking into the matter as to who’s responsible for the charges for the City services. Budget report; Councilperson Lyons reported that the Finance Committee had met and recommends moving to L7 for Missouri Lagers retirement benefits. An ordinance would have to take place for the move to L7. Counselor Dorroh stated that it would be in order for the first reading in full. Councilperson Bullington made the motion, second by Councilperson Lyons with all in favor as follows: BILL NO. 2023-12 ORDINANCE NO. 2023-12 AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A CHANGE TO THE CITY’S EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PROGRAM UNDER THE MISSOURI LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE’S RETIREMENT SYSTEM WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Caruthersville has complied with the notice and filing requirements of Section 105.675 RSMo; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Caruthersville understands that, by adopting this benefit change, the City Council of the City of Caruthersville is accepting the legal obligation to fund the elected benefits now and in the future and that it will be financially able to do so. WHEREAS, the fiscal officer of the City of Caruthersville is authorized to deduct from the wages or salaries of each employee member, the employee contributions, if any, required by Section 70.705, RSMo, and to  Page 787 promptly remit such contributions to LAGERS, along with the employer contributions required by Sections 70.705, 70.730, and 70.735 RSMo. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Caruthersville as follows: Section 1. The City Council of the City of Caruthersville, an employer under the Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System (LAGERS), hereby elects the following: 1. To adopt a change in the Benefit Program of covered employees, changing to Benefit Program L-7 in accordance with 70.655 RSMo. Section 2. The city clerk shall certify this election to the Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System within ten days hereof. Such election shall be effective on the first day of January, 2024. Section 3. This Ordinance shall be effective upon its passage and approval. READ TWO TIMES, PASSED AND APPROVED, on this 18th day of December, 2023. APPROVED: _________________________________ ATTEST: Sue Grantham, Mayor ______________________________ Takella Motton, City Clerk Councilperson Grable motion for the second reading by title only, second by Councilperson Robinson, with all in favor. Councilperson Bullington made motion for passage, second by Councilperson Lyons, which resulted in the following vote: Glass Absent Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes Mayor Grantham made recommendation to appoint Assistant Chief Terry Privett as interim Chief of Police before the election takes place. Councilperson Grable made the motion for approval, second by Councilperson Spence, which resulted in the following vote: Glass Absent Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales Yes Page 788 Grable Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes Councilperson Bullington motion to go into closed session, second by Councilperson Lyons, which resulted in the following vote: Glass Absent Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes Upon returning to open session, Councilperson Bullington motion to have the Police department gas card to be cancelled, second by Councilperson Fales, which resulted in the following vote: Glass Absent Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Spence Absent Robinson Yes ATTEST: ________________________________ Mayor _________________________________ City Clerk