City Council

Page 816 CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE May 28, 2024 Be it remembered the Council of the City of Caruthersville met in regular session Tuesday May 28, 2024 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 Jerry Hudgens Sergeant at Arms Glass Councilperson Bullingon (Absent) Councilperson Lyons (Absent) Councilperson Fales Councilperson Grable Councilperson Hood 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 April 15, 2024. Councilperson Glass motion for approval, second by Councilperson Robinson, with all in favor. Councilperson Hood made motion for the approval of the closed session minutes of April 15, 2024, second by Councilperson Glass, with all in favor. Councilperson Hood motion for approval of reports and bills, second by Councilperson Glass, with all in favor. The next order of business was the following City appointments: City Clerk/Takella Motton, Court Clerk/Nyoka Rushing, City Counselor and City Prosecutor/Lawrence Dorroh, Municipal Judge/Kim Carter, City Engineer/John Chittenden, City Code Enforcement/Barry Gilmore, Building Commissioner/ John Ferguson, Emergency Manager/Charlie Jones. Councilperson Hood made motion for approval, second by Councilperson Glass, which resulted in the following vote: Glass Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes The Department Heads appointments are as follows: Fire Chief/Lynn Moss, Public Works/Barry Gilmore, Parks & Recreation/Lamonte Bell, Librarian/Marsha Hayes. Councilperson Hood made motion for approval, second by Councilperson Fales, which resulted in the following vote: Glass Yes Fales Yes  Page 817 Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes The City Boards and Commissions appointments are as follows: Parks & Recreation Library Board Cemetery Board Jimmy Jackson Paul Shaw Katherine Parkinson Michael Buttrom Betty Toles Sandra Hooker Steve Rodgers Anne Jeffries Melissa McClain Charles Motton Beth Cagle John Buchanan Dustin Price Susan Matthews Rick Clark Amanda Haywood Amanda Maclin Charlie Jones Grant Marshall Jackie Hubbard Ex Officio/Luther Robinson Dameon Alexander Doyle Wayne Carter John Walker Jamie Cagle Coach Dom Guglielmo Ex Officio/Leighan Fales Ex Officio/Don Grable Planning & Zoning Commission Board of Adjustments Tree & Beautification John Ferguson Crystal Fugate Jane Ellen Lazenby Teresa Tidwell Tommy Clayton Karen Meeks Dustin Price Lancy Mansfield Barbara Rodgers Lisa Curtis John Ferguson Martha Fowlkes Karen Meeks Kelly Smith John Buchanan Cathy Morgan Ex Officio/Jennifer Spence Ex Officio/JJ Bullington Ross Hubbard Trey Cain Airport Board John Ferguson Jarred Yates Glen Haynes Baughn Merideth Ex Officio/Johnny Hood Chris Cobb Ex Officio/Jimmy Lyons City/Barry Gilmore Jeff Pierce City/Barry Gilmore Councilperson Grable motion for approval of the appointments, second by Councilperson Robinson, which resulted in the following vote: Glass Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes The Council Committee appointments are as follows: Finance/Jimmy Lyons, JJ Bullington, Johnny Hood, Paul Glass. Police & Fire/Johnny Hood, Don Grable, Jennifer Spence, Leighan Fales. Street & Sanitation/Luther Robinson, Don Grable, Paul Glass, Jennifer Spence. Water & Waste Water/ Paul Glass, Luther Robinson, JJ Bullington, Jimmy Lyons. Insurance/Jennifer Spence, JJ Bullington, Leighan Fales, Luther Robinson. Councilperson Hood motion for approval, second by Councilperson Fales, which resulted in the following vote: Glass Yes Fales Yes Page 818 Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes Chief Jerry Hudgens presented the Council with an Officer Training Reimbursement Agreement in which the City would pay for training expenses to attend Academy. The employee would reimburse the City if the contract was not fulfilled within 30 days for the first monthly payment under the following conditions: Years of Service Agreed Amount 0-1 100% 1-2 75% 2-3 50% 3-4 25% >4 Zero Chief Hudgens reported that from April 15, 2024 to the present that 909 calls of service was responded to, and 192 cases were investigated. The Clicket or Ticket grant is ongoing with a mandatory three contacts per hour. An officer completed VCA training which enables them to work DUI cases. The department is also looking at having fundraisers to put AED machines into patrol vehicles. Appointments for the Police department are as follows: Tony Jones/Asst. Chief, Chris Thacker/Captain, Jeremy Darnell/Captain, Jesse Johnson/Sergeant/Investigator, Shane Wiseman/ Sergeant, James Beaver/Corporal, Corey Vaughn/Patrolman/Corporal, John Brotz/Patrolman/Corporal, David Ward/Patrolman, Michael Sanders/Patrolman, Montoya Covinginton/SRO, Matt Wimberly/ Humane Officer. Councilperson Fales motion for approval, second by Councilperson Spence, which resulted in the following vote: Glass Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes Humane report; Karol Wilcox reported intake was 107 plus the 10 that were abandoned at the Shelter, 51 adopted out, 16 rescued, six owner redeemed, and five euthanized. Dumping animals at the Shelter when no one is there is unacceptable, especially in the manner the 10 were abandoned, which could have led to death. The back kennels were non-compliant by the State, and there’s a 30 day window to get them in compliance. The dogs have been chewing through the plywood, and the Shelter is looking getting plastic panels with metal flashings that will prevent the dogs from chewing. There were 121 animals vaccinated at the Vaccine Clinic, and the Shelter paid for 55 City tags. There were over 100 walker/runners during the 5k. The car show will be this weekend with the proceeds from the Pin Up Pageant going to the Shelter; the pageant starts at 1:30 p.m. Fire report; Chief Lynn Moss reported 10 calls for the month of May as follows: Four structure fires, two vehicle fires, one dumpster fire, one alarm call, one extrication, and one mutual aid for Hayti to a church fire in Pascola. The Fire appointments are as follows: Kevin Curtis/Asst. Chief, Randy Guest/Captain, Jerry Hudgens/Lieutenant, Troy Meales/Lieutenant, Jim Lyons/Engineer, James Rushing/Engineer, Firefighters  Page 819 /Ron Warren, Tony Smith, Terry Rushing, Jess Cagle, Michael Coleman, Baughn Thomas Merideth, Thomas Guest, Paul Shaw, Brian Shelton, Jerry Hudgens Jr., Ross Pilcher, Jimmy Lyons, Dustin Drumright, Brock Pilcher, Jessica Meales, Corey Vaughn, and Devan Ford. Councilperson Grable motion for approval, second by Councilperson Robinson, which resulted in the following vote: Glass Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes Chief Moss presented Council with two bids for an AC unit; Hill Electric $4,000.00 and Lacey HVAC LLC $3,990.00. Councilperson Fales motion to go with lower bid, second by Councilperson Hood, which resulted in the following vote: Glass Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes Public Works; Tyler Hall with Alliance monthly report is as follows: Administrative/Submitted the Electronic Discharge Monitoring Report and the Monitoring Report for Groundwater Systems to DNR. Water/Wastewater Treatment/Steve Thurmond with AWR Bledsoe spent two days at the WWTP to help evaluate and improve treatment techniques. The tractor was fixed and as weather permits the land application of sludge can be done to increase wasting capabilities and adjust sludge concentration in the clarifier. PH probes were purchased to ensure accurate process control and compliance to DNR, blockage was cleared in Clarifier 2 drain, and they start draining the basin so that Clarifiers 1 and 2 could be cleaned and inspected. Effulent weirs and UV disinfection lamp assemblies were cleaned, removed trash from the bar screen and micro strainer at WWTP, and began labeling piping in pipe gallery of 3rd St. WTP. Regulatory/Eight bac-T samples and 31 wastewater samples were collected and all passed DNR. Collection & Distribution/Master Meter installed two repeaters on East 4th St. and LP cemetery, and a new pump was installed at 9th & Adams, and the failed pump for the LS was sent for repair; in the meantime a bypass pump is in place until repairs are done. A section of the 6th & Beckwith mainline was jetted to ensure proper flow, installed check valves and one rebuilt pump in the South Ward LS. The station has two pumps but needs additional work to alternate between the two pumps; a third pump will be needed. A one inch line and four service lines were repaired, and also completed 40 customer service orders including jetting nine customer laterals. Safety/The monthly safety meeting covered Distracted Driving. Repair Expenses were under budget by $21,721.00 and Chemical Expenses under budget by $5,979.00. A Public Notice was sent out about the drinking water because of failure to meet disinfection requirement. DNR allow for a four hour window, and the plant went over eleven minutes. Code Enforcement; Barry Gilmore reported that DNR has reviewed and concurs with the bid opening documents for the Lead Service Line Inventory project for the City of Caruthersville. The City may award the contract to Schulte Supply in the amount of $906,850.00. Councilperson Fales motion for approval of the agreement, second by Councilperson Robinson, which resulted in the following vote: Page 820 Glass Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes Cogent proposed $76,830.00 to rebuild the Wet Well at the South Ward LS which will allow for a third pump, and the cost to rebuild the 6th & Beckwith LS would be $83,410.00. Councilperson Robinson Motion for approval, second by Councilperson Glass, which resulted in the following vote: Glass Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes Mayor Grantham entertained a motion to go into closed session for the purpose of personnel. Councilperson Fales made the motion, second by Councilperson Glass, which passed unanimously. Upon returning from closed session; Barry Gilmore addressed the Water bill issues, and reiterated the importance of paying online, sign up for Caruthersvillecity.epayub.com at the Water Office in which you’ll be able to view your bill, and don’t wait to the day of to pay your bill. With the upheavals that the Water department goes through every month, the City may have to resort to do the same as Liberty and Ameren online or snail mail. There are candidates that have applied for aiding the Water department, in which the position will not be exclusive dedicated to Water. Mr. Gilmore did make contact with the purchasers of the old Wal Mart building. They do not have any specific plans to bring anything into the City, they go around buying up properties close to the interstate in order to sale. The bid for the demolition of the 311 Ward property is as follows: Welch Hauling $150,000.00, Strack Excavating $74,990.00 and Dormer Excavation $101,000.00 in which the bid can’t be accepted until the property owner gives consent to tear down. Bids are due Wednesday May 29, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. for the demolition of the properties on Highland and Eastwood. The paving of the streets budget will be combined for this year and next year to do all the proposed streets, and grant money will do some more that will take up to two years to complete. Mr. Gilmore recommends that Robertson do the street overlays for $257,148.25 and ASA bid was lower for Copeland, 12th St. Truman to Grand, and a mobilization fee of $57, 125.41 totaling $314,273.66. Councilperson Fales motion for approval, second by Councilperson Hood, which resulted in the following vote: Glass Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes Mr. Gilmore reported that 150 Notices to Abate went out, 25 potholes were filled, mowed 115 lots, and the gas pump app is working successfully. At this time the street sweeper and the Vac truck is down with the hopes of both up and running by Wednesday May 29, 2024. The limb pile is in good shape allowing Waste Pro to dump leaves and limbs, new flags were put up at LP cemetery, and the flood gate opened today on Ward. CK Power annual service contract for the generators for three years is $7,926.00 which Mr. Gilmore recommends. Councilperson Grable motion for approval, second by Councilperson Hood, which resulted in the following vote:  Page 821 Glass Absent Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes Parks & Recreation; Lamont Bell reported that the pool is almost ready at 79 degrees without the pump heater, in which the leak will be fixed tomorrow. Donna Clark will start swimming lessons next month, Ashley Taylor will be having lessons for babies as well. July 11, 2024 the Center will be hosting FCA basketball. June 22, 2024 is the swim meet, and life guard classes will also be starting next week. The construction of the showers will be extended to June 10, 2024, and the Pickle ball Booster Club is wanting to have a tournament, and the Recreation Center will provide new nets. Collector report; Paige Gillock Collections report from April 1, 2024 through April 30, 2024 is as follows: Real Estate $5,745.69 Personal Property $3,044.21 Drainage Districts $341.50 Miscellaneous $9,845.84 Total Taxes $17,503.77 Interest & Fees $1,473.47 Total Collections $18,977.24. Collections from May 1, 2024 through May 19, 2024 are as follows: Real Estate $1,619.00 Personal Property $834.22 Drainage Districts $412.69 Total Taxes $2,739.95 Interest & Fees $361.16 Total Collections $3,101.11. New Business; Mayor Grantham entertained a motion for Mayor Pro Tem. Councilperson Robinson motion to appoint Johnny Hood, second by Councilperson Fales with all in favor. MODOT Adopt-A-Highway litter program is transitioning to the Keep Missouri Beautiful litter pickup program. The analysis is that the cost and safety risks outweigh the program benefits. The program will be phased out over the next two years. Existing adoptions will end as participants three year agreement expire. The program will end by 2026. Signs will be removed, and if you’re interested in having your sign, they should be available for pickup after August 1, 2024, and kept until December 31, 2024. Contact Ashley Wright (573) 472-5335 after August 1, 2024 to make arrangements to pick up signs. Mayor Grantham recommended that the travel meal expense that’s $35.00 be raised to the standard rate of $59.00 for travel expense. Councilperson Hood motion for approval, second by Fales, which resulted in the following vote: Glass Absent Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes Mayor Grantham reported that Don Jefferies has resigned as Chairman of the Caruthersville Historic Water Tower Restoration Fundraising Committee, and as liaison for the City of Caruthersville to the Jeffris Family Foundation. The City will continue to have fundraisers for the Historic Water Tower, possibly not through the Jeffris Foundation, but on it’ own for a facelift, the foundation itself is pretty much intact. With no further business to come before the Council, Councilperson Grable motion to adjourn, Second by Councilperson Hood with all in favor.  Page 822 ATTEST: ________________________________ Mayor _______________________________ City Clerk