City Council

Page 896 CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE May 19, 2025 Be it remembered the Council of the City of Caruthersville met in regular session on Monday May 19, 2025 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 Jerry Hudgens Sergeant at Arms Glass (Absent) Councilperson Bullington Councilperson Lyons Councilperson Fales Councilperson Grable Councilperson Hood Councilperson Spence (Absent) 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 of May 5, 2025. Councilperson Lyons motion for approval, second by Councilperson Hood with all in favor. Councilperson Lyons motion for approval for the reports and bills, second by Councilperson Hood, with all in favor. Next on the agenda was the appointments of Boards of Commissions as follows: 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 Brenda Lloyd Kelly Smith John Buchanan Ross Hubbard Ex Officio/ Jennifer Spence Trey Cain Jarred Yates Brian Taylor Ex Officio/ Johnny Hood City/Barry Gilmore Cemetery Board Airport Board Park Board Library Board Katherine Parkinson Glen Haynes Lee Bethune Karen Meeks Sandra Hooker John Ferguson Dustin Price Jane Fike Melissa McClain Chris Cobb Chloe White Susan Matthews  Page 897 John Buchanan Baughn Merideth Jimmy Jackson Amanda Maclin Charlie Jones Jeff Pierce Steve Rodgers Paul Shaw Ex Officio/JJ Bullington Ex Officio/Jimmy Lyons Frankie Williams Doyle Carter City/Barry Gilmore Kasey Thomas Lillie Wilbourn Mike Hazel Beth Cagle Ex Officio Anne Jeffries Don Grable Ex Officio Leighan Fales Councilperson Bullington motion for approval of the appointments, second by Councilperson Lyons, which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Robinson Yes Code Enforcement; Barry Gilmore reported that crews had been working on the big hole on the side of Highway 84. Persons & Sons were hired on to figure out the problem with 15 ft. of the sandy ground collapsing. DNR issue with the E.coli was mitigated with the UV system. The one fish kill was caused by the force main between the lift station on South Ward, in which the sewer line was repaired. There are three clarifiers, with only one operable. A speed reducer had to be purchased to get the broken clarifier working. Councilperson Grable inquired about getting with the Post Office to get proof of the bills being received, and mailed out. Barry Gilmore stated that ebilling or auto draft was ideal to combat the postal problems, and would be cost effective for the department with spending $800.00 per month for postage. Again, the Water department strongly encourages residents to take advantage of ebilling or auto draft. Water & Sewer; Michael Apperson Alliance Operations Report for the month of April is as follows: Administrative/The eDMR report and the Compliance Monitoring Report for Groundwater Systems report were submitted to DNR. Water & Wastewater/The Water plant is running efficiently. the Wastewater plant has a clarifier down, and the speed reducer was purchased for $26,077.03. Quotes are being obtained to rehab and restore the two smaller clarifiers. The excessive rainstorms have caused the sludge to be washed out. Once the clarifier is fixed the plant will have to be reseeded, which will allow for cleaner effluent water to be discharged. Regulatory/There were six Bac-T samples taken to DNR, and all passed. The 31 wastewater samples taken were waived by DNR due to flooding. Collection & Distribution/The staff is continuing to enter GIS datapoints. Leaks were fixed on Jefferson, Carleton, Walker, 3rd St., Riverview Apts., and Laurant. A sewer tap was installed on 8th St., and they jetted 3rd St. from Truman to Juliet multiple times due to sand caused by flooding. Safety/Training on Hazardous Chemical Handling. Repair expenses was over budget by $709.00, and chemical expenses were under budget by $15,647.00. Police report; Chief Hudgens reported that the department was continuing to work on car break ins. The storms damaged the camera system, and a claim will have to be filed. Fire report; Chief Moss reported on the seven calls as follows: 4/30/25; Vehicle f ire on County Page 898 Rd. 526, 5/2/25; Power line on fire on 12th & Walker, 5/2/25; Limb pile on fire on Truman, 5/6/25; Gas Leak on Rufus, 5/7/25; Busted gas line at Taven Apt., 5/13/25; Grill on fire on Edwards. Safety topic for the month was “Hose Testing.” Received out of town fire call payment in the amount of $634.14. Recreation report; Lamonte Bell reported that the monthly rate for the cleaning of the Recreation Center by CPC would be $5,293.00, and the stripping and waxing of the gym floor would be $3,000.00. Councilperson Fales motion for approval, second by Councilperson Bullington, which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Robinson Yes The April turnover is as follows: Intake $5,147.70 Interest $1.78 Total $5,149.48 Expenses $584.20 Turnover $4,565.28. Mike Costello with MC Coatings LLC gave his proposal for the Recreation Center Roof for the resealing the seams and repairing the holes with the rubber seam tap. Then, encapsulate all seams using uni-flex permanent roof selant, also clean debris out of all drains. The cost would be $36,800.00, and Option 2 for the gym roof would be $31,000.00. Councilperson Bullington motion to contact the insurance company, and then engage Costello depending upon the insurance company findings. Councilperson Lyons second the motion which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales No Grable Yes Hood Yes Robinson Yes Mr. Costello will also be looking at the Municipal Court roof to give a quote. Barry Gilmore came back to the meeting after leaving to resume work at the hole on Hwy 84. They figured out what the problem was, which was, groundwater being above the top of the invert. The crews will be back in the morning. At this time they’re not worried about sewage, but will try to come up with a temporary solution for the hole on Hwy 84. Library report; Tacara Sullivan thanked the Garden Club for redoing the flower planter in front of the Library. Ms. Sullivan’s report is as follows: As of May 16, 2025 there are 41 children signed up for Summer reading. The Mother’s Day Event was successful, First Assembly will be conducting bible study for men starting May 20, 2025. The Kennett Job Center will conduct a Job Fair/Hiring Event May 22, 2025, and the Library will be closed May 24, 2025 through May 26, 2025. Upcoming in June, Summer Reading will be on Tuesdays from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. There will be a GED graduation ceremony held in the auditorium June 14, 2025, also FCC will hold a Suicide Prevention session in the front lobby June 14, 2025. Collector report; Paige Gillock’s turnover for the month of April is as follows: Total Real Estate $1,377.57 Total Personal $1,116.27 Interest Penalty $295.48 Total Tax $2,789.32 Other Taxes & Fees  Page 899 $1,287.46 Turnover $4,044.28 Collector’s Commission $48.70 Assessment Fund $32.49 Total Overall $4,125.47. Belton McWilliams was concerned about giving a chance to give a quote for the cutting of the trees at LP cemetery. He gave a quote of $1,500.00 per day for possibly six days. Councilperson Bullington motion for approval, second by Councilperson Lyons, which passed unanimously. Councilperson Hood motion to go into closed session for the purpose of personnel, second by Councilperson Grable, which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Robinson Yes Upon returning from closed session Councilperson Lyons motion to adjourn, and reconvene tomorrow May 20, 2025 at 5:00 p.m., with all in favor. Upon reconvening the following members were present: Bullington, Lyons, Fales, Grable, Hood, Spence, Robinson, with Glass being absent. Councilperson Fales was concerned about clarification of the Recreation Center’s roof lobby and gym area as far as the pricing. Her contention was to get a new roof if the price point wasn’t that much different than the patching. The consensus was to see what the insurance company recommendations were before any final decision was made. The Council discussed ways to pay for upcoming major projects that would be coming up for Water & Sewer. The considerations were lease purchases, and grants through USDA and DNR. There was also discussion about how to generate more revenue for the Recreation Center. Some of the possible ways were reallocating property tax, half cent tax, or a Use tax. Counselor Dorroh will be looking at these taxes as to proper order, authority, and law. There was discussion as to maybe closing down the Center during relatively slow periods in which the key pass entry could be used to offset expenses. Look at advertising to increase membership from surrounding areas, and look at exactly where the expenses are coming from Recreation Center vs the parks. Counselor Dorroh drafted an Ordinance outlining the separation of duties from Recreation Center and the parks, with the Council being over the Recreation Center and Park Board over the parks. The Director of the Recreation Center would still oversee the cleanup of the parks. The Council will look over the draft ordinance and vote at the next meeting. The batting cages cost is $20.00 for two people, and there are two batting cages for rental. Now that the baseball season is over they will be readily available. Councilperson Lyons had a question about the deposits for the Water department, which will be looked into as towards disbursements at some point. Councilperson Lyons motion to adjourn, second by Councilperson Hood, with all in favor. ATTEST: __________________________________ Mayor ________________________________ City Clerk