City Council

Page 900 CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE June 5, 2025 Be it remembered the Council of the City of Caruthersville met in regular session on Monday June 5, 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 Robinson Councilperson Glass Councilperson Bullington Councilperson Lyons (Absent) Councilperson Grable Councilperson Hood Councilperson Spence 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 19, 2025. Councilperson Hood motion for approval, second by Councilperson Grable with all in favor. Councilperson Grable motion for approval of the closed session minutes, second by Councilperson Robinson. Councilperson Grable motion for approval for the reports and bills, second by Councilperson Robinson, with all in favor. Next on the agenda was the MOA from Alliance for modification of professional services with a base fee of $793,272.00 ($66,106.00 per month) for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Councilperson Bullington motion for approval, second by Councilperson Grable, which resulted in the following vote: Robinson Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes The Beta Club submitted a letter requesting support for a group of students who have earned an opportunity to compete on the national stage. The consensus was to offer ideas for fundraisers, such as a boot roadblock, and different departments looking at their budgets for their community outreach. Mayor Grantham proposed to the Council a company that was willing to cut over $20,000.00 off the cost to do both the Recreation Center and the Municipal Court roofs together. Counselor Dorroh made mention that any company would have to provide prevailing wages in the bid process. The Mayor and Counselor will work together to iron out all the details.  Page 901 Police report; Chief Jerry Hudgens report is as follows: Calls for service 109, Arrests made 12, Citations 12, Accidents investigated 2, Reports filed 39 and Warrants served 6. Currently investigating shots fired at East Haven. Also, received information on a serious dog bite, but the victim didn’t file a report. Personnel/Ethan Kruger completed first month of F.T.O., Corporal Brotz is adjusting to different shifts he’s working. Chief Hudgens and Assistant Chief Jones will be attending the Annual Chief’s Conference June 10, 2025 through June 14, 2025. The department is continuing with the statewide safety grant campaign, and officers are working with the area task force, with several narcotics investigations underway. The department is currently assessing damages to several cameras, and will be working with Randy Guest and the insurance company to get repairs made in a timely manner. Also, the department is in the process of evaluating the camera system and the licensing; goal is to add more cameras in high traffic areas where calls are consistently received for service and complaints. Humane report; Karol Wilcox reported Intake 48, with responding to 136 calls, and they’re still seeking a veterinarian. Fire report; Lynn Moss monthly report is as follows: 5/22/25; Brush pile on fire on Truman 5/25/25; Power line on fire on Rufus, 5/28/25; Fire in an illegal burn pit on Laurant. The Antique car show was May 31, 2025, and the annual fire subscriptions will be mailed out this week. Code Enforcement; Barry Gilmore reported that there would be a couple more weeks before the hole on Hwy 84 is concreted, dirt has to be packed and settled. Mr. Gilmore reported that one of his employees could possibly be out for a month, which would push things further behind. The limbs and debris from the storms is overbearing. The current plan is to use the backhoe and dump truck to pick up for four days to help Wastepro with the massive task. Mr. Gilmore inquired about the purchase of a bulldozer; last year the rental was $10,000.00/week. He can get one from McCoy’s for $41,000.00. There was talk about a lease purchase or some other options, especially with all the expenses that will be incurred with the roofing of the Recreation Center and Municipal Court. There was a bid opening on Friday May 23, 2025 for the paving project that will be funded by CDBG. There were five bids, with Paving Pros being the lower bid, but was incomplete. The next lowest bid was Delta Companies, and was awarded the contract. Pemiscot Dunklin Fiber is currently making contact with residents for service, those interested should reach out to PD Fiber and get scheduled. All the paperwork has been submitted to DNR in relation to the sewer break behind South Ward. Code Enforcement has been delayed by other pressing issues, hopefully work can resume next week. Library report; Councilperson Fales reported that Tacara Sullivan had gotten a section of the Library stucco fixed and painted after the vandalism. The police will also be viewing the cameras after The Garden Club had planted flowers in the planter, and the flowers were taken. Councilperson Fales also commended Richard Hayes with the upkeep of the maintenance of the floors and the pond. Collector report; Paige Gillock reported that roadblocks would be in place for City stickers, and business license would be looked into to see if they were current. The establishments will be cited and fined if they’re not found compliant. The collections from May 1, 2025 to May 29, 2025 are as follows: Real Estate $544.85 Personal Property $943.35, Drainage Districts $130.15 Miscellaneous Page 902 $10,813.75 Total Taxes $12,181.12 Interest & Fees $250.98 Total Collections $12,432.10. Counselor Dorroh introduced the following bills; BILL NO., 2025-12 ORDINANCE 2025-12 AN ORDINANCE (A) REPEALING ARTICLE III OF CHAPTER 120 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE AND PROVIDING FOR THE ABOLISHMENT OF THE RECREATION CENTER BOARD ESTABLISHED THEREUNDER; AND (B) ESTABLISHING AN EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY TO BE CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE DIANE SAYRE RECREATION CENTER AND ITS GROUNDS Councilperson Grable motion for the first reading by title only, second by Councilperson Robinson, which passed unanimously. Councilperson Grable motion for the second reading, second by Councilperson Robinson, which passed unanimously. Councilperson motion for passage, second by Councilperson Grable, which resulted in the following vote: Robinson Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes BILL NO. 2025-13 ORDINANCE 2025-13 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A GRANT TO THE CARUTHERSVILLE ARE ARTS COUNCIL Councilperson Robinson motion for the first reading by title only, second by Councilperson Hood, which passed unanimously. Councilperson Grable motion for the second reading, second by Councilperson Robinson, which passed unanimously. Councilperson Robinson motion for passage, second by Councilperson Glass, which resulted in the following vote: Robinson Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Councilperson Hood motion the go into closed session for the purpose of real estate, second by Councilperson Robinson, which resulted in the following vote: Robinson Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Upon returning from closed session, Councilperson Bullington motion for approval for renewal of the Workers Compensation through Missouri Employees Mutual. Councilperson Grable second the motion, which resulted in the following vote: Robinson Yes Glass Abstain  Page 903 Bullington Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Councilperson Hood motion to adjourn, second by Councilperson Bullington, with all in favor. ATTEST: ________________________________ Mayor ________________________________ City Clerk