City Council

Page 918 CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE August 4, 2025 Be it remembered the Council of the City of Caruthersville met in regular session Monday August 4, 2025 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 Bullington Councilperson Lyons (Absent) Councilperson Fales Councilperson Grable Councilperson Hood Councilperson Spence (Absent) Councilperson Robinson Councilperson Glass (Absent) Councilperson The Council met a 4:00 p.m. in the Council room concerning the Recreation Center. It was decided to follow up with a letter the expectations going forward for the direction the Recreation Center concerning maintenance, work hours, time off, and finances. Councilperson Spence suggested that Council members periodically take a tour of the building to see what needs to be done. Councilperson Bullington will be providing Councilpersons with minutes from the meeting. 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 and closed session minutes of July 21, 2025. Councilperson Bullington motion for approval, second by Councilperson Grable, with all in favor Councilperson Bullington motion for approval of the special and closed session Minutes of July 23, 2025, second by Councilperson Hood, with all in favor. Councilperson Hood motion for approval of reports and bills, second by Councilperson Bullington, with all in favor. Police report; Chief Jerry Hudgens proposed the purchasing of a flock camera system which has real time reporting capabilities integrated with NCIC, providing immediate alerts. He recommends placing two at the entrances of the Casino, pending funding by the Casino. Chief Hudgens also recommends placing four of the cameras at key entrances into the City to enhance our monitoring and investigative reach. The camera system would have a yearly cost of $20.000.00 less the $6,000.00 for the cameras at the Casino. The contract would be for two years, and the City would enter into an agreement with the Casino for their two cameras. The GPS monitoring with Verizon isn’t working correctly, and with the cancellation of that account would absorb some of the cost. Councilperson Bullington motion for approval of four cameras, or six pending an agreement with the Casino, and asking  Page 919 Jimmy Lyons about funding. Councilperson Fales second the motion, which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Robinson Yes Humane report; Karol Wilcox report is as follows: Intake 17, Adopted out 32, Euthanized one for Illness. There were 27 reports for citations, the capacity of the Shelter is below 100 at this time, and they’re working towards a reasonable capacity. There was a surprise state inspection Friday August 1, 2025, with no non-compliant items. Ms. Wilcox is working on a grant for Shelter Animal Improvement, and also checking into a new cat room bank of kennels, and traps. The next vaccine clinic will be September 6, 2025 hosted be Dr. Embry from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The State sent information about the New World Screwworm. It was confirmed in Mexico, and the CDC has tightened restrictions on dogs arriving from screwworm-affected countries. If you find eggs or maggots feeding in live animal injuries contact a veterinarian. Fire report; Chief Lynn Moss reported nine calls as follows: 7/17/25; Burning dresser in the backyard on Walker, 7/19/25; Overload breaker creating sparks on East 18th St., 7/20/25; Dumpster fire at Taven Apts., 7/29/25; Vehicle entrapment on County Rd. 436, 7/30/25; Vacant house with squatters on Collins, 7/31/25; Fire alarm sounding on South Ward, 8/2/25; Burning trash in backyard on Madison, 8/3/25; Dumpster fire at Taven Apts., 8/3/25; Vehicle fire at 12th & Ward. Conducted Safety Program at Home Health Agency, Training for the month; Century Casino Preplanning, and annual fire subscriptions are at 81 subscribers as of August 4, 2025. Code Enforcement; Barry Gilmore was absent and left note that roads were being worked on, and there’s money left over which can be used for the Post Office drive, Entrance to Water Plant, Short Schultz, West 13th St., East 8th St., East 12th, West 4th, Drainage on 7th St., Eight and Beckwith, Pine to Magnolia, and 11th & Carleton. Mayor Grantham made reference to the bid on the 915 West 3rd St. concrete project having received a bid from Martin Lawn & Landscape LLC for $8,500.00. The bid from Brad Jones was $8,400.00. Counselor Dorroh stated that not selecting the lower bid would entail giving a good reason not to proceed. Councilperson Fales made reference to some of the work that she knew that had been done by Mr. Jones that had cracks in the concrete. Councilperson Fales motion to accept the bid from Martin Lawn & Landscape given the excellent work she has witnessed, second by Councilperson Bullington, which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Robinson Yes Library report; Tacara Sullivan report is as follows: The Library offers conference rooms and the auditorium for use by all members of the community. Friday August 1, 2025 The Emunah Podcast “The Power of Home” will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday August 12, 2025 Family Movie Night, door open at 5:00 p.m., and the movie starts at 5:30 p.m. Saturday August 16, 2025 Lincoln University Extension will have a talent show, door open 10:30 a.m., event starts at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday August 26, 2025, Career Story Time & Activity from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday August 30, 2025 Page 920 closed for Labor Day through Monday September 1, 2025. Some of the online resources on cville.lib.mo. us website are Hoopla, Kanopy, and Libby. You can also make contact on Facebook, by phone 573-333-2480, or email caruthersvillepublib@gmail.com. Collections report; Paige Gillock collections from July 1, 2025 through July 31, 2025 is as follows: Real Estate $12,456.02 Personal Property $2,285.67 Drainage Districts $2,443.60 Miscellaneous $10,343.50 Total Taxes $24,106.40 Interest & Fees $5422.39 Total Collections $29,528.79 Councilperson Bullington made mention that A2H would be visiting the Recreation Center Wednesday August 6, 2025, and wanted whoever that does the electrical work to be present. The bid specs should be done within two weeks after the assessment. Budget/Finance; Rita Jones reported that she had met with Jimmy Lyons, has started on the budget, and should have it soon for approval. Business From the Floor; Robert Hunt was concerned about a pack of dogs on Madison, and one being aggressive, and the revolving tenants with one or both of the residences not having utilities. It was discussed that a Notice to Vacate could be issued if tenants did not have utilities. Mr. Hunt was also concerned about trees being dumped in the alley way. Karol Wilcox stated that there had been 27 dogs taken from the residence on Madison at one time, and that it was indeed a revolving door, and they’ve been dealing with the dogs in question, and that the dog that attacked the kid was extinguished. On West 12th St. between Jefferson and Madison there are a pile of trees at the end of the alley; Mayor Grantham stated they would look at it to determine what could be done. James Elliott would like to put a manufacture home on East 20th St. which would have a concrete slab and brick skirt. The area is not in a zone for manufacturing homes; it would have to be a change in the zoning district in order for the trailer to be placed. Counselor Dorroh explained that either Mr. Elliott would have to petition Planning & Zoning or the Council could refer the request to Planning & Zoning. Councilperson Bullington motion to refer Mr. Elliott’s petition to Planning & Zoning, second by Councilperson Robinson, which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Fales Yes Grable Yes Hood Yes Robinson Yes Councilperson Bullington asked about the status of the building on Ward with the cones around it. Mayor Grantham and Barry Gilmore have both been summoned, and there’s been a delay in the process. Counselor will contact Al Spradling who’s representing the City for an update. With no further business to come before the Council, Councilperson Grable motion to adjourn. The motion was second by Councilperson Robinson, with all in favor. ATTEST: ________________________________ Mayor _______________________________ City Clerk