City Council

Page 926 PUBLIC HEARING City of Caruthersville The City of Caruthersville held a Public Hearing Wednesday September 3, 2025, because there was not a quorum for it to be held Tuesday September 2, 2025. The purpose of the hearing was for the proposed tax rate to be set by the City of Caruthersville. The tax rates are set to produce the revenues Which show to be required from the property tax. Each tax rate is determined by dividing the amount of Revenue needed by the current assessed valuation. The result is multiplied by 100 so the tax will be expressed in cents per $100 valuation as follows: ASSESSED CURRENT PRIOR VALUATION TAX YEAR 2025 TAX YEAR 2024 Real Estate $39,535,054 $32,420,721 Personal Property $12,828,795 $12,202,198 Total $52,263,849 $44,622,919 The following tax rates are proposed: Amount of Property Tax Rate Tax Revenues Ceiling Budgeted (Per $100) General Fund $ 308,095.39 $ .5895 Special Sewer Tax 104,475.43 .1999 Library Fund 46,671.62 .0893 Public Health 88,064.59 .1685 Cemetery Fund 22,003.08 .0421 TOTAL $ 569,310.11 $ 1 .0893 With there not being any questions are comments regarding the tax rate the hearing was closed, and the next hearing was underway. PUBLIC HEARING City of Caruthersville The City of Caruthersville held a performance close out public hearing Wednesday September 3, 2025, because there was not a quorum for it to be held Tuesday September 2, 2025. The purpose of the hearing was to provide an update of the CDBG Street Paving Project which was funded by the Missouri Department of Economic Development Project #2023-GI-13-St. The construction of the project is almost completed by Apex/Delta CO, and the year warranty will begin once the Certificate of Completion is executed. Awaiting pay applications to be received and processed through the CDBG program. The project administrator will finalize the paperwork once all the work is inspected and a certificate of completion is obtained. Mitzi Dell and the CDBG representative are finalizing their monitoring process, then the closeout paperwork will be completed and reviewed. The City remains in compliance with and in good standing with the State of Missouri and CDBG regulations and is eligible to apply for additional Page 927 funding for the next fiscal year. With there not being any questions are comments to hearing was closed, and the regular scheduled meeting was underway. CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE September 3, 2025 Be it remembered the Council of the City of Caruthersville met in regular session Wednesday September 3, 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 (Absent) Mayor Jerry Hudgens Sergeant at Arms Spence Councilperson Robinson Councilperson Glass Councilperson Bullington Councilperson Lyons Councilperson Fales Councilperson Grable (Absent) Councilperson Hood Mayor Pro Tem The number of members necessary to consider a quorum being present, the Mayor Pro Tem 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 August 18, 2025. Councilperson Lyons motion for approval, second by Councilperson Glass with all in favor Councilperson Lyons motion for approval of the closed session minutes of August 18, 2025, second by Councilperson Robinson with all in favor. Councilperson Glass motion for approval of reports and bills, second by Councilperson Lyons, with all in favor. Mayor Pro Tem Hood entertained a motion to authorize Rita Jones, Finance Manager to be added, and have full access to all City accounts. Councilperson Lyons motion for approval, second by Councilperson Glass, which resulted in the following vote: Spence Yes Robinson Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales Yes Hood Yes Councilperson Fales made recommendation that Rita Jones write checks, and make deposits for  Page 928 the Library starting in January. Councilperson Lyons motion for approval, second by Councilperson Bullington, which resulted in the following vote: Spence Yes Robinson Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales Yes Hood Yes Police report; Chief Jerry Hudgens reported the Labor Day weekend was quiet, and commended the citizenry. Fire report; Chief Lynn Moss reported six fire calls as following: 8/16/25; Motor vehicle accident reported but ran out of gas on I55, 8/18/25; Grass fire at old landfill, 8/19/25; UTV fire on County Hwy 523, 8/19/25; Grass fire on Truman & Locust, 8/24/25; Downed live powerline on 9th & Belle, 8/27/25; Motor vehicle accident with extrication on Hwy D. The Fire department thanked Century Casino for the donation of 12 sections of fire hose and nozzle. Training conducted August 25, 2025 on Chlorine Safety at Water Treatment Facilities. Training conducted September 4, 2025 on First Responder Downed Powerline Safety with Ameren UE. Code Enforcement report; Barry Gilmore reported the following: MODOT repaired the spot on South Ward near Industrial Dr. The Armory needs a compressor on one of the units, and the estimate from Hill Electric is $3,500.00. Councilperson Lyons motion for approval, second by Councilperson Fales, which resulted in the following vote: Spence Yes Robinson Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales Yes Hood Yes The tractor/bush hog is up and running. A permit was issued to Tristate Mobile Concrete which will be located on Industrial Dr. There will be street repairs done on Third St. for the next week, and the department will be repairing other street breaks thereafter. The concrete was poured at Probation and Parole, awaiting the curing process. The grapple truck will be undergoing a recall, along with lights being installed on the new pickup. There’s also a recall on one of the other pickups which will be taken care of once the dealer gets the part. The water bills will be late going out, you can call and pay your bill if you don’t get your bill in a timely manner. Bids were opened at City Hall Friday August 29, 2025 for the Solid Waste Disposal with the following bids: Waste Pro Welch Hauling Republic Residential Solid Waste $14.95 $15.87 $20.98 Light Commercial $14.95 $15.87 $20.98 Extra Tote $ 9.18 $ 7.00 $ 8.50 Page 929 The Council opened the floor up to each company. Robin with Republic started off by saying that they service 26 municipalities. Republic pays their drivers will, in turn the turnover is low, the average driver is employed 10 years. Michael Welch stated that their service was second to none, that they are willing to do things that other companies are not willing to do. There would be brand new dumpsters and trash cans, and if they forget someone they would get it the same day if let known. John Snyder with Waste Pro stated that by staying with them there would be a $2,000.00/mo. in savings with no interruptions in service. They would get a brand new truck specifically for the City which would combat breakdowns, and adhere to the dedicated service to the City. Waste Pro would work closely with Barry Gilmore to assure great service, and also has obtained an additional place for dumping. Barry Gilmore weighed in by saying that all three companies could do a great job, but leaned more towards Waste Pro with their being committed to doing a better job. With the bulk pickup being resolved by the City purchasing a grapple truck, Waste Pro should be able to steer in on the solid waste disposal. Councilperson Lyons made motion to go with the lowest bidder for disposal service, second by Councilperson Robinson, which resulted in the following vote: Spence Yes Robinson Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales Yes Hood Yes Recreation Center report; Lamonte Bell reported the first phase of the painting was done. The bathroom stalls and partitions were in, and installation would start Monday September 8, 2025. Councilperson Bullington provided the Council with the report from A2H prioritizing what needs to be done first with the assessment of the Recreation Center towards the roof, HVAC, windows, ceilings, stairs, railings, etc. Outlined are areas from critical, poor, fair, to good; with the number of years as to when areas are needed to be addressed. Once the report is gone over thoroughly, contact will be made to L J Hart about financing with the inclusion of the pickle ball courts. Councilperson Fales gave proposals to the Finance Committee for automated toilets for the Library to help combat the non-flushing of toilets thereby keeping the bathrooms more presentable. The Recreation Center may also be considered. Library report; Tacara Sullivan report is as follows: 8/26/25; Career Storytime/Activity with MO Department of Conservation. Alex Holmes gave presentation about a snake, and tree frogs with over 20 in attendance. 8/27/25; Job fair with the Kennett Job Center with 50 in attendance. 8/30/25; Parking lot restriped and repainted. September events are as follows: 9/6/25; Free Town Hall: Improving Food Access for Pemiscot County 12:00-2:00 p.m. 9/12/25; Bootheel Community Theatre: (Willy Wonka Jr. 9/12/25 at 7:00 p.m. 9/13/25 at 7:00 p.m. and 9/14/25 at 3:00 p.m.) 9/16/25; PIN: Parent Cafe 3:00 p.m. 9/17/25; FCC: QPR Suicide Prevention Training 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. 9/23/25; Stop, Drop, & Read Story Time: Caruthersville Fire Department 5:30-6:30 p.m. 9/26/25; Pemiscot County Historical Society: Wall of Distinction 1:30 p.m. 9/27/25; Fourth Annual Jess Walk 7:30 a.m. City Collector; Paige Gillock Collections Report from August 1, 2025 to August 31, 2025 is as follows: Real Estate $12,959.67 Personal Property $1,512.83 Drainage Districts $1,180.00 Miscellaneous  Page 930 $1,550.00 Total Taxes $13,532.26 Interest & Fees $4,120.24 Total Collections $17,652.50. Ms. Gillock will be getting with the police department with the non-compliance renewal for business licenses. Finance report; Rita Jones reported continuing attending training webinars for the new software, and moving forward with the implementation. Phase 3 is in place, and there’s been a request for additional information from Thomas Speight and Noble to be integrated into the history for the software. There’s been a continuation of paying the weekly bills, and familiarization of bank accounts, and the day to day processes of operations. Councilperson Lyons will continue to go over the proposed budget that Ms. Jones prepared the majority of, and will be making a recommendation at the next meeting. Introduction to Bills; Counselor Dorroh introduced the following bills as follows: BILL NO. 2015-14 ORDINANCE 2015-14 AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE RATE OF TAXATION AND LEVYING THE TAXES AND DECLARING THAT PURPOSE OF WHICH THE SAME SHALL AND SHOULD BE USED FOR THE TAX YEAR 2025 Councilperson Lyons asked for the first reading by title only, second by Councilperson Robinson, with all in favor. Councilperson Lyons motion for the second reading, second by Councilperson Glass, with all in favor. Councilperson Glass motion for the bill to pass, and become law, second by Councilperson Lyons, which resulted in the following vote: Spence Yes Robinson Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales Yes Hood Yes BILL NO. 2015-15 ORDINANCE 2025-15 AN ORDINANCE OF CARUTHERSVILLE, MISSOURI, TO ESTABLISH A PROCEDURE TO DISCLOSE POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND SUBSTANIAL INTEREST FOR CERTAIN OFFICIALS Councilperson Bullington motion for the first reading by title only, second by Councilperson Lyons with all in favor. Councilperson Robinson motion for the second reading, second by Councilperson Bullington, with all in favor. Councilperson Robinson motion for the bill to pass and become law, second by Councilperson Glass, which resulted in the following vote: Spence Yes Robinson Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales Yes Hood Yes BILL NO. 2015-16 ORDINANCE 2025-16 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A LEASE AND OPTION AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE AND PD FIBER, LLC PROVIDING FOR THE NON-EXCLUSIVE LEASE OF THE Page 931 CITY’S BROADBAND NETWORK WITH AN OPTION BEING GRANTED TO PD FIBER, LLC TO PURCHASE SUCH NETWORK UPON THE TERMINATION OF THE LEASE Councilperson Bullington motion for first reading by title only, second by Councilperson Glass, with all in favor. Councilperson Lyons motion for the second reading, second by Councilperson Glass, with all in favor. Councilperson Robinson motion for the bill to pass and become law, second by Councilperson Lyons, which resulted in the following vote: Spence Yes Robinson Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Lyons Yes Fales Yes Hood Yes With no further business to come before the Council, Councilperson Lyons motion to adjourn, second by Councilperson Robinson, with all in favor. ATTEST: ________________________________ Mayor Pro Tem __________________________________ Takella Motton