City Council

Page 950 CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE November 17, 2025 Be it remembered the Council of the City of Caruthersville met in regular session Monday, November 17, 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 Corey Vaughn Sergeant at Arms Bullington Councilperson Lyons (Absent) Councilperson Fales Councilperson Grable (Absent) Councilperson Hood Mayor Pro Tem Spence Councilperson Robinson Councilperson Glass (Absent) Councilperson 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 November 3, 2025. Councilperson Robinson motion for approval, second by Councilperson Bullington with all in favor. Councilperson Robinson motion for approval of the closed session minutes November 3, 2025, second by Councilperson Fales, with all in favor. Councilperson Bullington motion for approval of reports and bills, second by Councilperson Robinson, with all in favor. Next on the agenda was the election notice as follows: NOTICE OF GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE PEMISCOT COUNTY, MISSOURI Notice is hereby given to the qualified voters of the City of Caruthersville, Pemiscot County, Missouri, that a general Municipal election will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, beginning at six o’clock a.m. and closing at seven o’clock p.m. of said day. Offices open to candidates for the year 2025 are as follows: Mayor - 4 year term City Collector - 2 year term City Treasurer - 2 year term City Marshall - 4 year term Councilperson Ward I - 2 year term Councilperson Ward II - 2 year term Page 951 Councilperson Ward III - 2 year term Councilperson Ward IV - 2 year term Any person desiring to file as a candidate for the above-mentioned offices may do so by filing a Declaration of Candidacy in the City Clerk’s office in the Municipal Building at 200 West Third beginning December 9, 2025 at 8:00 a.m., through December 30, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. On the opening day of filing, the City Clerk’s office will be open from the hours of 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Next on the agenda was the bid opening fort the material bid number 2 for lighting fixtures for the pickleball courts as follows: Company Lump Sum Price Shipment Date Techlight $31,202.00 4 to 6 wks Frasure Reps $41,968.00 5 wks after PO Led Lighting Supply $37, 744.16 5 wks Rozycki Lighting $29,272.00 8 to 10 wks Ikio Led Lighting NA NA Wayne Smith and Chris Crysler will get back with the Council after careful examination of the bids. Councilperson Bullington motion to table, second by Councilperson Robinson, with all in favor. Recreation report; Lamonte Bell turnover report is as follows: Intake $4,508.60 Auto Draft $85.00 Interest $0.64 Total $4,594.24 Expenses $994.85 Turnover $3,596.39 Councilperson Bullington reported that the Recreation committee was looking at establishing a different type of membership for the Recreation Center admissions. At the present time you really can’t distinguish what type of membership a member has whether weekly, monthly, yearly, etc. The committee is also looking at a scanning system in which the member can scan their card, or put in their number upon entering the Recreation Center. There will be a Committee meeting Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. in which admission fees will be determined, along with the bid specifications and notifications provided by A2H for the roof to be distributed. Humane report; Karol Wilcox report for the last two weeks is as follows: Intake 14, Adopted out 16, Owner redeemed two, with 128 animals in care. The Shelter is over capacity, and the Waste Water pump issues have been resolved with the help of Barry Gilmore and the City crew. Adoption fees are being waived through January 1, 2026 in order to move more dogs. Fire report; Chief Lynn Moss reported six calls since the last meeting as follows: 11/2/25; Vehicle fire on I55 N 13.5mm, 11/3/25; Report of smoke with nothing found at Riverview Apts., 11/6/25; Dryer on fire on Cotton, 11/8/25; Elevator malfunction with occupants on East 3rd St., 11/11/25; Fire on front porch on Cotton, 11/12/25; Smoke from storage unit on 15th & Schultz. Will be participating in Career Day at the Administration Safe Room for second and third graders. Public Works/Alliance; Erica Bogenpohl Operations Report is as follows: Personnel/ Joseph Helwig will be the new local manager. He has 20 years of experience in the utility industry, and holds certifications in wastewater treatment, water treatment, and distribution. Austin McCaig attended CDL training, and is working towards obtaining a permit. Jacob Hackler obtained tanker endorsement, and is working towards obtaining an air brake endorsement. Mason Fite is registered for a Water Treatment certification exam.  Page 952 Safety/ October safety training covered Hazard Communication and Safety Data Sheets. Operations by numbers/ Gallons of Wastewater Treated 21,305,000, Gallons of Water Produced 33,411,000, Water Leaks Repaired 6, Service Orders Completed 93, Meter Change outs 14, Line Locates 45, GPS Points 65. Water Treatment/ All parameters met state requirements Wastewater Treatment/ All the samples were within parameters Water Distribution/ Six bacteriological samples were collected, and all passed. Sewer Collections/ Casino lift station repaired by Higdon Electric, Jetted sewer on 10th and Carleton, and the main was clear. Assisted plumber with uncovering customer’s lateral, and discovered it had been broken by the Fiber Boring Company. Repair and Chemical Expense/ Repair Expenses over budget by $8,975.00, and Chemical Expenses under budget by $1,618.00. Code Enforcement; Barry Gilmore reported that Wastepro had sent out flyers in the mail outlining what’s acceptable for trash pickup. Trash that’s outside the trash can will not be picked up, and the lid has to be able to be closed. A second trash can be requested for an additional minimal monthly fee. The Library lights need the proper sized bulb ordered for the parking lot lights. The tree removal project at the airport will commence soon, and is expected to be finished by the end of the year. Also, discussed at the preconstruction meeting was the new hanger proposal, the plan is to start the design, and bid it out in the spring. The snowplow quotes are as follows: Boss/$10,987.00, Snowex/$8,112.74, Western/$11,248.08. Councilperson Bullington motion for the purchase of the Snowex plow from Caldwell, second by Councilperson Fales, which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Fales Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes The tax bills for Notice violations and grass mowing for the year should be finalized by the end of the month. One bid was received for the demolition of the house at 308 E. 4th St. from Southern Tree Care for $6,000.00. All the environmentals are done and the house is asbestos free. Councilperson Fales motion to approve the bid, second by Councilperson Robinson, which resulted in the following vote: Bullington Yes Fales Yes Hood Yes Spence Yes Robinson Yes Interviews will be set up for the two Street positions next week, concrete is coming November 14, 2025 for street breaks on Grand, and the 500 block of W. 7th St., and the remaining repairs will take place next week. The new gas line was installed at the Armory, and all the downstairs rooms on the front of the building now have heat and air. The concrete has also been repaired. Councilperson Fales reported that Wreaths Across America is ongoing accepting donations until December. Anyone that made a donation using the QR code that was provided early on donation went somewhere else, and Ms. Merideth is trying to recoup those donations for Caruthersville. Library report; Tacara Sullivan reported the following: Trees were planted in the replacements of the ones removed. The Thanksgiving Story Time & Pumpkin Pie Play-Doh Activity is occurring tomorrow. The Library will also be having their first annual Turkey Waddle Race. The Library will be co- hosting a “Feeding Frenzy” with the Dept. of Conservation, with a plan to do an event every month. December events are as follows: 12/2/25; Parker Faulkner Gingerbread Cookie Decorating Tribute, Page 953 12/6/25; CLOSED for participation in the Christmas parade, 12/9/25; Christmas Movie Night “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, 12/10/25; New Madrid Family Resource Center Parent Café, 12/11/25; Parents As Teachers Play Date and Story Time, 12/16/25; PIN Parent Café and Story Time & Christmas Carol Karaoke with special guest Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus, CLOSED 25-27, 12/31/25; Closing early at 2:30 PM City Collector; Paige Gillock Collections Report from November 1, 2025 through November 17, 2025 is as follows: Real Estate $49,953.41 Personal Property $17,657.37 Miscellaneous $1,470.00 Total Taxes $68,635.00 Interest & Fees $445.78 Total Collections $69,080.78 Finance report; Rita Jones reported working with Tyler Technologies for the past week on the process of building the accounting side of the new software system. Ms. Jones has attended several webinars and uploaded multiple reports and spreadsheets with information getting ready to build the software. Continuing to pay bills weekly, paying federal taxes online, making deposits for the Recreation Center, and keeping a record of all memberships that are being purchased. With there not being any further business to come before the Council, Councilperson Robinson motion to adjourn. Councilperson Fales second the motion, with all in favor. ATTEST: ___________________________________ Mayor Pro Tem ________________________________ City Clerk