City Council

Page 957 CITY OF CARUTHERSVILLE December 15, 2025 Be it remembered the Council of the City of Caruthersville met in regular session Monday, December 15, 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 Robinson Councilperson Glass Councilperson Bullington Councilperson Lyons (Absent) Councilperson Fales Councilperson Grable (Absent) Councilperson Hood (Absent) 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 December 1, 2025. Councilperson Bullington motion for approval, second by Councilperson Robinson all in favor with Councilperson Spence abstaining. Councilperson Robinson motion for the approval of the closed session minutes of December 1, 2025. Councilperson Glass second the motion, all in favor with Councilperson Spence abstaining. Councilperson Robinson motion for approval of reports and bills, second by Councilperson Glass, with all in favor. The funding for the project with the USDA Rural Development loan for the amount of $297,200 at 2.75 percent for seven years is still available for Police/Fire Equipment and City Vehicles. With the loan being absorbed first, the City could get $159,900.00 in grant funds. The budget will be looked at for the feasibility of acquiring the loan funds. Next on the agenda was the results of the bid opening for the replacement of bollard lights at Veterans Park. There was only one bid turned in by Michael Lewis Construction for the amount of $14,000.00. Councilperson Fales made motion to accept the bid, second by Councilperson Robinson, which resulted in the following vote: Robinson Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Fales Yes Spence Yes  Page 958 Counselor Dorroh stated that a change order could be amended to the bid for the Recreation Center bollard lights that needs replacing on the sidewalks, at a cost of $8,000.00. Councilperson Fales made the motion for the change order, second by Councilperson Glass, which resulted in the following vote: Robinson Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Fales Yes Spence Yes Mayor Grantham recommended that the employees be off the Friday after Christmas, which falls on Thursday this year, to extend their weekend. Councilperson Fales motion for approval, second by Councilperson Robinson, which resulted in the following vote: Robinson Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Fales Yes Spence Yes Humane report; Karol Wilcox reported that parvo and rabies vaccines should be updated on pets, there have been cases reported in Missouri. Fire report; Chief Lynn Moss reported three fire call since December 1, 2025 as follows: 12/8/25;Carbon Monoxide Detector went off on West 5th St., 12/10/25; Motor vehicle accident on West 3rd St., 12/10/25; Grass fire threatening structure on County Hwy 362. Shop with a Cop will be occurring December 16, 2025, and an inspection will be done on Century Casino December 17, 2025. Public Works/Alliance; Joe Helwig November 2025 Operations Report is as follows: Personnel/ Austin McCaig attended CDL training. Jacob Hackler transferred to another division, and Mason Fite is registered for a Water Treatment Certification exam. 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 32,402,000, Water Leaks Repaired 6, Service Orders Completed 221, Meter Changeouts 20, Line Locates 67, Total Water Meter Re-reads 393. Water Treatment/Submitted monthly compliance monitoring report, meeting all state requirements. Ordered new heads for the C12 system at Industrial. Changed out C12 cylinder at 3rd St. plant. Wastewater Treatment/Submitted monthly and quarterly discharge monitoring reports, and all samples were within parameters. Conducted general housekeeping, and cleaned out INF channel at the headworks of the plant. Water Distribution/Three bacteriological samples were collected and passed. Changed outsetters and fixed leaks on West 10th, Parkview, Westwood, and Bushey. Repaired water service on Stonewall Dr., located valve and turned off water at CHS. Sewer Collections/Pulled pump at Casino lift station, sewer tap on Parkview, and jetted sewer on Grand. Repair Expenses were over budget by $7,296.00, and Chemical Expenses under budget by $2,752.00 Code Enforcement; Barry Gilmore reported the following: The new plow arrived at Caldwell Equipment, awaiting installation date. Demolition of 308 E. 4th St. should be done by December 15, 2025. The tree removal project should be underway by February, repaired street break on 10th & Madison, and fixed several potholes in the cemetery. Schulte should be back Tuesday, December 16, Page 959 2025, to finish the lift station, had to find locates on a few meters before completion. Vandevanter pulled the damaged pump on 3rd & Eastwood, awaiting report. The mini excavator was sent to Cape Girardeau for repairs along with the backhoe, and both should be in service shortly. Recreation report; Lamonte turnover report is as follows: Intake $4,605.60 Auto Draft $244.00 Interest $.0.63 Total $4,850.23 Expenses $263.96 Checks $301.00 Total $564.96 November turnover $4,285.27. The Recreation Center bid for the roof has been extended to January 8, 2025. The proposed new operating hours for the Recreation Center are as follows: Sunday 2:00 p.m. -6:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday 4:30-7:00 p.m. Friday 4:30 a.m.-12:00 noon Saturday 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Revised memberships and daily admission prices are as follows: Automatic Bank Draft Single Adult $300 $275 Adult Couple $450 $412 Family $550 $504 Youth (18 & under) $175 $160 Sr. Citizen (65+) $175 $160 Monthly Passes Single Adult $35 Adult Couple $50 Family $66 Youth $25 Adult Couple $50 Sr. Citizen $25 Sr. Couple $40 Daily Passes Single Adult $7.00 Single Youth $5.00 Senior $5.00 Walking Passes Daily $5.00 Annual Adult $75 Annual Sr. $50 Use of Facilities for Private Lessons Example: swimming, tennis, basketball, football, conditioning, etc. during regular hours Charge is $25 per hour, Must have Recreation Center Director approval, Must not interfere with any other activities, or paid members use of facility, May not have nor more than five participants at one time, Participants that aren’t a paid member must pay the daily admissions fee to the Recreation Center before entering the facility. Facility Rentals Full Facility $250 per hour All Pavillions $25 per hour Gym Only $150 per hour Rick Davis Sports Pool Only $150 per hour Complex ? Tennis Courts $25 per hour Activity/Meeting Room $25 per hour Batting Cages $25 per hour  Page 960 Councilperson Fales made motion for the approval of the new hours and rates for the Recreation Center, second by Councilperson Bullington, which resulted in the following vote: Robinson Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Fales Yes Spence Yes Library report; Tacara Sullivan report is as follows: 12/2/25; Hosted First Annual Parker Faulkner Gingerbread Cookie Decorating Tribute. Parker’s daughter Kelsey Korb, son Seth, a brother, an aunt, and friends were among the 70 attendees. There were various donations that were made to make the event a huge success. 12/6/25; Dressed as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles the Library took home second place in Business, and will be purchasing supplies for their upcoming events with the $100.00 winnings. 12/9/25; “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was the movie day, and snacks were provide to the 25 plus that attended. City Collector report; Paige Gillock Collection Report from December 1, 2025 to December 15, 2025 is as follows: Real Estate $68,576.42 Personal Property $32,112.19 Drainage Districts $480.10 Miscellaneous $2,000.00 Total Taxes $101,562.10 Interests & Fees $1,606.61 Total Collections $103,168.71. Budget/Finance/ Rita Jones reported working with Tyler Technologies for over the past few weeks on the process of building the accounting side of the new software system. Ms. Jones has attended several live webinars and uploaded multiple reports and spreadsheets. She has continued paying bills weekly, and paying federal state taxes online. Continuing to make deposits for the Recreation Center, and keeping records of memberships purchased. Also, has received the new credit card reader for the Recreation Center, which will save on monthly fees that are currently being charged. New Business; The Missouri Home Dock Cities Association is wanting cities to participate in amending legislation for prohibiting the operation and maintenance of certain electronic gaming machines that offer a monetary prize to the user within the City. Counselor Dorroh will be looking into how this type of action would affect third class cities before any decisions are made. Councilperson Robinson motion to go into closed session for the purpose of personnel and litigation, second by Councilperson Fales, which resulted in the following vote: Robinson Yes Glass Yes Bullington Yes Fales Yes Spence Yes Upon returning from closed session, Councilperson Glass motion to adjourn, second by Councilperson Robinson with all in favor. ATTEST: ________________________________ Mayor _____________________________ City Clerk