Poplar Bluff City Council members may reach consensus on downtown city hall, questions remain about police department location

Poplar Bluff City Council members say they have experienced a change of heart regarding the location of a new city hall.

Mayor pro tem Steve Davis and council members Lisa Parson, Shane Cornman and Ron Black said Wednesday afternoon they will support an effort to keep city hall downtown.

“After prayerful consideration and much dialogue with citizens, council members and community leaders, I believe the best path forward is for the council to pursue the Shelby Road site for the Poplar Bluff Police Department, recommended by Chief Danny Whiteley, while keeping city hall downtown. This will show a continued commitment to the historic value of our town,” Davis said in a statement.

The matter will have to come back before the council for official action, according to Mayor Robert Smith, who has supported a downtown location for a new municipal complex.

Council members voted 4-3 on Sept. 3, to pursue a Shelby Road location for a new municipal complex, to include city hall, the police department and city court. Davis, Parson, Corman and Black were in favor of the motion, while Smith and council members Barbara Horton and Ed DeGaris were against the move away from downtown.

Residents also spoke out against the move at that meeting, and again Monday night, as well as in polls posted by the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce.

“With regards to city hall, we have heard from many passionate citizens, both publicly and privately,” Parson said in a statement. “While an issue like this is not easy and a decision will not make everyone happy, I believe it is best and most appropriate for city hall to stay downtown. I look forward to continuing to work with the council and civic leaders to move our city forward.”

Parson and Cornman also said in their statements they support a Shelby Road location for the police department.

“My objective during the recent discussion regarding a police station and city hall has been to get our policemen and women the facility they need and deserve, for all the work they do to keep our community safe and prosperous,” said Cornman. “I understand the cultural value and significance of the city hall remaining downtown, so I will support keeping city hall downtown while moving the police station to the Shelby Road site.”

Black agreed with the three council members’ change of heart, when contacted by phone Wednesday.

“All things considered, the ones who have spoken and the citizens’ input is for the city council to keep city hall downtown,” he said. “I believe the police department still needs to be at Shelby Road.”

Many of those who spoke to keep city hall downtown, also said they respected Whiteley’s request, even if they would prefer all offices be downtown, Black said.

Smith said he had planned to poll the council again on their decision.

He still has concerns about the cost of two separate facilities, according to Smith, both because of the cost to purchase more property and the expense of constructing and maintaining two buildings.

“Now we have to come up with the money to do it, if we’re building at both locations,” Smith said.

Consultants have provided three cost estimates.

To build everything downtown would cost approximately $15.9 million, they said in early September. Constructing everything at Shelby Road was potentially a $16.2 million project. A third option, splitting the buildings between downtown and Shelby came in at just over $17 million.