The Poplar Bluff City Council unanimously voted Monday night to give the mayor authorization to submit a grant application for funding to upgrade the city’s 911 system.
The Poplar Bluff Police Department’s current 911 system was created in 2008, explained Patrolman Austin Lemonds.
At 12 years old, Lemonds said, the city can no longer get support for its system or buy equipment to upgrade it.
“We’re dead in the water if anything goes down,” said Lemonds.
Communications is No. 1 in public safety, he said.
“We have to act accordingly to make sure that the safety of our citizens are the first in this endeavor,” Lemonds said.
The grant is a state grant through the Missouri Department of Public Safety, but it is federally funded through the Office of Homeland Security, Lemonds said.
The maximum federal funding available is $2.4 million, with an agency maximum of $500,000, Lemonds said.
Two quotes to upgrade the 911 system, Lemonds said, range from $200,000 to $250,000.
They are: Solacom, base, $204,810 and five-year maintenance, $240,822; and Central Square, base, $43,000 per year and five-year total, $215,000, Lemonds said.
The grant, he said, is a 60-40, with the city having to match 40% of the grant amount.
A $250,000 grant, which equates to $150,000 in federal funds, and “we put up $100,000,” Lemonds said.
The grant, he said, has to be submitted March 31.
“I’m a little over half way through the grant,” but needed council approval to continue, Lemonds said.
Councilman at-large Ron Black said technology has moved forward, and made a motion to “move that forward.”
In response to a question from Robert Durbin, Lemonds agreed with Black about the ever changing technology.
This new system, he said, will calculate “where you’re driving” every seven seconds, making a map of “where you’re going.”
It offers a “ton of advanced stuff,” including multimedia, allowing for the sending of photographs, Lemonds said.
The grant is a “great opportunity for the city,” said City Manager Mark Massingham.
Other action items
An amendment to an existing contract for architectural services with Dillie and Traxel Architects for the proposed city hall/municipal court building was approved by a 6-1 vote, with Ward 4 Councilman Shane Cornman dissenting.
The contract, which was originally entered in November 2016, had been for a downtown city complex, including City Hall, Municipal Court, Police Department and Municipal Utilities.
The contract, according to City Attorney Mark Richardson, was modified, updated and amended for Dillie and Traxel to continue with the city hall/municipal court building.
Without discussion, the council also unanimously approved ordinances for:
• Selecting Police Facilities Design Group and authorizing the mayor to enter into contract as the architectural firm for the construction of the city’s new police facility;
• Collective bargaining between the employees of Poplar Bluff Police Department union and city; and
• Authorizing the mayor to execute an option and land use agreement between the city and New Cingular Wireless PSC LLC relating to the installation and maintenance of a communications facility for the city.
Public hearing
A public hearing also was held Monday night regarding an application for the annexation of 3392 Kanell Blvd., owned by Scoore LLC c/o Americare Senior Living.
The property, according to City Planner Matt Winters, is located directly behind New Covenant Church.
Jim Chrisman questioned the fact the property is surrounded by the county on three sides and whether the fire department would have to go into the county to get equipment in there.
Winters said the driveway to New Covenant would be used to access the property.
The annexation of the property and a conditional use permit to operate an independent and assisted living facility for up to 70 people were workshop items discussed by the council and unanimously moved forward as an action items.
The applicant was Neal R. Slattery, Americare Senior Living, in Sikeston.
The property would have the zoning designation of RS-1, rural residential.
Workshop items
As a workshop items, the council also voted on a request to rezone property vacant land laying between Katy Lane and Barron Road from RS-2, general residential to O-1, office professional for future commercial use.
The applicant is John D. Barbour and the Barbour family.
The recommendation for rezoning, Winters said, came with conditions, including permanent vegetation screening along the property in between the O-1 and RS-2 zones.
Barbara Horton, representing Ward 2, questioned whether this as the same property the council had voted down rezoning in the past.
Winters confirmed it was.
The rezoning request passed by a 6-1 vote, with Horton voting no.
Other workshop items unanimously moved forward were:
• Appointment of Brad Goodman, Morgan Taylor and Jennifer Cooksey to the Sycamore Street Community Improvement District Board of Directors for three-year terms, expiring March 6, 2022;
• An ordinance implementing a tobacco-free policy for city owned outdoor recreational areas, including Hendrickson, Whiteley, Hillcrest, McLane, Linc, Black River Industrial parks; Skate Plaza; Ferguson Grove and Shelby trails, as posted.
The proposed ordinance, Winters said, was provided by the Butler County Health Department and included all tobacco use, including electronic cigarettes.
• An addendum to the administrative services agreement between the city and Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission.
The changes, Winters said, related to the termination and compensation and method of payment clauses.
• A proposal for the PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) program.
John Harris, the director of finance from the Missouri Clean Energy District, told the council about the program, which would provide energy assistance to property owners.
“It seems it could be a benefit to the property owners,” Black said.