The Poplar Bluff City Council met in its chambers with new microphones and podiums Monday evening after six years of “black tablecloths and folding tables,” as City Manager Matt Winters put it. From their improved seating, they discussed improving local streets.
The council held a public hearing regarding the submission of an application to the Community Development Block Grant program for road improvement funds. The grant would total $750,000 with $500,000 going to materials and the remaining balance for in-kind labor.
Street Department Superintendent Jerry Lawson explained the targeted areas for improvement would be Park Avenue from Westwood to Fifth Street, Fifth Street from Vine to Cherry, Relief Street from Main to Cole, Main from Baron to Wilcox, C Street from Pine to Bartlett, Sunset from Woodhaven to Holloway, Cravens from Kajacs construction to the sheltered workshop, and the Woodstone Subdivision.
Lawson said regarding Relief Street, “That is probably the roughest...It’ll just knock the fillings out of your teeth.”
He stated the roads were selected based on their poor condition and heavy traffic. For Sunset Drive, the Street Department measured 23,000 cars passing over its cracked surface in just two weeks.
“It just shocked me,” Lawson said.
He noted that some of the work to refurbish the listed roads would be replacing culverts and building catch basins. Following the public hearing, the council voted to accept a bid for administrative services from the Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission relative to the grant application. Members also voted to accept Smith and Co. Engineers’ qualification bid for the project.
Regarding the ongoing Vine Street Rehabilitation Project, Winters informed the council of the need to reconsider bids due to the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise equity requirements.
The city formerly awarded the contract to Dicken LLC, but MoDOT disqualified them. Winters noted the next lowest bid from Putz Construction LLC is $12,000 more expensive than Dicken’s.
“It’s still under the budget by about $36,000,” Winters clarified. Putz’s total bid was $247,200. Members voted to accept the new bid.
The council also considered an application for the vacancy on the Parks and Recreation Board. Winters explained a sitting member was moving out of the area and resigned from the position.
He relayed Parks and Recreation Director Lanny Corcimiglia’s recommendation to accept Stefanie Tinsley’s application for the position.
Winters also presented Dennis and Karen Hast’s petition to annex the property located at 123 Market Lane into the city. The council approved both measures to go to the Aug. 22 voting session.
In other business, approved:
• Granting easement for the property located near the Cravens Road and Highway 142 intersection.
• A conditional use permit for a faith-based women’s maternity center at 1407 North 5th Street.
• An ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transporation Commission for the ongoing Transporation Alternatives Program project.
• An ordinance amending the city’s 2024 budget.
• Submission of a grant application to the Missouri Department of Public Safety for new LiveScan equipment for the Poplar Bluff Police Department.
• Submission of a grant application to the Missouri Department of Transportation for funding for the construction of new hangars at the Poplar Bluff Regional Business Airport.