Long-time Municipal Utilities employee Jerry Lawson Jr. is the City of Poplar Bluff's new street superintendent. The announcement came from City Manager Mark Massingham during Monday's council meeting at the Black River Coliseum.
Lawson fills the position left vacant by former street superintendent Dennis Kearbey. Massingham said Lawson was selected from a pool of approximately 25 applicants. His starting annual pay is $57,000, nearly $7,000 less than Kearbey's ending salary of $63,888.
Massingham said Lawson worked for the Municipal Utilities Water Department for 29 years and began his new role yesterday.
Massingham also announced Tim Edington was hired as the city's first Director of Human Resources and assumed the position on April 30.
Massingham said Edington also was selected from a pool of approximately 25 applicants and his starting annual pay is $55,000.
A Poplar Bluff native, Edington has worked in the human resources field in Texas for the last 20 years and was looking to relocate back to the area, Massingham said.
Municipal Utilities Manager Bill Bach asked the council to consider a recommendation from the Municipal Utilities Advisory Board regarding a second amendment to the agreement between the city and First Missouri State Bank. The amendment would push the closing date for 1902 Sunset Drive from a previously amended date of May 22 to no later than Oct. 1.
The city and First Missouri State Bank originally entered into the contract in June 2016. Bach said the property will serve as Municipal Utilities administration building and collection department. The City Council will vote on the matter June 18.
Council members voted unanimously to approve a proposal from City Planner Matt Winters for the rezoning of 2701 Holly Trail from General Commercial to Neighborhood Commercial, further granting a conditional use permit to operate a child advocacy center with overnight stays.
Blue Circle, formerly Ozark Family Resource Agency, plans to lease the property from owners Jimmy and Stacy Nicholson. Winters said the rezoning will allow for a children's shelter to operate within the facility to provide overnight stays to children in crisis.
Approval was recommended by the Planning and Zoning Committee at its last meeting, Winters added.
Council members voted unanimously to accept a bid in the amount of $27,875 from Foundation Support Works of Collinsville, Ill., for foundation repairs to the Municipal Utilities maintenance building, located at 110 Johnson Drive.
A unanimous vote by the council approved a bid from Robertson, Inc. Bridge and Grading Division of Poplar Bluff in the amount of $47, 510 for a clearwell pipe replacement.
The Council also unanimously approved resignations and applications to three city boards.
Accepted was William Uher's resignation from the Airport Advisory Board and the application of Michael Wiseman.
Accepted was Tamara Kulish's resignation from the Margaret Harwell Art Museum Board and the application of Barbara Pelton and Annette Frazier.
Accepted was Matt Winter's resignation from the Zoning Board of Adjustments and the application of Rodney Reagan.
More detailed information about each applicant for the aforementioned city positions was unavailable. Though it has been standard procedure for the city manager to release resumes to the Daily American Republic in the past, Massingham said the city's attorney, Mark Richardson, advised him recently the documents are considered part of an employee's personnel file.