The city of Poplar Bluff’s capital budget — which pays for equipment and building needs — could see a $500,000 savings for 2023.
Poplar Bluff City Council members discussed Monday using federal COVID relief dollars to cover half the cost of a nearly $1 million new ladder truck for the fire department. The current ladder truck is more than 20 years old and has high maintenance costs, officials have said.
The new truck is expected to arrive in June and lead the Daily American Republic’s Fourth of July parade.
The funds will come from the city’s American Rescue Plan Act funding, city manager Matt Winters explained.
The $500,000 in ARPA money was originally set aside to help with the demolition of the former city complex on Oak and Second streets, and for stormwater retention projects.
Both are being funded by separate grants, Winters told the council. The council is expected to vote June 19 on the budget change.
“This won’t take away from any of those projects I previously discussed... It just gives us a little relief on the capital budget for this year,” Winters said.
In other business, the council also discussed and voted on an approximately $48,000 change order to a stormwater and drainage project. All of the changes will be covered by the grant which is funding the project, Winters said. The changes include unforeseen utility interference at eight different locations that required additional work, as well as asphalt and sidewalk work on Cynthia and Maud streets.
Mayor Pro Tem Jerrica Fox said the city would follow up with state representatives about efforts to have a Poplar Bluff city street renamed in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
Pastor Spencer Jones spoke to the council during the public input portion of the meeting, expressing disappointment that the matter had not progressed during the legislative session. He said other streets had been renamed in the region but that efforts in Poplar Bluff had stalled.
“I know why it’s not done, it’s not a priority,” he said.
Fox promised the city would follow up with state representatives whose efforts were needed in the matter.
Council members also heard from members of the Mingo Job Corps student government association.
The students attended the council meeting to learn more about city operations part of their training, said Carolyn Marshall, Mingo’s center standards officer.
Attending the meeting were student government secretary Samia Cotton and student government representatives Jacob Marazzi and Jayden Slavings.
Their role, Cotton told the council, is to listen to students, take the information they learn and try to make things better for the community and the students.
In a city manager’s report, Winters shared the city had several events over the past weekend, including an art and family festival organized by Margaret Harwell Art Museum and an Aaron Lewis concert at the Black River Coliseum.
The city is preparing for the Rib City Shootout basketball tournament, with games to be held at the Coliseum, along with the Missouri Healthy Delta effort, which will provide free medical, vision and dental care from June 11-20.
Between 75-100 members of the military reserves are expected to be in Poplar Bluff for the Healthy Delta clinic.
“These are all practicing professionals that are members of the reserves, all different branches of the military,” Winters said. “They’ve trained through the year. They can provide services at no cost. There is no income requirement, no proof of insurance required and no identification needed. ... Anyone can attend this event.”
In other business, the council:
• Discussed a request for permission to set off fireworks on June 17, as part of Juneteenth celebrations.
• Approved a bid for a vehicle lift for the motor pool.
• Approved an easement on city property for Spire, at 2006 S. 11th St.
• Approved a budget item to purchase basketball court equipment for the Black River Coliseum.
• Made appointments to city boards.