Council opts against sending PD location to voters

Poplar Bluff City Council members voted 4-3 Monday against seeking a vote of the people concerning the next location of the police department.

Mayor Robert Smith asked for the discussion item to be raised again during the meeting, which also included discussion of financing for the project. Smith and council members Ed DeGaris and Chris Taylor voted for the measure, while Steve Davis, Shane Cornman, Lisa Parson and Barbara Horton were against the measure.

The city has proposed an $11.6 million police department project funded through certificates of participation that would be financed over a 25-year period, according to information presented by James Lahay of Stifel Financial Corp.

The funding mechanism will be a voting item on the council agenda for the Oct. 5 council meeting.

Smith said he has been contacted by a number of residents who feel their will has been ignored by the council with a vote to move the location to Shelby Road, where the city has purchased property.

“I would like to think we’re doing everything for the best interest of the community and folks don’t feel that way,” said Smith.

Council member Chris Taylor agreed, saying she is unsure the city should spend $11 million at this time. Taylor also read a letter from businessman Tim Funke, who spoke against the move, including for the reason that it would not be central to response to the south and east sides of town.

“I have been very disappointed that the council representatives for the south and east wards have not stood up for the residents in these areas,” Funke wrote, adding later that the city has failed four times to pass a use tax but the sheriff’s department received approval of a law enforcement sales tax on the first try.

Several members of the police department spoke on behalf of the location, including Chief Danny Whiteley.

The current location of the police department has two bathrooms, one of which has to be shared by the prisoners, he said. Evidence is currently stored in three different locations, communications staff have to work at a separate site, and personnel have to wear hazmat protective gear to retrieve files and items still stored at the department’s former Second Street location.

“We do not have appropriate areas for processing and holding juveniles, or females, and are possibly in violation of some (Department of Justice) mandates for total separation by sight and sound of those individuals,” Whiteley said.

The Shelby location is supported by Sheriff Mark Dobbs, prosecuting attorney Kacey Proctor, Jim Bailey, Nathan Maurer, Francisco Esquivel, Bishop Ron Webb and retired deputy chief Jeff Rolland, Whiteley said.

Chief police communications officer Dave Williams also spoke of the need to provide redundancy in response locations. The Second Street location is so close to the Butler County Sheriff’s Department that any potential disaster would harm the response of both the police department and deputies, he said.

Capt. Dave Sutton told council members response times matter and equipment is stored at the police department which would be needed, for instance, in the case of an active shooter at the schools or hospitals.

The council should rely on the experience of those in the police department when considering the location, council member Shane Cornman said.

Cornman also read a letter from Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce President Steve Halter, which said it is time for the city to move on to other important matters. A compromise was reached for the police department to go to Shelby and the city hall to stay downtown, according to the letter.

Council member Lisa Parson said she has heard from citizens who are proud of the city for making the Shelby Road move.

“I think we’re making a forward step, not just for the present of Poplar Bluff but for the future. We’re growing,” she said.

No one likes going into debt, said mayor pro tem Steve Davis, but a new police department has been needed for many years.

“I think we’ve got to have some faith and confidence in the future of Poplar Bluff,” Davis said, adding that the council can say hold off, and still be having this decision 10 years from now.

Council member Barbara Horton said that she attempted to give the voters a chance to weigh in on the issue in 2019, however a petition drive at that time failed to gain enough signatures to force a vote of the people.

“Where were these people, Mr. Mayor, when we gave them the opportunity to get it on the ballot,” said Horton.

The new police department will be funded by revenues from the city’s half cent capital improvement tax.

“The citizens stepped up and did what they thought was right, by providing this capital tax,” said DeGaris.

DeGaris made the motion asking for the matter to be put to a vote of residents in the next election, which was seconded by Taylor.