A citizen petition regarding the location of Poplar Bluff city hall, police department and municipal court is expected to be presented to officials Oct. 16.
Jered Boeving, a supporter of the effort to keep city hall in Downtown, spoke Monday to the city council. The council also reviewed zoning changes to the Eight Points Development on Oak Grove Road and made an appointment to a city board.
About 150 signatures have been collected to date, Boeving said.
Organizers say that count includes two locations, Myrtle's and McNeely Shoe Service in the downtown area. Signatures have also been collected, but have not been counted yet, from Saturday's Iron Horse Festival, Childress Auto Sales and by residents going door-to-door, according to organizers.
City council members voted in August to move city offices from a Second Street location to Northwest Medical Center on Barron Road.
The council is in the process of negotiating for the purchase of the medical center, but has promised the public will be able to review the contract before it is signed.
Opponents of the move spoke to the council in August and have since distributed a petition calling for a citywide vote to decide the location.
The movement needs signatures from 25 percent of the town's registered voters, or 2,689 people, to force a ballot measure.
Mayor Ed DeGaris and council members Robert Smith and Barbara Horton have said they support the petition effort, if the public wants to bring this matter to a vote.
All three voted against the Northwest location, in favor of remaining downtown. Smith has described the move as an "obituary" for the downtown area.
Mayor pro tem Susan McVey, council members at large Ron Black and Steve Davis and council member Philip Crocker support the new location.
McVey, Black and Davis have said the number of signatures will not change their opinion of the location.
They believe Northwest provides the best value for the money.
"I'm disappointed, but it's their right to do this. I think when the council makes a decision, that should be it, but it's their right to have a petition," McVey said today. "If they get their (signatures), we'll abide by whatever the rules are. It's their choice, their right."
Supporters of Northwest have argued it will be cheaper to renovate than to construct a new building.
"I feel like I'm being a good steward of the city's money, which was what I was elected to do," McVey said.
DeGaris has previously suggested renovating a portion of the Second Street complex, mixed with new construction, as an option.
Following a meeting by the petition group last week, DeGaris said he wants a citywide vote to be held if that is what the public wants. He does not want the public to lose faith in the council, according to DeGaris.
The city has begun the process to finance up to $8 million for the new building.
Council members have said an offer of $3.45 million has been made for Northwest. Renovation estimates of almost $5.6 million have been discussed.
Remaining at the Second Street complex and renovating a portion of the building, or constructing a new building has been estimated to cost between $7.5 million and $8.75 million.
Neither estimate includes the cost to demolish the Second Street structure, according to the council. Architects have previously said this could cost more than $1 million.
Eight Points
The city council discussed a request by Eight Points Development to divide an existing vacant lot at the Oak Grove Road location. The lot is a gravel section, located in front of paved parking near Ross Dress for Less. The rezoning would divide one lot into two smaller lots. This item is expected to be a voting matter Oct. 16.
In other business, the council:
* Discussed and voted to grant a request from Larry Hillis Dodge to erect an 80-foot flag pole on the northwest corner of their property.
* Discussed and voted to name Joe Leahy to the Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Board, to serve the remainder of the term of Bob Summers. The term ends June 30, 2018.