Poplar Bluff City Council discusses easement for new fiber internet company

The Poplar Bluff City Council discussed granting a 30-by-30-foot easement to Ritter Communications to build a metal building to house fiber optic equipment. Ritter Communications conducts business under the name Right Fiber and is based in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

City Manager Robert Knodell informed the company intends, “to provide high-speed fiber internet available throughout much of the city.”

He added the site is near the historic Wheatley School, but the school’s board had no objections to the planned eight-by-12-foot metal shed.

“It’s part of the entire Wheatley complex,” City Planner James Sisk noted.

Knodell said the lot will be graveled and may have privacy fencing and other aesthetic improvements available if the city desires. For the easement, Poplar Bluff will receive a one-time $10,000 payment. Sisk stated an old basement is located on the property, but the Poplar Bluff Street Department may soon remove the concrete if needed.

“That was the site they came to us with after looking and reviewing some other places,” he commented.

From there, Right Fiber intends to service the rest of Poplar Bluff.

“This is not a large structure. This is basically an equipment cabinet,” Sisk clarified.

The council will vote on the easement March 17. For the city manager’s report, Knodell reminded residents Missouri will be conducting a statewide tornado drill on Wednesday. He assured the city’s siren system will be tested.

Knodell also reminded attendees of the city’s new employee of the month award.

“(There’s) tremendous work that takes place every day by our dedicated staff here,” he affirmed.

The first employee honored was Holly Lewis of the street department.

For voting items, members voted unanimously to approve the following measures:

• Agreement for engineering services from Smith and Company Engineers relative to the Delta Regional Authority grant for the improvement of Butzen Drive in the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park.

• Request by the Poplar Bluff Police Department to dispose of antiquated records.

• Addendum to the administrative services agreement with the Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission for the American Rescue Plan Act revitalization grant for the demolition of the old city hall complex.

• Revising the agreement with aviation consultant Olsson Incorporated for the hangar construction at the Poplar Bluff Regional Business Airport.

• Authorization to enter into a State Block Grant Agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for the hangar construction at the airport.

• Granting a conditional use permit to the United Gospel Rescue Mission for the construction of a storage facility at 411 West Pine Street.

• Calling for a public hearing regarding the annexation of the right-of-way on Highway 67 into the city.