A contract extension for Poplar Bluff City Manager Mark Massingham was unanimously approved Friday by the city council, who were split on decisions regarding Katy Lane property and an airport hangar project.
Massingham's contract has been extended for another year at his current salary of $122,400. He has been city manager since 2015.
Massingham has done a good job with city operations, said at large council person Steve Davis. He's qualified, knowledgeable and interested in the city, Davis said.
"I think his heart's with the city and the people of the city," Davis explained.
Ward 3 council person Barbara Horton said she respects Massingham for stepping in when the city's government was at one of its lowest points.
"As a fairly new council person, he's always been helpful in addressing any issue I've brought to him," she said.
Katy Lane
A request to rezone a portion of property that touches both Katy Lane and Barron Road has been tabled until August.
Mayor pro tem Susan McVey made the motion, saying the four days since the workshop session was not enough time to review all of the information and concerns. At large council member Ron Black and Ward 4 representative Philip Crocker voted against the motion to table.
The Barbour family, which owns the approximately 2 acres of land, would like it to be rezoned from residential to office professional.
They say this would provide a transition zone between commercial businesses and the homeowners of the neighborhood. Family members include Dr. Dan Barbour, Kevin Barbour, Rose Ann Huck and Jane Walters.
Barron Road residents say they are afraid other properties would ask for rezoning, causing a domino effect that would be detrimental to the other property owners.
Council member support for the rezoning was split after a workshop meeting Monday.
Black said the current proposal creates a natural transition and leaves a buffer of vegetation between the office professional and residential property.
He voted against tabling the motion, Black said, because he felt the council was ready to vote on the matter.
The Barbours have proposed zoning property that touches Katy Lane as office professional and leaving enough acreage for a buildable lot as residential property on Barron Road.
McVey said she asked for an August date because some members of the council will be absent in July.
Airport Hangars
Council members agreed 6-1 to an amended lease with the corporation that oversees construction of new hangars at Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport.
Horton cast the sole 'no' vote on the motion, saying later she felt more information was needed.
The project was a workshop item Monday. The meeting held Friday was rescheduled from July 3. The meeting agenda was made public Thursday.
"I am proud of the airport and the services it provides for our community," Horton said, but added having the second meeting in less than a week didn't allow enough time to prepare for the vote and understand how the MAD board works.
The new lease allows the Municipal Airport Development Corporation to move forward with an approximately $570,000 project to construct two large hangars.
The MAD board is in the process of securing a loan for the project, which will be paid for with hangar rental fees.
Construction is expected to begin this summer and be complete by the fall, corporation members have said.
It will not be put out for bid, according to corporation president Matt Richardson. The contract will be given to R.L. Persons of Poplar Bluff, which submitted the low bid for a 2011 hangar project.
The new hangars will be good for the growth of the airport, said Black, who believes this process has worked for the city in the past.
The corporation is a private entity that leases ground from the city for the construction of hangars. They fund construction through loans, which are secured with the hangar rental income.
The property reverts to the city when the loans are repaid.
In other business, the council heard a request from resident Angela White that more information concerning council meetings be put on the city's website, prior to council meetings.
Correction: A Thursday article of the Daily American Republic reported an airport grant application for a new runway was discussed Monday but was not a voting item Friday.
The grant application was discussed and voted on at Monday's meeting.