In a split vote, the Poplar Bluff City Council chose to allocate the remaining $147,398 from the American Rescue Plan Act for the demolition of derelict houses in the city Monday evening. Council member Robert Smith was the sole dissenting vote.
Street Department Superintendent Jerry Lawson petitioned to have the money go towards purchasing a new ten-wheeler truck. The city’s previous vehicle, critical for snow removal according to Lawson, suffered a total loss due to a fire.
He relayed to the council the insurance company was going to pay out $68,000 for the loss.
“This is a frontline truck,” Lawson described, “This is the truck we use to put the big plow on. It also carries 1,600 gallons of salt brine.”
He warned the cost of a new truck can range up to $190,000. Council member Mark Massingham suggested using the insurance payout as a down payment for a new ten-wheeler and then making allowance for two-year lease payments in the 2025 and 2026 budgets instead of using the soon-to-expire ARPA funds.
“I really want to see these buildings torn down,” Massingham stated.
Greg West, on behalf of the Butler County Landlords Association, also provided input.
“We really like the idea of some of these derelict houses getting torn down,” he said, “The city is not going to borrow money to tear down houses. But they can...borrow money for equipment.”
While council members acknowledged the importance of acquiring a new truck, they ultimately elected to use the ARPA funds for the house demolition.
Council member Barbara Horton voted, “Yes, as long as Jerry (Lawson) gets his truck.”
In other business, Poplar Bluff Fire Department Chief Mike Moffitt presented the potential for a bid for new extrication tools. He informed the council the manufacturer that made the department’s current setup is no longer in business and parts are unavailable.
The council will consider bids in the Oct. 21 voting session.
City Human Resources Director Lisa Hafford presented three bids for a new payroll and timekeeping system.
“That system we’ve been using is probably 20 years old,” Massingham added.
Hafford recommended accepting the five-year agreement bid starting at $32,000 and graduating to $37,000 from CPU of Cape Girardeau. Members voted to accept the bid.
City Planner James Sisk presented two dog-related items to the council. First, he brought a proposed modification to the Code of Ordinances Section 205.420 entitled “Impoundment after Biting.”
The amendment would allow for dogs, in the event of a biting incident, who have no prior history of biting and up-to-date vaccination records to be released back to the owner instead of taken to the pound for observation.
Sisk emphasized this is only for first-time offenders and the severity of the attack can negate this procedure. The council will vote on the amendment Oct. 21.
For the second item, members voted to accept a previously discussed $15,000 grant from the Humane Society and a private donor to close down the city shelter’s gas chamber.
“It is the last one in Missouri,” Sisk noted.
For animals needing to be euthanized, they will be taken to veterinarians in the area.
For other voting items, the council unanimously approved annexing a property located at 123 Market Lane into city limits with a zoning designation of RS-1 Residential and a change order two for the Stormwater ARPA project authorizing the use of any remaining funds to extend paving of the ditch.