SIKESTON -- Over 60 projects were listed at the Sikeston Council meeting Thursday, outlining the city's capital improvement needs for the next five years.
Various projects were discussed that identified $7.7 million in municipal needs for the coming year. Of this amount, $6.4 million would be needed for infrastructure improvements; $827,500 for quality of life improvements (parks and recreation needs); $445,000 for health and safety needs; and $65,000 for general operational improvements.
The Capital Improvement Plan is a plan used for budget preparation. A capital improvement is a purchase of $5,000 or more for assets with life of five years or greater.
Together, the city manager, mayor and top officials of the city's department heads ranked the projects, one being most important, for CIP. The ratings don't necessarily decide funding, "but it's a tool of how we think of these projects and how to prioritize them," said City Manger Jonathan Douglass.
There are 61 projects listed, more than than last year, said Douglass. The city has more funds, he added, but they're not committed to any spending.
The first 10 ranked involved more infrastructure and safety-related projects, ranging from ditch maintenance (2) to bullet proof vests (6) for the Department of Public Safety.
Others include the rail trail project (14), various ballfield improvements to attract tournaments (16), new weapons for DPS (26, 27), playground surfacing (36), radars (45), picnic tables (50) and mausoleum repairs (61).
Notable projects include:
Airport Runway End Indicator Light and Precision Approach Path Indicator (4) for $15,000: To seek grants for further funding, Sikeston Memorial Municipal Airport will have to improve safety features. Along with REILP and PAPIs, the airport runway will be sealed and striped (3) to further ensure safety for pilots.
Sewer Vac-Con Truck (7) for $300,000: The city would use this truck to clean storm sewers. It can cut roots with water pressure or vacuum material. The current truck is almost 20 years old and "not very reliable," according to a city employee. The truck has had near $75,000-worth of repairs for a new pump and vacuum. Council is considering refurbishing the current truck. Council member Gerald Settles recommended to keep using the current truck. "It may fall apart, but you never know." To lease a truck for one month, it would cost over $10,000.
Ballfield lights (8) for Field 5 at $85,000/Backstop (11) for Field 7 at $30,000 at the Recreational Complex: Backstops for the field is to be replaced in FY17 budget. Lights are included in FY18 CIP. The current lights are inside the field. The new lights will be relocated to be outside. Douglass said they will survey general park users, meet with league representatives and travel teams to generate more ideas for a "more competitive facility."
Crack sealing equipment (13) for $65,000: For winter weather, this equipment will give "more life to streets before we have to do major work to them," said Douglass.
New fire station (18) for $4 million: "I don't expect we'll build one next year," Douglass said, but it is a "big, long-term project we'll be thinking about." The fire station and parking lot at South Main Street receive significant flooding from heavy rains. According to Juden, the building is full of cracks in the mortar and has large cracks on interiors walls of the building. Council also discussed positioning the new station in other locations, preliminary plans included northern Sikeston near Dollar General, and South Main Street at Larcel Drive. According to Juden, a station at South Main could have a cost-sharing opportunity.
Salt storage building (20) for $25,000: According to Douglass, the current building is not big enough and is corrosive to the building.
Front mounted mower (24) for $9,000: Douglass said mowers are in constant use and will need a replacement.
T-hangar upgrades (25) for $17,000: According to city officials, there are difficulties opening the doors. This project would replace the door hardware to "make a dent in usability," said Douglass. Council also discussed costs of new T-hangars, but a "low bid" was at $694,000 and went as high as $700,000. Douglass calculated that an expensive unit could take up to 47 years to make a profit for leasing 10 units at $125 a month.
Side-arm tractor (28) for $70,000: This purchase would replace the current tractor and mower arm to mow ditches.
ADA playground equipment (31) for $16,000: To add quality of life, this amount is enough to add a few features, Douglass said, such as accessible swings and a merry-go-round that parents can sit in with their child.
Outdoor fitness equipment (35) at the Recreation Complex for $50,000: This project would be an upgrade from the current bootcamp-like equipment the Recreation Complex currently has. This new equipment looks like it came from a gym but can withstand inclement weather.
On Dec. 5, Council will meet again to consider for approval. The CIP has to be submitted before Jan.1. No appropriation of monies will be made until formal adoption of the FY-18 budget in June 2017.
Council also conducted the first reading of a bill that would repeal the existing City Code (Chapter 210) dealing with offenses and enact a new Chapter 21, which would put the city in compliance with the state statute.
For a number of years Missouri attorneys, judges, legislators and advocacy groups have worked to develop new legislation, which streamlines existing criminal statutes, to create new classes of felonies, misdemeanors and boosts sentences for drunken drivers who kill someone.
Juden said they would have to make adjustments with with state statutes regarding concealed carry weapons.
"It doesn't really change anything we have except update (city code) with state law," said Juden. He also mentioned there was word changing, it added different class of misdemeanors and another class of felony.