Council approves BMU rate increase

SIKESTON — Sikeston residents will soon see an increase in their utilities bill as the Sikeston City Council approved an increase from the Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities.

The three-year rate increase averages 8 percent per year for electric and 12 percent per year for both water and sewer. The electric rate increase will be effective Oct. 1 while the sewer and water increase will take effect Jan. 1, 2019. It is the latest in significant increases since 2014, the most recent being a 10.9 percent increase implemented in June 2018.

For the average monthly bill, which according to BMU is $138.37 with $106.92 electric, $17.50 water and $13.95 sewer, the increase will be an average of $12.15 after year one, $14.61 for the second increase and $17.10 after the third increase.

After passing the increases, Sikeston Mayor Steven Burch requested BMU issue a year-over-year report at the last Council meetings in August each year, beginning next year, to keep the public updated on BMU’s activities.

Also at Monday’s meeting, Council appointed individuals to Sikeston’s boards and commissions. The following individuals were appointed: Board of Adjustments, Harvey Cooper; Board of Appeals, Michael Limbaugh and Reade Ferguson; Board of Municipal Utilities, appointment tabled until next meeting; Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board, Britt McConnell; Housing Authority Board, Harry Howard and Gordon Waller; LCRA, Matthew Wright; Park Board, Ellen Brandom, Jared Straton and Charlotte York; Planning & Zoning, Gordon Jones and Larry Hancock; Public Safety Advisory Board, Jeff Hay and David Teachout; 
Rental Ordinance Appeals Board, Bobby Tyrone, Carrie Lape and Michael Harris; Sikeston Pet & Animal Welfare Services Advisory Board, Madeline Bell, Megan McGill-Knight and Heather Greene; Tax Increment Finance Commission, Nathan Cox and Matt Wright; Tourism Advisory Board, Phil Boyer and Aaron Boldrey; Traffic Committee, Anna Warf, Jim McClure, Emory McCauley, Fred Thornton and Missy Marshall; SEMO University – Sikeston Campus Advisory Board. Trisha Bill, Jeff Hay, Carolyn Harris, Agnes Mason and Mike Ziegenhorn.

In other action Monday, Council:

• Heard a review of the City of Sikeston’s final 2017 Underwriting Year Experience Package that has resulted in the city being able to receive a $125,000 profit distribution check. This is due in part to employees taking initiative in their health care choices and also three years with no increase in health premiums.

• Conducted first reading of bill allowing the operation of golf carts within the city limits of Sikeston. The bill includes several regulations in order for golf carts to be allowed on city streets, including law enforcement authorization to take action if deemed necessary.

• Conducted first and second reading of a bill approving a state block grant agreement and airport layout plan for Project 18-077B-1. The emergency bill allows for the execution of a cost share agreement between the City of Sikeston and the Missouri Department of Transportation/Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for the purpose of an airport layout plan update. The grant amount shall not exceed $42,000 and the matching funds shall not exceed $4,000.

• Sikeston City Manager Jon Douglass briefed Council on the final phase of the wayfinding/monument signs for the City of Sikeston. All wayfinding signs are in place, leaving the monument signs needing to be installed. Potential locations for these signs were the railroad right-of-way near the Sikeston/Miner city limits (west of Edwards Ave. near MoDOT maintenance yard) and in Matthews Park facing westbound on Highway 60/Future I-57 traffic. Because of other possible locations that may be considered, the item was tabled for further review.

• Awarded field lighting contract to MUSCO Lighting in the amount of $34,000 for the purchase and installation of Control-Link Cabinets for the baseball and softball fields at the Complex. The Control-Link Cabinet is designed for the field lights to be set on timers which Parks staff can control without having users needing to be inside the control room of the concession stands.

• Public Works Director Jay Lancaster briefed Council on the revised New Madrid County flood plain map. According to SEMA’s updated map, areas in the southern portion of Sikeston, which was added to the floodplain as part of the February update, has been removed.

• Approved the renewal of the land lease contract for the Brown’s airport hangar.

• Discussed that MoDOT will be accepting applications for the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). These are projects for bicycle/pedestrian facilities and/or ADA improvements to existing facilities. The applications are due Nov. 2 nd they must seek a minimum of $100,000 and a maximum of $400,000 while projects must have a 20 percent match or more. Some items of possible consideration for the City of Sikeston to submit include: Rail to Trail-Phase 2, Safe Route to School-North West Street (Salcedo to Malone), Recreation Trail-along Salcedo Road, and Downtown Revitalization-Phase 2. Council asked to table this item for future discussion and authorization.

The next Council meeting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Sept. 24 in the Council Chambers at City Hall.