Sikeston City Council approves UTV use, sale of fireworks inside city limits

SIKESTON — The Sikeston City Council approved the use of UTVs and the selling of fireworks inside city limits but the use of fireworks is still not allowed — for now.

At a city council meeting Monday morning, Council approved the use of UTVs on Sikeston city streets, after amending the proposed ordinance to include stricter safety laws for children riding in the vehicles. At a meeting earlier this month, residents addressed concerns over the child restraint in the UTVs as well as inspections for UTVs. The previous bill did not specify the requirements for the safety of passengers under 18 other than stating they had to wear a helmet and use a seatbelt.

Under the new bill, children less than 4 years old or less than 40 pounds must be in an appropriate child safety seat, children 4-7 who weigh at least 40 pounds must be in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat unless they are 80 pounds or 4 feet, 9 inches tall, and children over 8 or weighing at least 80 pounds or at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall are required to be secured by a seat belt or buckled into an appropriate booster seat. All passengers under the age of 18 must wear an approved Department of Transportation helmet while riding.

Residents also expressed concern at an earlier meeting about the inspection process, or lack thereof. Sikeston DPS Capt. Ryan Smith told Council he spoke with residents of Tucson, Arizona, which has a population of 970,000, and allows UTVs. As a state, Arizona allows UTVs and governs the registrations, not the municipalities. They do not require inspections, however, they have a “Highway Use Certificate” form that must be completed and signed by the owner and notarized. The forms are similar to that which will be required for registration in Sikeston.

Council agreed to making no changes to the proposed registration process which only includes registering at the city clerks office, showing proof of insurance, signing a form stating the vehicle has certain safety features required by the ordinance and paying a fee. No visual inspection of the UTV will be required.

Smith added that the registration is for Sikeston residents only and will not be issued to those living outside Sikeston.

Council also approved the sale of fireworks inside the city limits of Sikeston and once again, the issue of shooting fireworks inside city limits was discussed.

After hearing comments from a local resident, saying allowing the sale of fireworks and not shooting of fireworks, Councilman Brian Self made a motion to approve the sale of fireworks inside city limits with an addendum that Sikeston City Manager Jon Douglass include the shooting of fireworks bill on a future Council agenda.

In June, Sikeston City Council chose not to allow the shooting of fireworks in Sikeston by tabling a bill that would allow the shooting of fireworks inside city limits.

In other action at Monday’s meeting, Council:

• Approved city staff’s airport terminal area update to be presented to MoDOT Aviation. This will update the city’s terminal area plan with MoDOT and will inform MoDOT of the city’s interest and intention to seek 90% grand funding for the city’s Phase 1 project to make apron modifications and purchase a new fuel system.

• Were briefed on the Stallcup Building. Repairs on the wall are nearing completion but roof damage was worse than expected. According to Rob Murphy, the roof can be repaired for $8,500 and last “two or three years” or be replaced for $30,000. So far, the city has invested $108,000 in repairing the building but Murphy said when the building repairs are complete, the building will be worth much more than what the city has invested.

• Approved a change to the Board of Municipal Utilities rental lighting rates.

• Approved an amendment to the hours of operation for the Amusement and Entertainment Licensing bill. The hours of operation will now be from 9 a.m. to midnight Sundays through Thursdays and from 9 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays with no re-entry after 1 a.m.

• Approved an amendment regarding the repayment for TIF revenues for the 60 West TIF District.

• Heard the first reading of a bill for a new rental housing registration and inspection program.

• Approved the purchase of a used Highway Patrol vehicle for Sikeston DPS at a cost of $15,300. Additional money will be used to outfit the vehicle with emergency equipment and K9 specific equipment, bringing the cost to $16,200.

• Approved a bid from Gateway Design Studio of $25,000, not to exceed $30,000, to design a conceptual layout of the Recreation Complex/Bootheel Golf Course master plan.