Residents worried about property values in historic neighborhood

Some Sikeston residents are worried about their property values in a historic neighborhood.

Sikeston resident Larry Hancock addressed Sikeston City Council during Monday’s City Council meeting, and voiced his concern over issues near his home in the North Ranney and Lake area.

Hancock said there were “sketchy people” consistently walking up and down the street, many of them carrying alcohol bought at a local liquor store.

He also added neighbors in rental homes in that area are not caring for their property, including only mowing their yards every three to four weeks.

Vehicles also speed down Ranney Street, according to Hancock, adding to the problems.

Another issue Hancock raised was the mental health facility located on North Kingshighway.

“I think we should move it or don’t let the residents roam the streets,” Hancock said, adding that it is time to “stop the blight.”

Hancock suggested several ideas, including more manpower for Sikeston Department of Public Safety to patrol the area and other areas with similar issues and possibly limiting the sale of single alcohol containers or not allowing carryout liquor near neighborhoods.

He also encouraged rental property owners to have their tenants “raise the bar.”

Hancock said if the current trend continues, Sikeston will become more like Cairo, Illinois, or Charleston.

Sikeston Mayor Greg Turnbow said he appreciated Hancock addressing his concerns with the Council.

“We also strive to make sure our neighborhoods are better,” Turnbow said. “We’ll do everything we can do.”

Sikeston Department of Public Safety Director Jim McMillen said they are meeting this week to see what they can do.

“We do have some plans,” McMillen said, who added they will be adding five new officers next month that should help with the low staffing DPS currently is enduring.

Sikeston City Councilman Brian Self said he is very concerned for Hancock’s neighborhood and other historic neighborhoods in Sikeston.

“I think we heard some really good ideas,” Self said of Hancock’s speech to Council.

In other action at Monday’s meeting, Council:

• Heard the first reading of a bill to amend the original FY21 budget to reflect material appropriations resulting from activities since it was adopted in June of 2020. The changes fall into three categories: COVID-19, staff shortage and a change to the accounting system.

While the City was reimbursed for its COVID-19 expenditures with Cares Act Funds, they needed to record the expenditures as an approved budget item. The City had a total of  $315,946.77 in COVID-19 expenditures the City received $418,001.86 from Scott and New Madrid Counties in Cares Act Funds.

DPS has also been short staffed in Patrol and Communications, therefore staff worked more overtime to cover those shortages. This also impacted Fire Division as some of those employees would occasionally work extra shifts in Patrol.

The change to the City’s accounting system required some expenditures from June 2020 to be accrued to FY21. A few major projects were completed (or paid for) in that time period and even though we actually didn’t incur any impact to cash, the expense has to be recorded.

DPS also received a Next Generation 911 Grant for $178,640. We expect to be reimbursed by the grant this fiscal year, but the expenditure needed to be included in the amendment. 

Lastly, we transferred $763,796 from the Capital Improvement Sales Tax Fund to the Transportation Sales Tax Fund to purchase Highway 60 right-of-way. Sikeston City Finance Director Karen Bailey said, “It’s like taking money out of one pocket and transferring it to another pocket. You don’t have any more or less money, but the entry is large and warranted an explanation.”

• Heard the first reading of a bill that would appropriate by fund the FY22 budget.

• Heard the first reading of a bill that established staffing levels and basic compensation plan for FY22. Staffing for FY22 consists of 128 full-time employees, 16 part-time employees and 32 seasonal.

Changes to the staffing ordinance included reclassifying a contractual employee for the collector to a full-time employee; adding three seasonal mowers; adding additional seasonal workers for concessions due to tournaments; a $2,000 increase to full-time employees; entry level pay for communication officers increases an additional $1 per hour to improve retention; adding a skilled worker to Street Division and Park Division; adding a maintenance position to assist the building maintenance supervisor.

• Approved the surplus of 29-old-SCBA air packs and 60 old air cylinders for Sikeston DPS. The equipment will be donated to volunteer fire departments.

• Authorized the purchase of a used truck for the Parks Department. Due to impacts of COVID-19, there were several events that were not held, allowing for the funding of the vehicle. The purchase will not exceed $28,000.

• Authorized City staff to officially execute the agreement with Waters Engineering for the design and inspection of improvements related to street, water, sewer and stormsewer improvements inside the new south industrial park.

Funding for engineering will be provided by DRA with match from the city. This is part of the ‘green’ first phase of the overall project armor improvements.

• Authorized project agreements with Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for the construction of a new overpass and connecting roadways on Highway 61. 

• Authorized Cost Share Agreements for the Phase II of Project Armor. It will authorize the mayor to sign the project agreements with Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for the widening of and traffic signal on Highway 61.

• Were asked by a Sikeston resident the status of census and changing of the ward boundaries within the City. Sikeston City Manager Jonathan Douglass said once the City receives the census numbers, which they have yet to obtain, they will have six months to adopt new ward lines.

• The next Sikeston City Council meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. June 7 at Sikeston City Hall.