Drainage improvements slated

NEW MADRID, Mo. - Work on drainage problems in New Madrid can begin after a bid was awarded at the Aug. 9 meeting of the New Madrid City Council.

Persons and Sons of Poplar Bluff, Mo., was awarded the bid for drainage improvement projects, which will cost $365,147.50.

City Administrator Richard McGill explained the funding for the project is provided through a Community Development Block Grant the city received earlier. With the completion of work by the city’s engineering firm of Smith and Co. and the awarding of the bid, construction will now be able to get underway.

The city has targeted three different areas for improvements. These include an area along Bloomfield Road from Highway U ending at the pump station on Old Kingshighway, an area along Mitchell Street and three blocks of Riley Street and an area from Mill Street north to the Riley Street pumping station, according to McGill.

The signing of two resolutions marked the end of the city’s efforts to bring in one industry.

Mayor Richard Bodi was authorized by the Council to sign a resolution amending the “Master Power Purchase and Sale Agreement” between the city of New Madrid and Uniper Global Commodities North America. Also Bodi was authorized to sign an irrevocable written notice to the company changing the starting date for large industrial energy use to “non-applicable.”

McGill said the city had entered into the agreements in December in hopes of obtaining an industrial customer, which would require a large amount of electricity.

“We are at a point where we needed to make a decision whether the company was coming or not. And if not, get rid of the additional (power) load outside what we need for the city,” McGill said. “We have moved on and are now working on a completely different industrial prospect.”

The city administrator added he hoped the city would soon have an announcement about that prospect.

Also during the meeting, the mayor appointed Sandra Beasley as a new member of the

Board of Commissioners for the New Madrid Housing Authority. Reappointed to the board were Jake Mickey Abner who will serve as chairman; Sandy Riggs, vice chairman; and member Jim Cravens.

An ordinance amending the city’s investment policy was approved. The amendment will allow the city to invest its monies in fixed index annuities as well as certificates of deposits and treasury bonds if the Council chooses, McGill said.

During the city administrator’s report to the Council, he discussed the collapse of the Shainberg building earlier in the day. McGill advised the Council the owner was taking care of the clean-up and with the help from city workers, Main Street was cleared and reopened to traffic by around 5 o’clock that evening.

Also discussed was the continued work at the intersection of Mill and Powell streets and the current increase in COVID-19 cases throughout New Madrid County.