Sikeston approves tax levy for 2022

SIKESTON — Sikeston’s tax levy will remain relatively the same in 2022.

During Monday’s Sikeston City Council meeting, Council established the 2022 tax rate after a public hearing was held. The 2022 tax rates will be: general, $0.4160; park, $0.1813 and library, $0.200.

“There are no changes in the general and park taxes,” said Karen Bailey, Sikeston’s finance director. “There was a minimal increase in the library. I think they went up .0004 cents per $100 in assessed valuation.”

Sikeston City Manager Jonathan Douglass said he calculated it on a $150,000 home and it would be an increase of only 17 cents.

“And not all properties in Sikeston are assessed by our library,” Bailey added.

Also at Monday’s meeting, Council approved six new stop signs during Monday’s City Council meeting.

The stop signs will be installed at:

• Yosemite and Brunt Boulevard on the southeast corner, controlling northbound traffic

• Rushmore and Brunt Boulevard on the southeast corner, controlling northbound traffic

• S. Illinois Avenue and Citation Drive at the southwest corner, controlling eastbound traffic

• Seabiscuit Drive and Citation Drive at the northwest corner, controlling southbound traffic

There are also two stop signs installed, making a three-way stops at:

• Marion Avenue at Pam Street on the southeast corner controlling northbound traffic

• Marion Avenue at Pam Street on the northwest corner, controlling southbound traffic.

In other action Monday, Council:

• Annexed two tracts of land, one being a piece of Highway 61, and part of Highway 60 right-of-way that contains 51.42 acres and another tract of land that is South of US Highway 60 both in New Madrid County containing 403.49 acres.

“This is a big tract of land to have Sikeston grow in,” said Sikeston Mayor Greg Turnbow.

• Heard the first reading of a bill that will amend the municipal code involving the issuance of liquor licenses.

• Heard the first reading of a bill omitting the requirement for advertising in the newspaper bids in excess of $10,000. Bailey said sometimes it doesn’t make sense to advertise for bids in the area when the products aren’t sold in the area, such as firetrucks.

“We want to make everyone aware that this is nothing against the Standard Democrat,” Turnbow said.

• Heard the first reading of a bill that will amend the city code to recognize 17 year olds as adults to reflect the state ordinance.

• Approved a resolution that would allow the City to finance the purchase of a flat-bed truck. When preparing the FY23 Budget, $104,132 was budgeted towards a three-year lease to purchase a dump truck and backhoe. Street Department staff have submitted the bids and Council has awarded them. However, the equipment will not arrive at the same time.

The dump truck should arrive in about 10 weeks, while the backhoe may not arrive until the second quarter of 2023. The City has the funds available to pay for the dump truck upon its arrival. When the backhoe finally arrives, we will finance the two pieces of equipment together.

• Were updated from Douglass about Levi’s Children’s Charity on a playground they propose to fund and install in Legion Park West.

• Renewed Historic Downtown Sikeston’s contract with the City.

• Renewed worker’s compensation insurance with Missouri Employers Mutual with the City’s estimated premium of $311,305. The renewal price is less than last year’s renewal price.

• Approved the purchase of a new three-position SCBA fill station for Sikeston DPS. The fill station is a system used in filling breathing air for SCBA bottles worn by firefighters. The equipment will be purchased from Banner Fire Equipment for $13,426.44. Sikeston DPS did budget for this equipment for FY-23 and currently have $41,000 in this line item.

• Approved the purchase of two used Highway Patrol 2019 Dodge Chargers for $21,000 per vehicle. Both of the cars were included in the FY23 budget.

• Approved the purchase of 200 tons of road salt from Swinter Group Inc., for no more than the cost of $22,000. Brian Dial, Sikeston street supervisor, said price is fluctuating daily and has been between $102 and $112 per ton, depending on the day. This is a budgeted item.

• Approved the City entering into an agreement with St. John’s Bayou Basin Drainage District to allow Lateral C to drain into St. John’s. The City would also be allowed to clean it out and maintenance would be at the City’s expense. The City would be charged $7,500 to drain water into their system.

• Approved a request for a conditional use variance to allow Anthony and Elizabeth Heckemeyer the use of a building as a residence at 1024 County Line Road.

• Authorized the City to pay $11,865.73 to relocate an Ameren utility line that is currently where pavement is proposed as part of the City’s project for the outer road for the South Industrial Park.

• Jessie Due addressed the Council regarding the use of officers at meetings.