Work begins on Mill Street water tower; completion set for summer

NEW MADRID, Mo. - In a brief meeting April 24, the New Madrid City Council covered items from the top - the refurbishing of a city water tower - to the bottom - a sewer project.

City Administrator Aaron Griffin advised the Council welding is complete on the city’s Mill Street water tower. He said he expects sandblasting to start soon, however for safety reasons the adjacent children’s park is closed and the skate park may be closed while overhead work is under way.

After sandblasting is completed over the next month, the tower will be painted.

Griffin reported he worked with engineers from Smith and Company of Poplar Bluff to map a route for a forced main sewer project from Riley Street and from Waters Street to the city’s lagoon on Highway W. He said the route will be designed to make use of city right-of-way.

Griffin said there is some potential for cost savings if some of the current pipe does not need to be replaced.

Once the survey is done, bids will be sought by this fall.

Approval was given to three resolutions.

Police Chief Joey Higgerson addressed the Council about the resolutions for the proposed purchase of a 2023 Polaris Ranger from Interstate 69 Motorsports for $24,677.81 and of a 22-foot boat from Excel Boat Company for $22,000. Approximately half of the cost of the vehicles is being paid by federal grant funds through the Missouri Department of Public Safety (see related story on Page 1 of today’s paper).

He emphasized the boat and side-by-side would be owned by the city and be available for use by all departments.

The resolutions were unanimously approved.

Also approved was a resolution for the purchase of three 161 kilovolt circuit breakers at $80,000 each and three 69 kilovolt circuit breakers at $70,000 each. Once the order is placed, the city administrator said the circuit breakers should be ready in approximately 18 months for use in a planned substation.

Griffin reported he and Kristy Taylor, finance officer for the city, are working with Tyler Technologies of Plano, Texas, on other avenues for residents to pay their utility bills. He said the company has agreed to provide a toll-free number where residents can call at anytime to get the amount of their bill and pay by credit card. Also the company has an option which could text residents about their bill and bills could then be paid by text.

“These are two good option that are free for us,” Griffin said. “Right now we have 22 percent of our people who pay on line. They are going to do study and help us market it. They think we can get close to 40 percent online pay.”

Plans are to have the options in place by the June billing, he said.