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Sikeston City Council briefed on, approves DPS’ Knox Box program
SIKESTON — The Sikeston Department of Public Safety presented a Knox Box program to the City Council at their Wednesday, July 5 meeting.
City Fire Marshal Zak Haskin and Derick Wheetley said prior to 2010, the program was in effect and a vital asset to the preservation of both life safety and property conservation.
The Knox Box is a compact wall-mounted safe that will house building keys for fire departments.
Wheetley said the goal of this strategy is to alleviate the hassle of following down small businesses while still attempting to retain the degree of protection and security that a Knox Box provides
Haskin and Wheetley explained that when necessary, when access to or inside a structure or area is restricted due to secured openings, or when rapid entry is required for life-saving or fire-fighting needs, the fire code official is entitled to order the installation of a key box in an approved location. The key box must be of an authorized kind and include the keys required by the fire code official.
The fire code official may, if required, order the installation of an approved lock on gates or other similar obstacles.
The box costs a minimum of $487, including VAT, and installation by a professional costs an average of $350.
The Council approved a three-year contract renewal with the Sikeston Regional Chamber for tourist marketing and promotion services. The existing deal will now last through June 30, 2026.
The City of Sikeston signed a three-year contract with the Sikeston Regional Chamber of Commerce for Tourism Marketing and Promotion Services in June 2020, which ended June 30.
The Council approved the addition of Sikeston Municipal Clerk Rhonda Council to the list of those who have access to municipal bank accounts. The municipal charter mandates that the treasurer manage all bank accounts and not be a signatory to any distribution of public cash.
Council also approved the purchase of four vehicles for Sikeston Public Works: a 34-ton work truck for building maintenance ($45,000 budgeted), two one- and 12-ton flatbed work trucks for Parks and Recreation ($75,000 each budgeted), and a one-ton dual axle work truck ($70,000 budgeted) for all divisions. Vehicles have been tough to obtain and order during the last two years. These automobiles will be acquired whenever municipal authorities can locate them for the budgeted price or less.
Council authorized DPS to acquire two 2023 Dodge Durangos from Landmark Dodge for $84,270 and to outfit them with required equipment using leftover allocated funds.
Council has given Sikeston DPS permission to purchase a used AWD Highway Patrol 2020 Dodge Charger for $23,000. The remaining cash will be utilized to outfit the vehicle with emergency equipment.
Sikeston DPS was given permission by Council to engage into a contract with the Bootheel Local Emergency Planning Committee/District for a grant for Hazmat goods. Sikeston DPS wrote the grant for Bootheel LEPC/Sikeston DPS, which was granted $27,230.83.
Council authorized Sikeston DPS to acquire a significant number of hazardous booms and pads as a result of a grant they received in collaboration with the Bootheel LEPC. JSR Environmental’s total was $14,336.82, which was nearly $2,000 less than the quotation.